Power Kite Forum

gorilla clear

ssayre - 19-12-2014 at 03:25 PM

I'm tried this on a small tear on my buggy seat and a tear on a seam on the cloth seat on my truck. I didn't expect it to work at all on my cloth truck seat but it's been holding fine for a few days. Has anyone tried this on a kite? It's suppose to be weather proof. It's around $6.50 for a 2" wide x 27' long roll.



erratic winds - 19-12-2014 at 04:31 PM

Haven't used it, but was amazed at this tenacious tape which is a very similar product..... http://amzn.com/B008TYHOEY totally holding fine on this backpack patch two years later...considering using it on a old kite.....

indigo_wolf - 19-12-2014 at 04:53 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
I'm tried this on a small tear on my buggy seat and a tear on a seam on the cloth seat on my truck. I didn't expect it to work at all on my cloth truck seat but it's been holding fine for a few days. Has anyone tried this on a kite? It's suppose to be weather proof. It's around $6.50 for a 2" wide x 27' long roll.


Haven't tried Gorilla Clear, but noticed their black tape will fail in high heat on the inside of a curve. The substrate that the adhesive is on shrinks and eventually pulls away from whatever you have affixed it too.

If you are using the Gorilla Clear for a temporary fix, repair companies like FixMyKite will curse you as once the tape is removed to attempt a permanent fix, the adhesive remains behind and merry hob with their sewing machines.

ATB,
Sam

ssayre - 19-12-2014 at 06:22 PM

Sam, I'm not a fan of the regular black gorilla tape either for standard duct tape tasks. It seems to retain memory and pull away from what it's stuck to. The clear is a completely different product. If a tape repair needs to be made, would you recommend the standard spinnaker or ripstop tape?

indigo_wolf - 19-12-2014 at 06:36 PM

Quote: Originally posted by ssayre  
If a tape repair needs to be made, would you recommend the standard spinnaker or ripstop tape?


Yes... Jeff Howard, owner of FixMyKite goes over some of the considerations here:



Sail/Ripstop tape for temporary repairs is covered at around 5:02. He also cautions about overuse of Tear-Air for a kite that is going to be sent in for more permanent repairs.

ATB,
Sam

skimtwashington - 19-12-2014 at 07:58 PM

I had a lot of peeling with ripstop sail tape on my kite at leading edge areas around cell openings, and switched to Tear-Aid...... which has stretch for the stress and curve of the fabric in that area. It still has some peel, but nothing like the sail tape. For flat areas, either I think, is fine.

Tear-Aid is very expensive. Sail tape much less....and Gorilla tape?...A virtual bargain(Home depot has it for $6.97for 27 feet worth!!, 2" wide...if ...it actual has good application for kite fix..? Like to see some first. Wonder if Gorilla Clear is stiff of has some stretch.



Still....best is a sewn job-for sure .

3shot - 19-12-2014 at 08:49 PM

Another vote for Tear-Aid. I keep a roll in my bag every trip just in case.

ssayre - 21-12-2014 at 02:20 PM


Quote:

Wonder if Gorilla Clear is stiff of has some stretch.


I would say neither. It can be torn from the roll by hand. It's very flexible and seems to conform to irregular surfaces well but I don't think it would stretch much before it would tear. I would trust using it sparingly on a kite for emergency repairs. I would just try to keep the repair as small as possible to make it easier if the kite needs to have a real repair done.

Edit: I didn't try to stretch it when I first used it. I was curious so I just tried stretching a piece. It stretched about 3x it's width so it does have a fair amount of stretch and strength for that matter.

skimtwashington - 21-12-2014 at 09:08 PM

Hmnnn...

Say goodbye Tear-Aid...say hello Gorilla Clear.

15+ times the amount of tape... for less $ than standard package size.

... it's that sticky...?.

ssayre - 22-12-2014 at 06:21 AM

It seems very sticky so far. I was not expecting it to work on my cloth truck seat but it has stayed without edges lifting and it's on the edge where i slide over it getting in and out

I can only imagine it will do even better on smooth surface which is it's intended purpose.

Not sure...

skimtwashington - 31-12-2014 at 07:27 PM

Don't say goodbye to Tear-Aid...just yet.

Got hold of a sample piece of Gorilla Clear. Don't feel it's pliable enough(too stiff) .... and also, sticky enough to adhere and not 'delam' if you bend or fold on the area repeatedly -as in packing up kite...and also under tension(side pull).

For emergency I might use in field as back up or for LONG tears that would then be peeled off after returning and for better repair at home. Not sure.... but initial evaluation is fairly revealing.

Tear-Aid is much stickier, and much more pliable. That I am sure about.