Rib tubes / new member

[scotbylad]

Hi
Just joined & am in process of buying an older Humber Rib . Tubes are faded / oxidised a bit . Looking for advice on product to clean/ renovate them & thoughts on repainting them with flexi rib type paint. Any advice welcome

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by scotbylad

Hi

Just joined & am in process of buying an older Humber Rib . Tubes are faded / oxidised a bit . Looking for advice on product to clean/ renovate them & thoughts on repainting them with flexi rib type paint. Any advice welcome

Painting is a last resort. If they hold air, don’t.
TFR & 303 will do as good a job as any fancy “Marine” products.

[beerbelly]

what he said or if you want to flash some cash august race products work very well ( but I suspect the main ingredient in most tube cleaners is tfr )

[scotbylad]

Cheers guys , decided against the humber so looking again for a smallish rib

[hypatek]

In the trade we use tolulene and M501 thinners then use a aerospace 303 UV protectant. As the tolulene or m501 will make the tubes a buff finish . Used for keying up for repair and cleaning hypalon substrates for repair

[scotbylad]

I have just bought a rib today , a walker bay with 70 yam on it . Tubes have leaks which I’m yet to find & they need a good clean . Looking for a good supplier of the correct glue & any patch material if I need it

[hypatek]

Try Henshaws for the hypalon , orca 1300gsm. Also adhesive use bostik 2402 with hardner. Make sure the temperature is above 12 degrees or above to prevent skinning .before make sure your rubbing down of the area and surface prep is first class. Good luck

[hypatek]

Originally Posted by scotbylad

I have just bought a rib today , a walker bay with 70 yam on it . Tubes have leaks which I’m yet to find & they need a good clean . Looking for a good supplier of the correct glue & any patch material if I need it

Spray tubes with soapy solution in a weed sprayer . Use brush on valves and seams . Hopefully it will be a puncture and not air wicking through material. This will be seen as small fine bubbles appearing on seam edges or through the hypalon itself .

[scotbylad]

Pretty sure the materials no hypalon but could be wrong . Is there an easy way to tell ?

[hypatek]

Originally Posted by scotbylad

Pretty sure the materials no hypalon but could be wrong . Is there an easy way to tell ?

B. Sand the material; Hypalon will matt down and produce a dust and suede like nap to the abrasion. PVC will just scratch, remain glossy and there will be no difference in colour (click on the image to zoom in).

C. Wipe over Solvent Test. Wipe lightly with an MEK based solvent. (methyl ethyl ketone – often available at hardware, paint or plumbing stores, sold as a cleaner for PVC pipes or lacquer thinner) or Acetone Solvent. Hypalon will leave an oxidization and maybe some colour on the cloth, the material will not be affected or become sticky. For PVC you will have some colour on the cloth and the surface of the material will feel tacky. Please Note: Before using Adhesive, It is important, for best results to use the correct PVC or Hypalon Solvent to prepare the surfaces to be adhered.
Caution – All these solvents are very flammable and appropriate precautions should be taken before use in a well ventilated area with no naked flames.

[scotbylad]

That’s great thanks will give it a bash . Can’t say I’m looking forward to it though

[hypatek]

[QUOTE=scotbylad;803480]That’s great thanks will give it a bash . Can’t say I’m looking forward to it

Just dont skip any processes and make sure to follow the bonding application on the tin . Never glue outside in wet conditions or windy if you can use a cover and a heater to keep ambient temp .

Good luck