Homunculus
Contributor
hi all and thank you for reading.
i've found a source of air leaks from my OMS 32 lbs wing - several mini cuts of the same length close to each other, and there is another on on the other side (same area of the wing, just opposite side). Not 100% sure how it happened as the shell has no visible damage whatsoever. 2 guesses - (1) someone tried to lift the rig by grabbing the wing and thus pinching the bladder causing cuts but that would have to happen repeatedly to explain several of them; more plausible (2) the wing, while attached to a tank, was banged up against something. The fact that the cuts are of very similar morphology support the banging hypothesis.
In any case, my question to you is what's the best way to repair these small bladder cuts? I bought Aquaseal adhesive and several vinyl patch kits. None of the patch materials match the bladder in thickness and feel although all are advertised as pool/inflatables repair kits. I believe the bladder is polyurethane. Using a fine ruler (since i don't have a caliper), the thickness of my OMS bladder is ~ 0.25 mm. Googling polyurethane sheets, i can't find anything thinner than 1 mm. Looking at the wing, i can see some extra materials on the edges (shown on the 2nd pic). I don't believe cutting it will compromise the integrity since the seam won't be affected. Im not sure if covering small cuts with slightly larger patch is going to do a job.
Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to repair it?
P.S. i did buy a new OMS 32 lbs bladder for $67 but it says it fits shells made after 2015 which mine is not. It has not arrived yet. I will try it but preparing myself to returning it if it does not fit. I feel that this is something that can and should be fixed instead of buying a new wing ($326) unless i'm convinced otherwise here.
i've found a source of air leaks from my OMS 32 lbs wing - several mini cuts of the same length close to each other, and there is another on on the other side (same area of the wing, just opposite side). Not 100% sure how it happened as the shell has no visible damage whatsoever. 2 guesses - (1) someone tried to lift the rig by grabbing the wing and thus pinching the bladder causing cuts but that would have to happen repeatedly to explain several of them; more plausible (2) the wing, while attached to a tank, was banged up against something. The fact that the cuts are of very similar morphology support the banging hypothesis.
In any case, my question to you is what's the best way to repair these small bladder cuts? I bought Aquaseal adhesive and several vinyl patch kits. None of the patch materials match the bladder in thickness and feel although all are advertised as pool/inflatables repair kits. I believe the bladder is polyurethane. Using a fine ruler (since i don't have a caliper), the thickness of my OMS bladder is ~ 0.25 mm. Googling polyurethane sheets, i can't find anything thinner than 1 mm. Looking at the wing, i can see some extra materials on the edges (shown on the 2nd pic). I don't believe cutting it will compromise the integrity since the seam won't be affected. Im not sure if covering small cuts with slightly larger patch is going to do a job.
Does anyone have any suggestions on the best way to repair it?
P.S. i did buy a new OMS 32 lbs bladder for $67 but it says it fits shells made after 2015 which mine is not. It has not arrived yet. I will try it but preparing myself to returning it if it does not fit. I feel that this is something that can and should be fixed instead of buying a new wing ($326) unless i'm convinced otherwise here.
