Toby wrote: ↑Sat Jan 12, 2019 9:29 pm
How to repair a Kite Bladder:
What the video did not cover : when you observe a leak ( see bubbles ), you will want to mark that spot as often the hole is practically invisible, and without a mark, you may not patch the right spot. Marking, usually done with a permanent marker, will require drying the area around the leak first. Often, after drying the area, you won't to be too sure exactly where the leak is, and your first attempt to mark it may be wrong. Repeat the leak location ( more about that below ) to check you have marked the right spot. Marking the second time is usually far more successful, as you have a point of reference ( your first mark ).
In my experience, submerging a bladder in water is not the most effective method for locating pinhole leaks. Big pinholes will show and make bubbles, but tiny pinholes will not present ( make bubbles ) because the deeper the bladder is immersed, the higher the back pressure, or pressure on the outside of the bladder ( pressure at 10 inch depth of fresh water is 0.4 psi ) and water has pretty high surface tension, enough to block gas from going through a tiny pinhole.
Far more effective to pour soapy water over the bladder, such that a thin continuous layer of soapy water covers the area you are watching. Big leaks won't make bubbles, but the air jetting out of them will create a mini geyser of water as you are pouring over them. Small pinholes will create a trail of bubbles.