I have this very large and heavy tarpaulin that I usually get repaired
every 2 years by the makers. This year, I failed to get it to them and
yesterday stuck gaffer tape over the worst holes and one serious tear.
This looks as though it will last about 10 minutes in the very exposed
site that the tarp is used.

The previous repairs are just small patches of the material, or small
circular patches. I have some other old covers of the same standard tarp
material, so I could probably find enough good bits to make patches
from.

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?
--
Bill

On Oct 20, 5:49*pm, Bill wrote:
I have this very large and heavy tarpaulin that I usually get repaired
every 2 years by the makers. This year, I failed to get it to them and
yesterday stuck gaffer tape over the worst holes and one serious tear.
This looks as though it will last about 10 minutes in the very exposed
site that the tarp is used.

The previous repairs are just small patches of the material, or small
circular patches. I have some other old covers of the same standard tarp
material, so I could probably find enough good bits to make patches
from.

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?
--
Bill

Try a chandeliers or boat yard.

On Oct 20, 5:49*pm, Bill wrote:
I have this very large and heavy tarpaulin that I usually get repaired
every 2 years by the makers. This year, I failed to get it to them and
yesterday stuck gaffer tape over the worst holes and one serious tear.
This looks as though it will last about 10 minutes in the very exposed
site that the tarp is used.

The previous repairs are just small patches of the material, or small
circular patches. I have some other old covers of the same standard tarp
material, so I could probably find enough good bits to make patches
from.

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?

Why dont you try one patch sewn, one glued with contact adhesive.
Nothing much to lose, and you might be able to stop paying in future.
I dont have the experience you want.


NT

On 20 Oct, 17:49, Bill wrote:

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?

Sew or weld (ultrasonic), both of which require large-scale non-DIY
kit. Gluing (right glue, which is uncommon but available) might work
for vinyl but good tarps are polyurethane rather than vinyl and so it
doesn't.

I also repaired one of my tarps with pop-riveted aluminium. As it was
only used to cover one machine outdoors, and reguarly wore through in
the same couple of spots (where it sat on the girders) then the
easiest fix was to rivet in metal patches at just that location. I
used some cheap bowls in pairs, and the tarp also became self-locating
and easier to install.

On Oct 21, 10:02*am, Andy Dingley wrote:
On 20 Oct, 17:49, Bill wrote:

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?

Sew or weld (ultrasonic), both of which require large-scale non-DIY
kit.

The sewing cant be done by hand?


NT

"Bill" wrote in message
...
I have this very large and heavy tarpaulin that I usually get repaired
every 2 years by the makers. This year, I failed to get it to them and
yesterday stuck gaffer tape over the worst holes and one serious tear. This
looks as though it will last about 10 minutes in the very exposed site that
the tarp is used.

The previous repairs are just small patches of the material, or small
circular patches. I have some other old covers of the same standard tarp
material, so I could probably find enough good bits to make patches from.

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some suitable
standard glue for this sort of repair?

Purchase an eyelet making kit.
Purchase a pack of good quality heavy duty cable ties.
Purchase a few tubes of silicon mastic.

Make holes for the eyelets along each edge of the worst tear approx 1" apart
around 2" in from each edge opposite each other across the rip. Use plenty
to reduce tear possibilities between the eyelets
Overlap the edges to align the eyelets on top of each other.
Thread the ties through the eyelets longitudinally after spreading a good
film of mastic between the canvas edges.
Seal with more mastic through the eyelets and await to dry.
If required add waterproof Gaffa tape over the eyelets to give more
protection.

In message
, NT
writes
On Oct 21, 10:02*am, Andy Dingley wrote:
On 20 Oct, 17:49, Bill wrote:

So, will this need some sort of welding process, or is there some
suitable standard glue for this sort of repair?

Sew or weld (ultrasonic), both of which require large-scale non-DIY
kit.

The sewing cant be done by hand?

Actually, somewhere I've got a sailmaker's palm, but one keeps a SWMBO
for sewing tasks, and she has already complained about the tarp being
laid on the lawn.

Pop-riveting plates sounds like a useful idea, but for another year,
perhaps. This is a boat cover, about 25 feet square and sits on jagged
bits of mast, stanchions etc over the winter. We try to protect it by
things like bits of old plastic guttering or carpet over the
protrusions, but it is on a site where I've frequently been unable to
stand in the freezing, gusting wind. The ropes often saw themselves
apart in the trailer so everything becomes a bit of a movable fiasco. I
can only just lift the tarp, so anything like sewing on the lawn would
be a huge job.

Google brings up a few sites selling things like hot air guns for
welding this sort of stuff, but I have no idea what the plastic
component of it is. It is the usual blue or green heavy stuff they use
on lorries.

I was hoping someone would say something like "xxxx glue with a hot air
gun is what you need", but I think I'm resigned to my over-wintering
gaffer tape this year.
--
Bill

On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:01:55 +0100, Bill wrote:

but I have no idea what the plastic component of it is. It is the usual
blue or green heavy stuff they use on lorries.

Are they "plastic" I thought they where canvas thus cotton. 25 ft
square and plastic I wouldn't expect to be particulary heavy, decent
bit of canvas on the other hand would be rather heavy.

Canvas would be repaired using sail making techniques, sewn on
patches etc I expect you can fine the stiches and methods to use on
the web. I can't see why the same techniques wouldn't work on a
plastic tarp provided you took into account the possibly larger weave
and the layout of the "threads" making it up.

--
Cheers
Dave.

In message o.uk, Dave
Liquorice writes
On Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:01:55 +0100, Bill wrote:

but I have no idea what the plastic component of it is. It is the usual
blue or green heavy stuff they use on lorries.

Are they "plastic" I thought they where canvas thus cotton. 25 ft
square and plastic I wouldn't expect to be particulary heavy, decent
bit of canvas on the other hand would be rather heavy.

Canvas would be repaired using sail making techniques, sewn on
patches etc I expect you can fine the stiches and methods to use on
the web. I can't see why the same techniques wouldn't work on a
plastic tarp provided you took into account the possibly larger weave
and the layout of the "threads" making it up.

It's definitely heavy! It is quite a close weave - sort of coated
canvassy stuff. The cotton or whatever inside is white, but the blue
'plastic coating covers this up on both sides. One side is fairly shiny,
the other shows the pattern of the weave. It's nothing like the 'covers'
they sell in Poundland or Halfords.
When I've taken it back to the makers to repair, they have stuck patches
on in some way - no stitching.

Anyway, time is running out. As soon as a capable son comes home we'll
have to dart across the country and heave it on.

Thanks everyone, I'll think about all the suggestions for next year.
--
Bill

On 21 Oct, 15:37, NT wrote:

Sew or weld (ultrasonic), both of which require large-scale non-DIY
kit.

The sewing cant be done by hand?

You can sew canvas and modern synthetic canvas by hand, with suitably
large needles and a palm.

As the OP suggested "welding", then I suspect they have a polyurethane
coated fabric. This stuff is, IMHO, unsewable by hand. It's too
"grabby" on the needle. YMMV. A triangular needle might do it.

On 21 Oct, 18:01, Bill wrote:

I was hoping someone would say something like "xxxx glue with a hot air
gun is what you need",

You could try sticking it. The polyurethane glue sold for resoling
soles is likely to be your best bet (NB - _NOT_ Evo-stik, that's
rubber in naptha) as the chemistry will at least be thinking about
compatibility. However I've never found that stuff too good when
flexed as much as a tarpaulin.

Probably worth the try though, and better than gaffer tape.