There are several ways to repair a puncture or cut in a bicycle tube, one of which is hot or cold vulcanization of the tires. This method can be confidently called reliable and durable; a wheel secured with raw rubber will serve like new and will not go flat at the most unexpected moment. You can easily carry out such repairs yourself, both at home and outdoors on a hike, if you have some necessary parts. Hot method vulcanization differs from cold vulcanization only in how the patch applied to the wheel is fixed - with or without heating.
What is vulcanization? This is a chemical process due to which, with the expenditure of heat, the strength properties of rubber improve, it becomes elastic and hard. You can apply a patch to a puncture using a piece of an old tube or a ready-made patch from a repair kit, and to secure them you need raw rubber with your own hands, which is sold in rolls with protective film. This is a very plastic material, it sticks to any surface, easily sticks together into a lump, etc. raw rubber instructions for use are indicated on the packaging.
- There are two types of vulcanization - cold and hot, let's look at both of them in more detail.
Application of cold vulcanization
The material for such repairs appeared back in 1939 in the USA, almost immediately began to be successfully used and is popular among cyclists and motorists around the world to this day. With its help you can easily and hassle-free repair any camera, cold method very easy to use at home. For the convenience of consumers, some manufacturers offer ready-made repair kits (cold wet rubber, instructions for use are indicated on the packaging), which include several patches of various sizes in the form of a patch, sandpaper, which is used to clean a puncture site or scratch on the rubber. , as well as a special quick-drying adhesive for cold vulcanization. It is he who reacts with the layer of raw rubber on the patch - it is applied bright color around black. This causes a vulcanization process, making the rubber of the chamber easily glued together without heat (i.e. cold process). This method is best suited for repairing wheels on the go, when there are no more tools at hand. You won’t find a single cyclist who hasn’t been helped out by a kit like this at least once in his life. It does not take up much space in a bag or backpack, and its importance is difficult to overestimate, especially if you are alone on a trip without friends far from the city. The entire process of repairing a tire using cold vulcanization using a patch for the inner tube will take the cyclist no more than ten minutes, and the wheel will be like new.
Do-it-yourself hot vulcanization technology for tires
This technology is used a little longer than cold technology. At a time when there weren’t so many tire shops around, car and bicycle enthusiasts repaired their vehicles in the garage using exactly this method, which uses an electric or gasoline vulcanizer, which you can easily assemble with your own hands. The technology here is as follows: the master burns gasoline, which heats the rubber with the help of a piston. As soon as the temperature rises to 90 degrees, the raw rubber for vulcanization begins to strengthen; if you raise the temperature to 147 degrees, the process goes noticeably faster and with better quality. But it’s better not to raise it above 150, because... the material begins to deteriorate and loses its properties. After 160 degrees, raw rubber begins to char. Perfect time warming up during hot vulcanization of raw rubber - about 8-10 minutes. A fragment of material is applied to the puncture site on the camera and compressed using a clamp, so that in the process chemical reaction bubbles did not form and air did not collect, creating dangerous voids.
The technology of using hot vulcanization of raw rubber at home will be 40% more effective for a tire than cold vulcanization, so if possible, it is better to use this method.
In field conditions, it is much more difficult to carry out such an operation for cameras, but it is still possible: if there is a piece of raw rubber, you can heat it over a fire. You can determine the temperature of the flame by looking at a piece of sugar or a piece of paper: both begin to melt/char at a temperature of 145 degrees – exactly what is required for vulcanization. You can use a flat heavy stone, a wooden log or any other suitable object as a clamp.
The entire operation will take you about 20 minutes. Do not forget that the area where the tube patch is glued must be cleaned with sandpaper or at least wiped with gasoline to remove dirt from the tire.
Cement for vulcanization and its application
Another alternative option for repairing bicycle wheels on the go - this is a can of cement vulcanizer. You can buy them, for example, at the car market - this material is very popular among car enthusiasts. The composition is sold in tin and aerosol cans under pressure from brands such as Abro, BL, Zefal, Top RAD and many others. In terms of their composition, they are not hazardous to health and are not toxic, because... they do not contain chloride and aromatic hydrocarbons, so they can be used freely both at home and outdoors without a protective mask. In order for tire cementation to occur, a temperature of 18 degrees Celsius is required. The composition is also used for hot vulcanization (150 degrees required). To repair, you need to remove the foreign object that caused the puncture from the rubber of the inner tube, fill the inner tube with a cement vulcanizer through the nipple, slightly inflate it with a pump and ride a bicycle for 2-3 kilometers to adjust the pressure in the wheels. This tire repair technology is simple and is also used everywhere. To consolidate the result, it is possible to use a patch of plaster followed by the hot vulcanization method - absolutely the same as described in the instructions above. The technology is suitable for any tire cuts. In this case, the patch for repairing the tubes is applied before filling the tire with cement.
Probably every driver has at least once encountered the problem of punctured tires. The easiest way to fix such a breakdown is to contact a tire repair shop. But, if such a service is not close, or you have to use the service quite often, which results in a substantial amount of money, you can patch a punctured tire with your own hands, using special device.
A homemade vulcanizer can help you repair car, motorcycle, and bicycle cameras. Those who are interested in such a tool are recommended to study the article, which describes in detail the options for its manufacture.
How does a vulcanizer work?
At installation work An indispensable device is a vulcanizer. With its help, the integrity of the tire is restored in such a way that it can be used for a long time.
Vulcanizer design
The basis of the device is a plate measuring 200x400x20 mm lying on two horizontal wide channels. On its sides, racks made of channel No. 65 are installed vertically and secured by welding. A “rocker arm” is bolted to these posts. A clamping screw fixed with an end clamp passes through its center. There is a heating element at the bottom of the vulcanizer.
Operating principle of the equipment
Using the vulcanizer is quite simple, since there is nothing complicated in its operating principle.The result is an inextricable, strong connection that allows you to fully use the tire.
Optimal temperature to strengthen raw rubber – 147 degrees. At temperatures above 150 degrees, rubber begins to collapse, and 160 degrees is critical temperature for rubber, at which point it begins to char.
However, the chamber cannot be kept in the vulcanizer for a long time even at the optimal 147 degrees. In order for the patch to hold tightly and efficiently, 8–10 minutes are usually enough.
Camera repair rules
Before applying a patch to the camera, it must be carefully prepared:
To remove dirt and roughness from the surface of the chambers, its damaged areas are cleaned sandpaper or a pebble.Options for manufacturing vulcanizers
To fix tire punctures at home, you can: minimal costs make several types of vulcanizers. It’s not difficult to make them with your own hands, the main thing is to choose suitable design.
Iron vulcanizer
This is one of the most common options homemade equipment for tire repair. Manufacturing instructions:
If you intend to repair elements of some complex structures, then the plates will need to be given the appropriate shape.
To use such a vulcanizer, products can be repaired as follows:
- the area to be treated is cut at an angle of 45 degrees and degreased with light gasoline;
- a patch is cut out of raw rubber and applied to the area to be repaired;
- all elements are placed into a mold and tightened tightly with screws;
- The mold is placed on a heated iron so that its lower half touches the heating surface of the iron;
- In this way, the elements heat up within 10–15 minutes.
When repairing the product, you must ensure that the rubber does not touch the heated iron.
Equipment made from electric stoves and clamps
To make such a vulcanizer with your own hands, you should select a household electric stove with an open spiral.
By welding iron 5 mm thick to the dimensions of the ceramic base of the tile, the heater body is made.Electrical diagram of such equipment is similar to the circuit of an iron. The temperature of its surface is controlled by a thermometer, and the regulator is set to turn off the heating element when it reaches a temperature of 140–150 degrees. At this time, the warning light should go out. The duration of heating of the device will depend on the power of the installed coil.
Do-it-yourself vulcanizer to eliminate troubles along the way
Using a piston from a car or motorcycle engine, you can make equipment that does not require electricity to operate. Only 40-50 grams of gasoline is enough for it.
To make a vulcanizer you will need to prepare:
The base for the equipment is best made of wood, as it does not prevent the rubber from heating well.
The design and materials used of such a vulcanizer can be changed; only the principle of its operation is important.
Before repairing the camera using the equipment provided, it is first necessary to clean the damage and wipe it with clean gasoline. After this, a patch is cut out of raw rubber, installed in the desired place and covered with a piece of newspaper. A piston is placed on top, which is pressed by a rack using screw nuts.
Gasoline is poured into the piston, into which a small piece of rag is dropped. After this, you need to set the gasoline on fire and wait until it all burns out. Once the piston has cooled completely, it can be removed. The damaged chamber has been repaired and looks as if the patch was applied using an ordinary vulcanizer.
Do-it-yourself vulcanizers are suitable for repairing motorcycles and car tires, heating pad, air mattresses and other rubber products. The most important thing is to follow the rules for repairing cameras and the instructions for using homemade equipment.
For today's experiments with creating devices with our own hands, we will need an old, but definitely working iron, a body from installing a monometer, a standard plate and a plate made of twelve millimeters of aluminum.
So, what do we get?
The very first step will be to analyze the design of the iron, in order to subsequently make 3 holes in the heating element of the iron, namely the sole, why, you will find out further. After creating the holes, you can immediately connect the wires so as not to have to worry about this aspect in the future.
Important! We screw the plate, already holding the body from the monometer from below. In this situation, the housing under the monometer acts as a stand for the structure being created. Accordingly, we work out the holes in the body from the monometer in advance, after which we connect all the parts. Don’t forget to put a washer on the plate so that the parts wear out over a longer period of time.
Next, it is imperative to isolate the contacts at 220 Volts, for example, using getinax plates, since they act as a reliable insulator for a large amount of time.
To isolate the contact, we make slots in the plates and fasten them with plastic ties. The next step is to create a hole in the 12mm plate, but not through it and, most importantly, in the center. The recommended recess height is 6 millimeters.
Next, through the hole in the bent plate we pass a bolt, or a tightening pin, for example from an unnecessary meat grinder. We screw the nuts on both sides, thereby fixing the bolt at the height we need.
Thus, we have obtained a fairly practical and reliable vulcanizer for a car or bicycle camera. The design system works in such a way that the structure securely clamps the camera.
When actively using wheeled vehicles, you constantly encounter some kind of breakdown. In particular, with tire punctures.
I live in a village, and in order not to have to travel to the city for every occasion, I made an electric vulcanizer. Since then I have been repairing tractor, car and motorcycle wheels myself.
Vulcanizer design
The basis is a slab measuring 200x400x20 mm, lying on two horizontal sections of a wide channel. A variable power heating element from an electric stove is attached to the bottom. On the sides of the slab, two posts made of channel No. 65 are welded vertically, to which a “rocker arm” is bolted. A clamping screw passes through its center, which is fixed to the bar with an end clamp.
Puncture repair
If all three spirals are connected in parallel, the plate is heated to cure for 10-12 minutes. I first treat the puncture site with cutters, then degrease it with gasoline galoshes. ** I coat the puncture site with raw rubber dissolved in gasoline until thick as sour cream. After drying, I glue a patch made of the same rubber, place it “face” to the plate and press it with a screw (Fig. 1). The vulcanization process lasts approximately half an hour.
Repair of fitting valves
This operation differs in that I first place a special aluminum part directly on the plate with a hole drilled in the center according to the thickness of the welded fitting (Fig. 2-3). I cut off part of the old valve. I also sand and degrease the place where the patch is installed. I place the chamber with the fitting with the threaded part in the direction of the heater. I lubricate it with a rubber solution, after drying I glue a patch with a hole in the center. I degrease it again and coat it with the solution again. After drying, I install the valve fitting with the threaded part to the heater, press it with a screw and set it to vulcanize (Fig. 4). The process lasts longer than half an hour.
*Rollers are discs with sharp teeth and holes in the middle, with the help of which they are threaded onto a roller. When the drum rotates, the teeth crush and chip away scale and rust on the pipe.
**Gasoline-galosh is a low-boiling fraction of dearomatized gasoline of direct distillation of low-sulfur oils. Belongs to the group of solvent gasolines.
Rice. 1 Puncture repair flow chart
1 - pressure screw, 2 - plate, 3 - heating element, 4 - chamber with a patch to the plate, 5 - metal circle with a hole for the screw, 6 - thick rubber.
Rice. 2 Drawing of a part for welding valves with inserts (MTZ rear chambers)
Vulcanizers for repairing tires and tubes are devices that use the principle of combining rubber under the influence of heat and pressure.
The principle of joining rubber by vulcanization has been known for a long time. Due to heating, changes occur in molecular structure mating rubber surfaces. The layers of rubber are mixed and form a fairly strong joint, which in its characteristics is in no way different from monolithic rubber, and in some characteristics even surpasses monolithic rubber.
Working principle of the vulcanizer
On a damaged surface of the camera or car tire a special patch made of raw rubber (caoutchouc) is applied. Heating elements are supplied to the joint on both sides. Heating elements under the action of a drive, which can be different, create pressure at the junction.
The surface being repaired heats up. And as a result of this, a strong, elastic connection appears. After this, gradual cooling of the restored surfaces occurs.
Types of vulcanizers by size and functionality
The simplest vulcanizer for repairing tubes and tires is a manual one. In its principle, it is similar to a clamp, which has heating elements instead of traditional jaws. This vulcanizer is intended for minor repairs of car inner tubes. The pressure is set manually using a screw clamp. The manual vulcanizer is connected to a regular power supply or to a car battery.
Portable vulcanizers are designed for more complex repairs and are able to cope with serious defects, primarily on car cameras. They have their own power supply. But the creation of the necessary pressure occurs due to a screw mechanism in manual mode.
Tabletop vulcanizers for repairing tires and tubes are the most advanced devices. They can be used to repair not only damage to car tubes, but also damage to car tires. Pressure is created in the vulcanization zone using both a screw mechanism and a pneumatic or electro-pneumatic drive.
Floor vulcanizers make it possible to restore both tires and inner tubes. The creation of pressure in these devices occurs due to pneumatics or electropneumatics. Most floor vulcanizers have additional features, which make working on them easier. Large tires and tubes are repaired using floor vulcanizers.
All vulcanizers for repairing tubes and tires can be divided into two types. Namely:
- Universal devices;
- Target devices.
Universal devices repair both car tubes and tires. In addition, universal vulcanizers can be used to restore various surfaces car tires.
Additional features of automotive vulcanizers
Vulcanizers for repairing tires and tubes can be equipped with additional components and systems that provide additional functionality.
The most common and in demand additional option– this is temperature control of heating elements. Thanks to the installation of temperature sensors, overheating of the connection points is completely eliminated. Overheating rubber is just as dangerous as underheating.
As a result of overheating, the rubber at the joints loses not only its strength, but also its elasticity. As a result, serious rupture of the surfaces of the tube or tire may occur when the vehicle is moving.
Installing a timer, which helps control the time of the vulcanization process, also provides certain advantages, primarily by facilitating the work of the vulcanizer operator. The automation will automatically turn off the heating as soon as the specified time has passed.
Some vulcanizers for tube and tire repair are equipped with flexible heating elements, which make it possible to more evenly heat the mating surfaces and distribute pressure evenly. Considering that we often have to deal with complex curved surfaces when retreading tires, the variable geometry of the clamping modules is a very useful option.
Pneumatic and electro-pneumatic drives, compared to mechanics, provide uniform pressure on the vulcanized surfaces, which ultimately ensures a high-quality rubber connection.
