Suggestions for patching vinyl pool

[thestrangebrew1]

I've got a pop up vinyl pool that has a small tear on the inflatable ring:

I've tried duct tape, patches that came with it (along with the adhesive glue) and an after market patch kit (with glue as well). I've even tried patching it with crazy glue. Nothing seems to work, although the krazy glue + patch seems to hold the longest.

The ring keeps deflating, and I'm think maybe the heat is liquifying the glue just enough to let air out slowly. I'm tempted to try silicon or liquid nails next but I figured I'd ask you guys first.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

None? lol

 

[Homerboy]

Been there. The only true hope is to deflate the whole thing, empty the pool, let everything dry... then clean the area and put a BIG patch on it.

Short of that throw away. Re-buy.

 

[TwiceOver]

I probably wouldn't have gone through all that with mine. I have a similar designed pool, the 10'x36" model. I only paid $45 for it new so to get a new one with spare filter, I'd just buy new.

Now for a bigger more expensive model, yeah good luck there. Drain the whole thing, let dry, patch in a controlled temp environment. I agree your problem is probably the heat of the sun melting the glue.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Alright thanks. I'll try emptying it out and put a bigger patch on it after cleaning. If this doesn't work I'm tossing it. Thanks.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

Empty it out. Patch it, adhere patch with a coat of 2-part epoxy, then put another layer on top of the patch.

That patch will be the strongest part of the pool, dadgummit.

 

[EagleKeeper]

Place the patch in a vice grip (protect the jaws with cloth/wood) when you apply the patch. That will help ensure the seal.

 

[xalos]

Have you tried using the patch with Loctite vinyl, fabric, and plastic flexible adhesive?

 

[SlitheryDee]

I used some of this stuff once to patch a pool raft. It is meant to glue shoes together and rebuild worn heels. The trick is to not even bother with a patch at all . Put a big globule of this stuff on the hole and all around it. You have to suspend the item so that the inside part of where the hole is doesn't get glued to another part of the inside. Press it a little bit so that some of the stuff squeezes through the hole and it'll form a kind of plug after it dries. Never leaked there again, though I don't think the raft itself lasted more than maybe 2 summers anyway.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Have you tried using the patch with Loctite vinyl, fabric, and plastic flexible adhesive?

Fuck no, I went all redneck with duct tape and some krazy glue lol. I'm running to HD tomorrow so I'll look for some of these suggestions.

 

[Apathetic]

Make sure the area you're patching is *squeaky* clean before you patch.

Dave

 

[OverVolt]

Pool shops have legit patches. We patched our pool way back in the 90's.

Man now that I think about it having a pool was badass.

 

[thestrangebrew1]

Make sure the area you're patching is *squeaky* clean before you patch.

Dave

yea I'm gonna have to drain it to get it nice & clean after all the glue & duct tape residue from my prior attempts. its turning out to be a royal pita but my wife is too cheap to let me go & buy another 1. My inability to fix this small slit is almost grounds to turn in my man card.

 

[skimple]

Man now that I think about it having a pool was badass.

Yes but -

Blow up pools are not badass - they are trailer park.

If you open your pool with a tire pump - you might be a redneck

(Owned 2, btw)

 

[phucheneh]

Real rubber repairs are kind of like 'rubber welding.' You're not just gluing on a rubber patch; the 'cement' is intended to fuse the patch with the surface being repaired. E.g. tires, whether tubed or tubeless.

What kind of material is a 'vinyl' pool made of? I'm assuming the vinyl part is the woven structure; is it coated in rubber or something else?

edit: Wikipedia says it's CPVC...so I would use CPVC cement, not glue of any type. There is a similar fusion to what I was describing above when you 'glue' PVC products.