Therm a rest repairs
EMF
Has anybody had experience repairing holes in thermarests?
Do the repairs last if done properly?
Any info would be appreciated
Thanks
Liz
Bud Kuenzli
Yes. Get some Seam Grip, by McNett (available in many backpacking
stores). Don't use anything else, and don't use the patch kits that
Thermarest sells unless you just want to put a patch over the Seam Grip
repair. Be sure the area around the hole is clean and apply the Seam Grip
according to directions (basically just put it on, let it dry for a day,
and apply some talcum powder). I have a thermarest with two punctures that
is at least ten years old and not a problem. I had to remove an old patch
that went bad and applied Seam Grip. Seam Grip is also the very best tent
sealer on the market.
--
Bud Kuenzli
WL7CIK
XLTRMK
In cyberspace after you get where you're going you still don't know where you are.
Alan Schussman
On Mon, 19 Aug 1996, EMF wrote:
> Has anybody had experience repairing holes in thermarests?
> Do the repairs last if done properly?
> Any info would be appreciated
My thermarest had a small hole which made for some cold nights on hard
ground a few months ago. When I got home, I inflated it and put it under
water in the bathtub to find the hole. I marked the hold and patched it
with a air mattress repair kit -- basically some heavy-duty cement and a
plastic patch -- and so far it has held up very well.
I'm sure that cascade designs sells patch kits specifically for
the thermarest, but they're probably expensive. From my experience, you
can do very well without their custom kit.
- Alan
k...@pipeline.com
In article <321851...@abdn.ac.uk>, EMF writes:
>Has anybody had experience repairing holes in thermarests?
>Do the repairs last if done properly?
>Any info would be appreciated
>
>Liz
>My cat got a hold of both my Thermarests. After repairing seven holes, I
gave up and sent them to Cascade Designs. For $10 each they fixed 'em.
Not one problem since.
Kirk J. Roth
k...@usa.pipeline.com
Have a spiffy day!
JERRYTOY
To find that leak in your Therm-a-Rest:
1. Blow up as hard as possible by mouth and quickly close valve.
2. Fold Therm-a-Rest in half or thirds and kneel on it.
(This dramatically increases internal air pressure.)
3. Use some soapy water in a cup or better yet use 409 cleaner and rub it
over the surface to spot leaks/ bubbles.
(409 does not leave soap residue that can have adverse effect on patch
adhesion)
4. Locate small puncture and mark with ball point pen.
5. Allow Therm-a-Rest to dry off.
6. Roll up pad and close the valve.
(With air out of the Therm-a-Rest the pad is now drawing air into the
pad VIA the hole.)
7. Apply Therm-a-Rest Repair Kit adhesive or other urethane based
adhesive to the puncture
hole. (With the pad rolled up the urethane adhesive is being drawn
INTO the hole)
8. Allow 24 hours to dry, if you can.
9. Test your work! Easy way is to roll up pad and close the valve.
Set the rolled up Therm-a-Rest on a flat surface and leave it for 24
hours.
(If it is unrolling during that time period, clearly you have a
leak.)
If you have a more difficult repair such as camp fire damage, animal
chewed on valve corner or any other damage that you do not feel
comfortable with attempting your own repair, Cascade Designs has a Repair
Program. We want to keep our pads in service and out of the landfill!
For $10.00 the Cascade Designs repair dept. will make ever effort to
"salvage" your Therm-a-Rest. For the $10.00 we will also pay the return
freight cost.
Send it to: Cascade Designs
attn: Repair Dept.
4000-1st Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
Please do not forget to include your complete shipping address and a day
time phone number.
Jerry Lloyd
Cascade Designs
Seattle
Consumer Help Line 800-531-9531
Also have website under construction-www.cascadedesigns.com
For additional info on repair of sleeping padsTrick to find the leak in
your Therm-a-Rest and all kinds of outdoor gear see the book:
"The Essential Outdoor Gear Manual"
by Annie Getchell, Ragged Mountain Press
Keith G. Rajala
I repaired a small hole in both sides of my thermarest very successfully
by using a bit of shoe goo (shoe renew). It worked like a darn.
R. MATRE
I seem to remember this thread from before, and it seems that if you send
it to Cascade Designs or whover it is that makes them they will send you
a new one free.
k...@pipeline.com
In article <Pine.SUN.3.91.960822120243.5218A-100000@verdi>, R. MATRE
writes:
>I seem to remember this thread from before, and it seems that if you send
>it to Cascade Designs or whover it is that makes them they will send you
>a new one free.
>From what I understand, you pay $10, then they either fix or replace it
for free. I've fixed it for that, but never had one replaced. Anyone else
know for sure?
John W. Stembel
EMF <eng...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote:
>Has anybody had experience repairing holes in thermarests?
>Do the repairs last if done properly?
>Any info would be appreciated
Yes, repairs work if done properly.
For pin holes and other small leaks: blow your Thermarest up as full
as possible. Take a spray bottle of any soapy liquid (e.g., Windex)
and spray onto the Thermarest. Do both sides, as well as the seams.
Any leaks will be identified with air bubbles. Note: putting the
Thermarest in a tub of water usually won't work for pin holes, this
method is much more efficient. Mark all found holes with a permanent
marker. After the Thermarest is dry, I use Shoe-Goo on all pin holes.
Works great, and lasts long. Easy to check for leaks the next day
after the glue drys.
For larger holes, I have used the standard repair kit sold by
Thermarest. My only repair with this method is still holding
air-tight after two years of heavy use.
Rock
JERRYTOY
If it has been damaged, please send us $10.00. For that we will back the
best effort possible, to repair it. Also for that $10.00 we pay the
return freight
(Our goal, keep them out of the landfill.)
IF IT IS NOT "DAMAGED", but in fact has some type of warranty related
failure, we will in fact replace it.
Jerry Lloyd
Dir. of Mkting
Cascade Designs
Seattle
If further questions:
web site - www.cascadedesigns.com
Steve Schlaifer
In article <4vuf41$6...@camel0.mindspring.com>,
John W. Stembel <ro...@atl.mindspring.com> wrote:
>EMF <eng...@abdn.ac.uk> wrote:
>
>>Has anybody had experience repairing holes in thermarests?
>>Do the repairs last if done properly?
>>Any info would be appreciated
>
>Yes, repairs work if done properly.
> [ description of how to do it removed ]
The other possibility that I have had very good success with is to send
it back to the manufacturer. I had done this at the local recreational
supply company (Sport Chalet). The only charge was $5 for
shipping/handling. It looks like the manufacturer actually did the
repair from the inside. There was no patch on the outside but the hole
was obviously closed. Not a good solution out in the field but worked
well for me once I got home.
--
--Steve
The certainty of defeat is no reason not to fight--Charley Reese.
JERRYTOY
your Therm-a-Rest.