I have tried a few experiments to plug the leaky original bladders in some of my vintage bags. I always wanted to see how the bags reacted in their original issued condition. But I failed to keep the air escaping thru the valve. This had me replacing the bladders with the modern day ones we all know and use.
A few days ago I was conversing with an old timer welder I knew. He told me to mix up super glue and baking soda for a bonding that literally turns into steel like hardness. Some of you guys may have heard of this mixture
I have a McGregor Bulldog bag with the old black Butyl bladder made by the Seamless Rubber Co. You know, the one that is the size of Grandpa's incontinence diaper
I said " What the heck will fit just tight enough in this leaky valve"? Of course, an air pump needle..Duh. So I used the welders recipe of super glue and baking soda to fill a pump needle. You have to be quick with the mix and placement cause it sets up less than 6 seconds or so. I first put a drop the size of 2 grains of rice in the needle threaded opening added a pinch of baking soda. Tamped it with a pocket screw driver. let it set up to hardness. Much to my surprise it did become hard as steel. I tried to prise it out to test it and it would not move.
I continued filling the needle with the mixture until it was about 1/32 above the threads. I also did the 2 air holes in the needle part as well. You need to be careful and be sure to have the mixture in the holes and not on the needle exterior. You will want the needle to insert into the valve.
I pumped the bladder up, inserted the now plugged needle and left it in. And now after 2 days not an ounce of air has leaked out. I hung the bag up and hit on it and the air held. The bladder functions very well. This McGregor is a big bag- 15 inches. I will continue on with the bag and see at what point it fails.... By the way, the needle is removable and can be reinserted for a leaky valve as needed
A few days ago I was conversing with an old timer welder I knew. He told me to mix up super glue and baking soda for a bonding that literally turns into steel like hardness. Some of you guys may have heard of this mixture

I have a McGregor Bulldog bag with the old black Butyl bladder made by the Seamless Rubber Co. You know, the one that is the size of Grandpa's incontinence diaper

I said " What the heck will fit just tight enough in this leaky valve"? Of course, an air pump needle..Duh. So I used the welders recipe of super glue and baking soda to fill a pump needle. You have to be quick with the mix and placement cause it sets up less than 6 seconds or so. I first put a drop the size of 2 grains of rice in the needle threaded opening added a pinch of baking soda. Tamped it with a pocket screw driver. let it set up to hardness. Much to my surprise it did become hard as steel. I tried to prise it out to test it and it would not move.
I continued filling the needle with the mixture until it was about 1/32 above the threads. I also did the 2 air holes in the needle part as well. You need to be careful and be sure to have the mixture in the holes and not on the needle exterior. You will want the needle to insert into the valve.
I pumped the bladder up, inserted the now plugged needle and left it in. And now after 2 days not an ounce of air has leaked out. I hung the bag up and hit on it and the air held. The bladder functions very well. This McGregor is a big bag- 15 inches. I will continue on with the bag and see at what point it fails.... By the way, the needle is removable and can be reinserted for a leaky valve as needed
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