After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

Polyurethane woodworking glue?

"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

sewing machine? I've never seen Visiqueen but made a Tyvek sail on a
sewing maching this summer. Tyvek and polytarp sails are also commonly put
together with carpet tape. No need for special thread or needle.
Pull up a table for extra sewing surface to support large material.
Writeup and photos at www.ncf.ca/~ag384/TyvekSail.htm.



--
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homepage: www.ncf.ca/~ag384/top.htm
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"David Flew" wrote in message ...
Polyurethane woodworking glue?

"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

Initial results:

Contact Cement is definitely out. It has no strength.
The 3M spray adhesive is also out on the basis of strength.
Melt adhesion using a heat gun is out as it causes the vusqueen to
wrinkle and distort.

Goop Outdoor initially seemed bad because it made the visqueen wrinkle
but it does form a strong bond. May be good.

I also plan to try melt adhesion using my wifes clothes iron.

I used to work for a company that heat sealed this type of stuff. We used
bars with heating elements covered with teflon sheet. There isn't an
adhesive that will work with Visqueen, your best chance is heat sealing, but
it's going to be tough without the right equipment. You might look under
"plastics fabricators" or "ultrasonic welding" in the yellow pages and see
if someone in your area could do it for you.

--


Keith
__
Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy.
"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Polyurethane woodworking glue?

"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

Initial results:

Contact Cement is definitely out. It has no strength.
The 3M spray adhesive is also out on the basis of strength.
Melt adhesion using a heat gun is out as it causes the vusqueen to
wrinkle and distort.

Goop Outdoor initially seemed bad because it made the visqueen wrinkle
but it does form a strong bond. May be good.

I also plan to try melt adhesion using my wifes clothes iron.

"Keith" wrote in message ...
I used to work for a company that heat sealed this type of stuff. We used
bars with heating elements covered with teflon sheet. There isn't an
adhesive that will work with Visqueen, your best chance is heat sealing, but
it's going to be tough without the right equipment. You might look under
"plastics fabricators" or "ultrasonic welding" in the yellow pages and see
if someone in your area could do it for you.

--


Keith
__
Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy.
"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Polyurethane woodworking glue?

"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

Initial results:

Contact Cement is definitely out. It has no strength.
The 3M spray adhesive is also out on the basis of strength.
Melt adhesion using a heat gun is out as it causes the vusqueen to
wrinkle and distort.

Goop Outdoor initially seemed bad because it made the visqueen wrinkle
but it does form a strong bond. May be good.

I also plan to try melt adhesion using my wifes clothes iron.

The whole point here is to assemble a sail very quickly with materials
available to most people so specialized tools are out of the question.

I have done little furhter work since last post BUT:

Because we had a day with wind and my kids wanted to go to a nearby
lake instead of the coast, I decided to repair my sails with more
carpet tape. The repair lasted just long enough for the day but began
to come loose. I suspect that the somewhat dirty visqueen simply has
poor adhesion for the tape.

However, the kids did have a lot of fun with the Minicups and the
Mini-Cups attracted a lot of attention.

(Parallax) wrote in message . com...
"Keith" wrote in message ...
I used to work for a company that heat sealed this type of stuff. We used
bars with heating elements covered with teflon sheet. There isn't an
adhesive that will work with Visqueen, your best chance is heat sealing, but
it's going to be tough without the right equipment. You might look under
"plastics fabricators" or "ultrasonic welding" in the yellow pages and see
if someone in your area could do it for you.

--


Keith
__
Abandon the search for Truth; settle for a good fantasy.
"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
"David Flew" wrote in message
...
Polyurethane woodworking glue?

"Parallax" wrote in message
om...
After inspecting my visqueen sails on my minicups, I find they are
coming apart because the double stick fiberglas reinforced carpet tape
I used to hold them together is failing. I am fairly sure this is due
to prolonged exposure to water int he rain here as I simply do not
have room enough inside for them so they stay mostly under a tarp.
However, before I spend time re-doing them, I plan to do some
experiments with adhesives using some scrap visqueen.

First, I have assembled a short section in the manner described in the
directions with duct tape on either side and holes through which the
duct tape adheres to itself.

Second, I assembled another using the carpet tape.

Third, I assembled another using 3M Super 77 spray adhesive

Fourth, I assembled another by "melt adhesion" using my large 250 watt
soldering iron.

Fifth, I assembled another using Contact Cement.

Sixth, I assembled another using a bead of 3M 5200 adhesive.

I plan to let all of them cure and then run them repeatedly through my
wifes washer till they fail.

First impressions:

The duct tape version really does not seem to be too strong and could
be easily separated.

The carpet tape one is stronger.

The melt adhesion is good but thee is a very fine line between
achieving good adhesion and melting holes all the way through. It has
promise but need more work.

Any ideas?

Initial results:

Contact Cement is definitely out. It has no strength.
The 3M spray adhesive is also out on the basis of strength.
Melt adhesion using a heat gun is out as it causes the vusqueen to
wrinkle and distort.

Goop Outdoor initially seemed bad because it made the visqueen wrinkle
but it does form a strong bond. May be good.

I also plan to try melt adhesion using my wifes clothes iron.

The whole point here is to assemble a sail very quickly with materials
available to most people so specialized tools are out of the question.

I have done little furhter work since last post BUT:

Because we had a day with wind and my kids wanted to go to a nearby
lake instead of the coast, I decided to repair my sails with more
carpet tape. The repair lasted just long enough for the day but began
to come loose. I suspect that the somewhat dirty visqueen simply has
poor adhesion for the tape.

However, the kids did have a lot of fun with the Minicups and the
Mini-Cups attracted a lot of attention.

RESULTS

Contact cement and 3M 5200 were total failures.
The 3M spray adhesive did seem to work. It never came apart after 3
wash cycles and seemed to actually be stronger than before. Still, it
seems to be a weak bond.
The Goop Outdoor actually did very well by seeming to dissolve the
visqueen together. It was sorta messy
The original double duct tape system actually held well too although
it seems to be fairly weak.
The carpet tape worked very well too and is stronger than the duct
tape.
The melt adhesion of course worked very well.

I am somewhat surprised that both the duct tape and carpet tape
samples did so well since i have poor luck with them on actual sails.

I really think my winner was melt adhesion using a clothes iron.
After initial experiments with my wifes iron, I went out and bought a
cheap iron with a teflon coating. You cannot really run it over the
visqueen, you have to get it hot and put it down on the plastic for a
couple of seconds. It melts together in spots with some puckering.

IN CONCLUSION

I would reccomend using the fiber glass reinforced carpet tape on your
sails at first. Be sure you really have the visqueen clean and
thatyou press the tape down firmly all over.
When the carpet eventually gives out, then get a clothes iron with a
teflon coating and melt adhere the visqueen to itself.

David OHara