Repairing soft plastics

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Steve D
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Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve D »

What the best method of repairing soft plastics like spring dawgs etc? I see you can buy " special glue " from the likes of savage gear but will any old super glue be fine or is there a better method.

Cheers.
Theres one or two phoneys round here ..
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Kangawollabat
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Kangawollabat »

Regular old super glue. A hot metal blade will do the job in a pinch.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Daniel »

The glue designed for fixing soft plastics keeps the lure soft, normal super glues dry hard and can affect the action if used on the wrist of the tail, especially on smaller lures.
Either glue will only work if the cut has completely dried out, any moisture in the cut and it won't work.

A battery powered soldering iron works well when out on the bank but is a bit heavy.
Just melting the cut with a lighter works but does tend to look s**t.
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Duncan Holmes
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Duncan Holmes »

Daniel wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 01:03 -
The glue designed for fixing soft plastics keeps the lure soft, normal super glues dry hard and can affect the action if used on the wrist of the tail, especially on smaller lures.
Either glue will only work if the cut has completely dried out, any moisture in the cut and it won't work.

A battery powered soldering iron works well when out on the bank but is a bit heavy.
Just melting the cut with a lighter works but does tend to look s**t.
I have one of these in my electrical tool box, very light and compact.

Don't really lure fish, so never repaired a lure but I imagine they would work well if you wanted something to use on the bank.

https://cpc.farnell.com/iroda/pro-70/so ... dp/SD01092
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alan behenna
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by alan behenna »

It all depends "what" your working with Steve (compound/amount of damage/site of damage etc), trial and error mate.

Similar sized stuff (to your spring dawgs) with me has had........

"Mend It" treatment.........useless.

"Hot Knife".............better, but on some damage location only a temporary fix.

"Aquasure".............best fix, didn't look good, but the monsters don't care.

:thumbs:
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Steve Moore
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve Moore »

I've tried all methods, and found the best to be Mend it,
And I use it a lot, as I mainly use soft plastics these days.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by c14r4n »

Steve Moore wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 08:23 -
I've tried all methods, and found the best to be Mend it,
And I use it a lot, as I mainly use soft plastics these days.
Completely agree, used Mend it a lot even to reattach dawg tails that have been completely bitten off and it's brilliant stuff!!
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by andrew_nagel »

+1 on the Mind-It. I tend to use Mend-It at home and a mini kitchen blow torch and retractable box-cutter type knife in the boat.
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Steve D
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve D »

Cheers for the info chaps, I was looking at mend-it last night after I posted and read some good reviews ,so will grab a bottle of that and some Aqua sure.

will see how it goes from there.

Thanks again.
Theres one or two phoneys round here ..
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pete webster
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by pete webster »

Has any one got a link for the mend it please,I looked on e bay and could only find it in US.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve Dennington »

Steve Moore wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 08:23 -
I've tried all methods, and found the best to be Mend it,
And I use it a lot, as I mainly use soft plastics these days.
:thumbs:
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve Dennington »

pete webster wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 12:44 -
Has any one got a link for the mend it please,I looked on e bay and could only find it in US.
R
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I got mine from Franglais several years ago. There don't seem to be any UK suppliers showing up on a quick Google search :shrug:

There are several other products from other manufacturers that are probably pretty much the same stuff, but I couldn't say for sure.
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Steve D
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve D »

Seems thin on the ground for uk suppliers Pete! I was gonna order some from overseas if I couldn't find any over here.
Theres one or two phoneys round here ..
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Steve Dennington
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve Dennington »

It's still showing as available at Franglais https://www.franglaisfishing.com/ffstor ... php?cat=20
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Steve D
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve D »

Cheers Steve :thumbs:

These also have it in stock but it seems a small bottle for the money..

http://www.repairingproducts.co.uk/prod ... stic-bait/
Theres one or two phoneys round here ..
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by phil.c »

Has anyone tried the UPVC Solvent weld that plumbers use on waste pipes?

It works the same as that overpriced lure weld stuff.

It's not a glue by it alters the structure of the plastic.

It would be great if that worked. :thumbs:
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Steve D
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Steve D »

phil.c wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 13:39 -
Has anyone tried the UPVC Solvent weld that plumbers use on waste pipes?

It works the same as that overpriced lure weld stuff.

It's not a glue by it alters the structure of the plastic.

It would be great if that worked. :thumbs:
Good point Phil, I've got some of that at home so might see what it's like on lures, smells pretty strong mind :dizzy:
Theres one or two phoneys round here ..
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by r0bert »

Mend It for me too. Difficult to get a hot knife out on a lake, especially in wet weather. A quick dab of the stuff and its good to go. No stiffness in the lure unlike with superglue.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by c14r4n »

phil.c wrote: Wed Dec 05 2018 13:39 -
Has anyone tried the UPVC Solvent weld that plumbers use on waste pipes?

It works the same as that overpriced lure weld stuff.

It's not a glue by it alters the structure of the plastic.

It would be great if that worked. :thumbs:
My mates dad took a sniff of my mend it and straight away said its exactly that Phil.....he'd a load of it, he's patched up a paddle tail so many times now it's more UPVC Solvent than lure 😂
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Mark Phillips »

Heat and melt is OK for some repairs, if done carefully of course. I use a mini blow torch.

Superglue works well and is much neater, but only if you use an accelerator to speed up the setting process. Plenty to choose from and my advice is to buy CA glue and the accelerator from the same Brand. I've done super neat repairs on all manner of soft plastics lures using that method. I've tried various products, some of which are being mentioned in this thread. Some are quite good, but I keep going back to CA glue and the accelerant agent method. If you do it right, repairs are almost seamless and remember that less is more when using CA glues and soft plastic lures, thus avoiding any brittleness that repairs without an accelerator often leave you with.

My last words of wisdom - NEVER use the 'thin' CA type glues. They're useless on soft plastics.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by The Omen »

Might be a bit late but http://modernlurefishing.co.uk has just bought a load of mend it in.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Paddy_R »

Isn't the Savage Gear Fix-It the same stuff as Mend-It and a whole lot cheaper?

30mls of Mend-It for £14.99.
15mls of Mend-It for £9.99.

20mls of Savage-Gear Fix-it for £5.99.
Edit: £4.98 delivered
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by r0bert »

Savage gear stuff not the same as mend it. my mate bought the savage gear stuff and used it on a line through.
Didn't do as good a job as the mend it in my opinion.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Paddy_R »

I have both at home and will try them both this evening if I get a chance.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Paddy_R »

I think you're on the money r0bert. They smell like the same thing but the Mend-It is a lot stronger to the nose. Really packs a punch compared to the Savage Gear Fix-It.

I did a far from scientific test on a shad and the Mend-It did seem that bit easier/quicker to work with. In saying that I have fixed a couple of small clean slits with the SG Fix-It in the past and they are perfect now.

I think both will work for small repairs but the Mend-It is a stronger mix. I also prefer the Mend-It bottle and applicator.
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Timbo1 »

I use a gas soldering iron to mend soft plastics when afloat...usually wait until I've 3-4 to do. Never had any bother in cr@ppy weather, just have to be careful where you put the iron to cool down...
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by fishandy »

I bought a small gas torch from maplins it runs off of standard ciggy lighter ideal for bankside repairs very small and light maplins now gone bust so I don't know if anywhere else sells them
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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by spittlebug »

Hi, i bought this to repair them.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline-B ... :rk:1:pf:0


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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by Will Smith »

spittlebug wrote: Fri Dec 21 2018 21:31 -
Hi, i bought this to repair them.


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Silverline-B ... :rk:1:pf:0


Bob
Did it work Bob ?

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Re: Repairing soft plastics

Post by spittlebug »

Hi, ain't used it yet or tried it out.
I'll Fire it up, see if it gets hot.

Bob
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