waterproof repair tape for exterior vinyl seats

[MCKDAVID]

as above, looking for the collectives experience on a suitable repair tape for sticking to vinyl for exterior use. Has to be black, reasonably flexible, relatively hardwearing, ideally 2" wide, but above all has to stick well and be water proof. Realise I'm looking for the holy grail, but have to try eh....

tried a few variants, and after a few days, weeks it peels off or tears, just doesn't stand up to the UV / wet etc..

basically for lawn tractor seats, to patch them up, as they're not that cheap to replace. Just about every one I see in for repair is torn to shreds..

had one in which had been repaired before and seemed to be like a rubbery type coating on a cloth backing, which seemed up to the job, certainly well stuck down, but tried for a while to find a suitable equivelent, but no joy so far....

any ideas, brands etc... not too bothered about price, as long as it works, will still be cheaper than replacement seats..

as usual all help appreciated. cheers

 

[Barking Mat]

Black Gaffa tape ?

 

[qwakers]

id try

Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape 100mm x 3m – Viking Industrial Products Ltd

Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape forms a permanent bond and provides a waterproof barrier designed to patch holes, cracks, gaps and tears Sticks Underwater Permanent Bond Extra-Strong Adhesive Suitable for indoor and outdoor use For full specifications click here for pdf datasheetNeed...

www.vikingtapes.co.uk

or the generic version

Everbuild DPM Polythene Joint Tape Black 20m x 75mm - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Pressure-sensitive tape with an aggressive adhesive that will adhere to a wide variety of substrates, especially DPM polythene sheeting. Ideal for permanent or temporary applications such as patching repairs, sealing and bonding dissimilar materials. Serrated edge...

www.screwfix.com

 

[brightspark]

just vinyl and copydex carpet glue

 

[hotponyshoes]

What sort of vinyl is it?
Any chance you could weld it like younwould do a curtainsider repair?

 

[MoreWellie]

Black Gaffa tape

even the real stuff eventually the plastic layer peels off in the wind and leaves the strengthening strands and glue

Have you tried proper vinyl repair kits? they usually come as vinyl patches to stick under the seat material and glue to stick it down and then coloured fillers

I have used them inside on car seats that had been cut and they have stood up to general use of people getting in and out for several years

 

[MCKDAVID]

even the real stuff eventually the plastic layer peels off in the wind and leaves the strengthening strands and glue

Have you tried proper vinyl repair kits? they usually come as vinyl patches to stick under the seat material and glue to stick it down and then coloured fillers

I have used them inside on car seats that had been cut and they have stood up to general use of people getting in and out for several years

exactly, what I've found, the gaffer, duct tapes, are fine for short time, but not really resistant to water, UV etc... Aye, I've not tried a proper vinyl repair kit, the vinyl stuff they use on these seats, is fag paper thin, and once it's torn, the water gets in about the foam, and then it all starts to deteriorate pretty quick..

have you a make or a brand that you've used before, can try that, was looking for a self adhesive option simply for time, but if it's more permanent, might be the best option.

@hotponyshoes as for "welding" no, not tried that on this, like I say it's very thin and no idea of type or quality, to be honest, I'm not even sure it's "vinyl", it's a sort of a plasticky vinyl finish, but as it's so not sure how anything thermoweld would standup or just melt away.. worth a go though, have you a supplier that you've used with success?.

@qwakers not seen gorilla tapes over here, maybe worth a go, will get some sent over, or try and find a supplier here. From the description could be a decent option.

@brightspark is copydex waterproof?

 

[Bullet2012]

A possible solution.

Force 4 Ripstop Sail Repair Tape | Force 4 Chandlery

Self-adhesive ripstop nylon tape - this tape is ideal for emergency kite and spinnaker repairs. Comes in a variety of colours to suit your spinnaker.

www.force4.co.uk

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Gorilla tape is pretty impressive...the thicker stuff. Used it to bundle up some greenhouse bits on our allotment...2 years outside...went to pull the tape off and it was as stuck as the day it was put on!

(just checked...gorilla duct tape)....I also used it to seal the edges of the vinyl roof on my project car....held on pretty well.

 

[MCKDAVID]

A possible solution.

Force 4 Ripstop Sail Repair Tape | Force 4 Chandlery

Self-adhesive ripstop nylon tape - this tape is ideal for emergency kite and spinnaker repairs. Comes in a variety of colours to suit your spinnaker.

www.force4.co.uk

hmm, good thinking, hadn't thought about sail repairs etc, definitely worth a go, to see how long lasting it is... especially for the colours, as some makes are having bright yellow seats, so having that colour in the reserve would be good.

edit, just had a good look at that stuff, looks a lot like the one that was well stuck on, and pretty resistant, has got me wondering now if that's what it was..... will get a roll to see....

 

[MCKDAVID]

Gorilla tape is pretty impressive...the thicker stuff. Used it to bundle up some greenhouse bits on our allotment...2 years outside...went to pull the tape off and it was as stuck as the day it was put on!

(just checked...gorilla duct tape)....I also used it to seal the edges of the vinyl roof on my project car....held on pretty well.

aye, not familiar with it at all. seems to be getting decent reviews, will see if I can find some on ebay or suchlike...

 

[Kram]

Bodging with tape is no good. Have a photo? is it similar to a motorbike seat or more like a car seat with a back to it?

Recover it in new vinyl staped on to the frame, or a patch sewn on.

 

[lundtang]

I have used tear aid on outdoor jackets, tents etc. Have a patch holding up for years. https://www.tear-aid.com/

 

[brightspark]

copydex is well waterproof apart from joining carpets they used to repair hessian sacks with it

 

[pedrobedro]

I have used tear aid on outdoor jackets, tents etc. Have a patch holding up for years. https://www.tear-aid.com/

Are you in UK ? Where did you get it from ?

 

[MCKDAVID]

@Kram similar material to a bike seat, but steel frames, the vinyl (bonded to the foam) is folded over the frame edge and held with a sort of edge strip that's hammered on.. Would be difficult to take a flat sheet of material and shape because of the frequent changes of shape. They've obviously been heat or pressure formed. As for sewing, that won't work, it would be too fragile, anything would just pull through I'd say... I agree bodging with tape isn't the ideal option, but a lot of these seats are around 100 euros new, you can get stretch seat covers that go over, but frankly they're not that cheap either...customers won't pay that for a lawn mower to be fair.... Some might but the majority would want the " cheap " option.

typical examples below, the green one is pretty far gone, the yellow tractor I could probaly do something with.

 

[brightspark]

your better off pasting the whole seat with evostick and cover the lot with a sheet of vinyl and pull it in to shape when tacky . just recover it

 

[colnerov]

Hi, If they want cheap offer to fit one of these. -

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/201483031939?hash=item2ee9531583:g:j60AAOSw4PxZ~DOn

Colin

 

[MCKDAVID]

your better off pasting the whole seat with evostick and cover the lot with a sheet of vinyl and pull it in to shape when tacky . just recover it

probably worth it for the really bad ones, but most aren't as bad as these examples, just a small tear or two, wouldn't be worth the bother for all that work, if it was your own aye why not, but this is part of my business, general repair, so need to be worth the time.. to be honest, for these two examples, the best option is to replace them completely, but would you spend 100 euros on a old tractor with a value of maybe around 300? no neither would they... hence the tape option, patch up more than reupholster...

 

[W.olly]

id try

Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape 100mm x 3m – Viking Industrial Products Ltd

Gorilla Waterproof Patch and Seal Tape forms a permanent bond and provides a waterproof barrier designed to patch holes, cracks, gaps and tears Sticks Underwater Permanent Bond Extra-Strong Adhesive Suitable for indoor and outdoor use For full specifications click here for pdf datasheetNeed...

www.vikingtapes.co.uk

or the generic version

Everbuild DPM Polythene Joint Tape Black 20m x 75mm - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Pressure-sensitive tape with an aggressive adhesive that will adhere to a wide variety of substrates, especially DPM polythene sheeting. Ideal for permanent or temporary applications such as patching repairs, sealing and bonding dissimilar materials. Serrated edge...

www.screwfix.com

The Gorilla i have used on a few surfaces from GRP, Steel and canvas, all i can sat is if you dont want it to come dont use it.