Hi, my name is Scorer75 and I patch tubes.

Now that we got that out of the way, I have a question. I always carry two tubes and a patch kit, so I almost never patch out on the road. I keep my flat tubes hanging in the garage, and when I have a couple ready to go, I'll patch them while watching some TV.

Road tubes are thin when deflated and even the small round patches are pretty big. I find it cumbersome to use the whole patch since it almost wraps halfway around the tube and covers multiple seams which then need to be sanded down. So I have literally been cutting my patches in half before putting them on the tube. I find it easier to to install half a patch since you can line up the flat side of the patch next to the seam in the tube closest to the hole. This has been working.

1. Does anyone else do this?

2. Does anyone have a reason why this might not be a good idea?

P.S. Patching at home is also great because I bought a jar of Elmer's Rubber Cement which comes with an applicator brush making it easy to apply the cement, and should basically last me forever. It cost me less than $5

It doesn't sound like a good idea, because the feathering of the edges prevents lateral pressure on the patch. However, if it works for you, then keep doing it.

I mentioned some time ago that I use Elmers rubber cement, and some people explained why, since it's an entirely different substance than the stuff in patch kits, it can't work as well. I've found that it works every bit as well. I use the little tubes when I'm out on the road, but I use Elmer's when I'm at home. Still, I check my little tubes that have been opened, because once opened, they start evaporating.

I tried the Elmer's jar. It seemed to work OK, but it eventually thickens up after a few months. And I only patch 2-5 tubes a year. So now I wait until I have 3 or 4 punctured tubes, and use one of the small patch kits with a fresh tube of glue.

Yeah, the patches are pretty big. I usually trim off about a quarter of the patch, just on one side.

I put a patched tube on the wheel a day before I plan to ride. If it holds pressure overnight, it's usually good forever. I get one dud patch for every 6 to 8 attempts.

I know what you mean about the patches being too big. I never use the big patches that come in the kits. But the small ones seem okay to me.

The big patches are for big tubes. Love to find a source for bulk small ones. For small leaks, I keep the tube pumped up to sand, apply the adhesive and then the patch. Then I let the air out to put pressure on the patch with some small, smooth object. That way, the tube isn't overstretched when inflated in the tire, nor are the edges of the patch under stress. Can't do that for large holes, but they're infrequent.

i remember patching tubes as a kid. are you guys just being frugal, is there some other reason for patching these days.

Get some 16mm

https://www.outsideoutfitters.com/p-1...FYxU7AodpG1DmQ

Yep, bought a box of 100 16m Rema patches a long time ago, and have used maybe five of them, as I rarely flat. What would be great is four or five cyclists springing for one by sharing the cost. My only worry is that they not go bad after a while, since I have a lot of them around.

And by the way, I bought mine off eBay at a cheaper price and reasonable shipping cost.

Sell some to your friends.

I just wanted the OP to know they exist.

^Yeah, I might just hand some of them out to cycling friends.

Good Price for 20mm X 30mm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Bike-Tir...60626235123%26

https://www.amazon.com/Rema-F0-P-Roun...a+tube+patches

Better price at Outside

there's nothing that says you can't use cut pieces from an old tube as opposed to purchased patches... after all, it's the rubber cement which does the holdin...
just need to make sure you clean the piece, from talc and other crappage, and rough up a bit as one would the actual tube to be repaired - never without a patch...

Multiple other uses of old tubes
long section, 'split' - makes great pre-wrap for bars before putting on the handlebar tape - gives some cush and also adds a little circumference - so more comfortable, without being clunky big...
quickie elastic wrap to hold ungainly stuff together - like assorted loose handlebars hanging around the shop - loose hockey sticks, ski poles, etc.
short 2" length cut section still a 'tube' - placed over frame pump head (if no cover or closure) keeps road dirt out of the head, especially on a wet ride.
cut to length section (MTB tube) makes nice sleeve for a small emergency tool so it doesn't scratch my reading glasses in the seatpack - same kind of tube section, just longer is a good sleeve for my small reading glasses in seat pack.
a length which is 'split' - used to wrap bike hanger hooks in garage, after the cheepie rubber coating splits - so the wheel doesn't get dinged when bike is hung...
...list goes on...

I am 40 years in the tire business and am expert in repairing everything from a wheel barrel tire to an earthmover tire. Yea you can cut patches I have done it manytimes. Now you dont have to do that or use glue,,you can buy bicycle patch kits that come with many very thin and small glue less patches. But in a pinch you can cut the patch.

Reduce, reuse, recycle.

I haven't noticed any issue around the edges of the cut patches, but that's interesting. I'll keep my eyes open for that one.

Thanks for the link to the smaller patches. I just checked, mine were 1 inch or 25mm. Didn't realize they came smaller than 1 inch.

Elmer's rubber cement works fine, thousands of miles on the road says so.

I patch because I ride through a crappy area with crappy roads and unavoidable garbage/glass on the road. I can go months between flats, and I have had one or two flats per ride for 5-10 straight rides. I also ride every weekday, twice. With long valve tubes (80mm) costing $8-$10+, I'll patch thank you. At one point this summer I looked at the flat tubes hanging in the garage and there were 10+ tubes. Frugal or not, that's a lot of money...

I leave patched tubes to cure for 24 hours, then fill them with air. I come back 24 hours later to check. If they are full, they go back in the rotation. If they are flat, I look for a second hole or where I messed up the repair. If they are questionable, they go under the faucet to look for leaks.

I don't use or recommend the glue less patches. While they may be good in a pinch, they NEVER seem to last. It's a temporary solution and I prefer t do it only once and correctly the first time.

As for the uses for old tubes, excellent suggestions. I've used most of those, and they work great. Another use is to tie the wheel to keep it from spinning when it's on the bike rack. They work as well if not better than bungee cords, and are obviously cheaper. You also won't be pissed when you lose them.

Excellent responses, thanks guys.

Just because you can afford to be wasteful doesn't mean you should be. Besides that, I trust an otherwise tried & true but patched tube over an untested one fresh from the box.

any suggestions on how to patch latex tubes?

Ooooh, Oooooh, Oooooh, Yes! Thanks. Bet I've spent an easy $100 on patch kits.

the clement sewup repair kits we used had latex patches in them and some 'special sauce' which smelled, worked and felt just like regular vulcanizing rubber cement. The key was to get the tube and patch squeeky clean with rubbing alcohol before applying the 'sauce'. I never had a patch fail on a sewup repair - was much harder to get the tire sewn properly so it wasn't all lumpy/bumpy. That took some practice on multiple cheaper cottons with buytyl tubes before I got the technique down.
Clement Crit Setas & Seta Extras and a number of other high end tubulars all used latex tubes. Wonderful tires/ride, but really tender and not anyhting but pure race rubber.
Other thing I found with latex sewups is that the latex tube breaks down faster than butyl (at least at pressure) so if one got much into a second season with one, that was unusual. If you raced alot you got your money's worth.
The Crit seta extras were superlight and had only a thin varnish of covering over the silk casing. Not a 'wet' tire, they would literally come apart in one race of wet weather riding... like assplode...

The 16mm Rema patches will fit a road tube without trimming. Get the box of 100 and give some to friends.

Thanks

If I botch up a patch job, can I rip off the patch and redo it?

Great Price on 21mm

https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROUND-Bike-T...item256f76df33

I've actually cut the round ones into 1/4's because I think it's a waste to use such a big patch on a pin-hole! Work's well in my experience.
How about those EBAY patch kits? Those patches any good? Aside from Elmers, any good alternatives for vulcanizing fluid? Thanks.