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From: Jochen Grikschat <grikschat_at_surfeu.de>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Prijon Glue - better original material
Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 11:01:07 +0100
Hi Bill!

I´ve got an old Prijon Taifun, but never need these so called glue sticks.
but I´ve heard enough about those problems with repairing PE.

Forgot these glue sticks. PE is nearby unrepairable, but you got the best
chance when using the original material from your boat. That don´t means
make a hole into your kayak to fill another, but talk to your local Necky
dealer and if its a good one, he (or she) can order some (fex is enough)
trash material out of the production. From every kayak have to take away
the PE-parts, former filled the cockpit or something else... Only these
original PE will/could  melt together with your boat.

To repair, put something flat metal under to part you want to repair, it
has to splint the and support the PE from fallen inside while you heat it.
Then heat with a hot air gun the point fast and not TOO hot, The PE
shouldn´t burn but just melt on the sides. Parallel you heat you original
metarial, so that both parts were almost exact on the same temperature,
press them together. The best would be, when you do some training before.
If you had to fill a hole, cut out a piece PE which will be a little bit
bigger than the hole. Press the hot part (with the new material filled in)
together with another flat piece metall. Make sure all parts of the new
peace get in touch with the boat. Heat the surface again and make sure it
will be smooth, with a knife or something else. If it is a scratch, treat
it like a chewing gum or something else. Press it in and cut the rest away
while it is hot. - Ready!
Never heat the boat too much! It will make blubb inside and you will look
in an unbelieveable way! Like Elmer, who lay down his PE kayak nearby a
fire and afterwards the whole bottom of his kayak fall inside! Okay, thats
extrem! 

With the "glue sticks" from Prijon you would get real problem, either while
you repair or later when it breaks again.
I´ve heard from people how send their complete Prijon-Kayak to Prijon (in
germany) and afterwards the repaired peace looks unbelieveable awfully.
And there is the question, how is your necky produced? Is it rotated or
blow up PE?
Rotating  is the cheaper way for the companys. Fill in some PE into the
form, close it, heat it, and turn it round until the PE is everywere. -
This will make stiff boats and a short chain up PE, this is really
difficult to repair.
Or the PE comes out of an extruder, in a fresh and hot formed tube, gets
into the forms, and will pressed into the form with high air pressure.
Thats what Prijon and Eskimo do. These fabric plants are extremely
expensive, but will make the best boats. Not so stiff but very very
durable. The PE is long chained up and easier to repair and you can make
the boats faster.

PE is a really diificult material. There is almost NOTHING really glueing
to it. Except the original material. And these "glue sticks" are rubbish
and typical Prijon. The try to earn as much money as possible... 

Good luck to your and your boat. I have done a repair to an really old PE
polo kayak from france. When they bought the kayaks, they take some
original PE from the boats with them, for the case they have to repair the
boat someday. And what should a say? It works! The hole is closed, doesn´t
look extremely first class, but there is no longer a hole and the surface
is smooth.

Best regards
Jochen Grikschat



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