I picked up a older kite, where every valve had come away due to possibly being left in a hot car. After removing ALL bladders and re-gluing them back on using StormSure, that part was fixed. However, there was two large rips in the main leading edge bladder about 10cms long, each. Personally, I have always had trouble fixing these type of leaks, so I thought that I would try something a bit different, and the outcome worked perfectly! I blew up a balloon and fitted it inside the bladder, away from the rip, and then postioned some very flexible black vinyl tape on the inside of the bladder and carefully stuck the rip together. This made positioning the TearAid Part A much easier. I then positioned the balloon behind the rip and pulled down equally on the bladder and tied with tape. The TearAid patch was then applied over the rip joint and smoothed out as best as possible, this stuff really sticks! With the balloon still inflated inside, the bladder was inflated and was completely fixed. Then the balloon was positioned under the deflate valve and the neck pulled though the valve. I then used a pin to deflate it and pulled the balloon out in one piece. This was really just a experiment for myself, and it worked really well, but I'm sure that there are other ways of doing this repair, as well. And yes, in retospect, the colour of the balloon was possibly a bit unfortunate, because I now know what it looks like!!
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches in the photos... it's only a matter of time before the air leaks out of there if it's not already happening. A well applied tear aid patch should have zero creases, otherwise you need to start over again.
Select to expand quoteKiteBud said..
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches in the photos... it's only a matter of time before the air leaks out of there if it's not already happening. A well applied tear aid patch should have zero creases, otherwise you need to start over again.
Possibly you are correct, but this was a concept experiment on a old kite that I thought that I would share. Certainly no leaks ATM, and I have found that TearAid won't move once stuck.
Select to expand quotecoastflyer said..KiteBud said..
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches in the photos... it's only a matter of time before the air leaks out of there if it's not already happening. A well applied tear aid patch should have zero creases, otherwise you need to start over again.
Possibly you are correct, but this was a concept experiment on a old kite that I thought that I would share. Certainly no leaks ATM, and I have found that TearAid won't move once stuck.
very easy to remove tear aid using small amounts of methylated spirits on a piece of cloth. you then need to re-clean very well with alchohol before reapplying a new patch.
I don't recommend you put this back in your kite as you will have leaks
Select to expand quotecoastflyer said..KiteBud said..
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches in the photos... it's only a matter of time before the air leaks out of there if it's not already happening. A well applied tear aid patch should have zero creases, otherwise you need to start over again.
Possibly you are correct, but this was a concept experiment on a old kite that I thought that I would share. Certainly no leaks ATM, and I have found that TearAid won't move once stuck.
Someone on here suggested chilling the Tear-Aid to make it less sticky while working with it. sounds like good advice! KitBud is correct in saying that any little wrinkle will eventually leak. Even the overlap where you use 2 pieces of Tear-Aid to get a big enough patch can cause leakage. Air under pressure loves to find a way out!
You definitely need a firmer, flatter surface than can be achieved by using a balloon if you want to do a proper Tear-Aid repair.
Select to expand quoteSandee said..coastflyer said..KiteBud said..
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches in the photos... it's only a matter of time before the air leaks out of there if it's not already happening. A well applied tear aid patch should have zero creases, otherwise you need to start over again.
Possibly you are correct, but this was a concept experiment on a old kite that I thought that I would share. Certainly no leaks ATM, and I have found that TearAid won't move once stuck.
Someone on here suggested chilling the Tear-Aid to make it less sticky while working with it. sounds like good advice! KitBud is correct in saying that any little wrinkle will eventually leak. Even the overlap where you use 2 pieces of Tear-Aid to get a big enough patch can cause leakage. Air under pressure loves to find a way out!
You definitely need a firmer, flatter surface than can be achieved by using a balloon if you want to do a proper Tear-Aid repair.
Thanks, was just a idea on a old kite. The main problem with the tear was that the bladder had curled up on the edges making it very difficult to work with a patch. I have plenty of old bladders lying around, so could possibly cut out the repair and replace with a patch glued and TearAid around the edges. I remember once that someone had tried using a hot iron to fuse bladder material together, but that probaly wouldn't work either! I have never intended to use this old kite, just to try something different on as a experiment.
Yes, good idea to experiment and learn various techniques before you someday need to repair a favourite kite! It is recommended that any stretched /curled up edges around a tear should be trimmed away before attempting a repair, and then of course you need to prevent the patch from sticking to the other side of the bladder. (As you're doing with the vinyl tape. if it lasts). I actually prefer to open a wingtip and apply a TearAid patch on the inside of the damaged area, as well as another on the outside. Kitchen heat sealer or a hot iron works great to re-close the wingtip.
I like your balloon idea and the socket and quick grips trick pretty cool ive always used dumbell plates instead.
Shame the kites not worth $20 spent quite a bit repairing something worthless
Select to expand quoteKiteBud said..
So many creases and channels on your tear-aid patches ...blahblah
As soon as someone mentions something they've found works (time will tell), or they've got a new idea or a new product, Sbrz just can't help to throw in a punch here or there... 
fair dinkum
Select to expand quoteFroth Goth said..
I like your balloon idea and the socket and quick grips trick pretty cool ive always used dumbell plates instead.
Shame the kites not worth $20 spent quite a bit repairing something worthless
Thanks, appreciate the encouragement! I've had a couple of rolls of TearAid lying around for years, and the Stormsure seems to last forever, if kept in the freezer. I've always used sockets when sealing valves, and have never had one let go, but the balloon was just a brainwave moment as I had some lying around after a Grand Final party!
I am going to take some lsd next week and sit down and listen to rammstein and see if I can come up with an idea as ingenuitive and cool as that ..and an even more different way of doing it
I bet I cant
Good job
thinking outside the 'box'
Actually Winnie the Poohs version of Rammstein would be better for that 
Coastflyer - worth a try and if it works, great. An added tip, sometimes if the repair is big and not flexi - it can make the kite steer to one side... experimented out in the middle of nowhere desperate for a kite and yeah...
Select to expand quoteSaveTheWhales said..
Coastflyer - worth a try and if it works, great. An added tip, sometimes if the repair is big and not flexi - it can make the kite steer to one side... experimented out in the middle of nowhere desperate for a kite and yeah...
Good point 
True. .
