Re-coating kite with Shoe Goo: incredibly easy and effective!

[sarc]

So after recent few threads about re-coating kites I decided to give it a try and I was really surprised by the result. Bottom line: super-easy and very effective for porous canopy.

Here's the long version:
2012 Northtone Rebel 8m. Used most weekends between 2012 and 2017, then retired because canopy stretched and the ripstop was like rice paper: super thin, if you wet it on one side the water would seep right away to the other side.
But amazingly (testament to Duonorth quality improvement since 2010) it holds air no problem and flies very nicely! It's all baggy and stretched (including the 5th nose line bridle, I had to shorten by 7cm) but it is a great 'disposable' wave kite - drifts nicely and turns very well with no power.
So:
1. Washed, rinsed well, dried completely
2. Hanged it on a clothes line
3. Mixed one 100ml tube of Shoe Goo (original) with 500ml Toluene, so 5:1 ratio by volume. Mixing was easy, need to stir and shaking also very important. Takes a few minutes to mix completely (use a transparent PE plastic can so you can see what's happening). No problems shaking the toluene (no pressure buildup etc.), but respirator mask is necessary and gloves recommended.
4. Got a hand pump spray bottle from the dollar store (the kind you use for household cleaners). Adjust the nozzle to medium mist and just go to town on the kite topside canopy. I was not really paying attention as I assumed the kite was a throwaway anyway, bit it was dead easy just spray and move on when the area is wet. I got a bit on the black leading edge, I can see some faint whithish marks, you can tape it if you care (I don't)
5. I was surprised the Shoe Goo did not clump or dry out in the bottle; 100ml goo + 500ml toluene was more than enough for 1 coat, and 2 coats were not necessary, spray at your leisure.
6. Kite colors are nice and bright and canopy was crinkly 5 minutes after spraying. I let it hang there for 1 hour just because and packed it up - done!

Result: jumps are more than twice height and hangtime before the spraying. Kite flies nice as before. Zero - nada sand sticking. For canopy that has porosity issues (water seeping from one side to the other) this is a 10 USD cheap, easy, fast godsend!

[SWO_kite]

Forgive me, but I don't understand the purpose of this treatment.

Is it just a water repellent?
Does it tighten up ripstop/stitching?

I'm interested to see how you treatment holds up in hot summer sun and longer term. Perhaps the coating may speed up/slow down UV damage.

[Baptiste_FR]

Thanks for the tip.
What is the cost of the 2 elements (100ml tube of Shoe Goo and 500ml Toluene) ?
Did you apply the the liquid on the intrados or the extrados of the kite ? Extrados I presume, but just to be sure.

[TheJoe]

Forgive me, but I don't understand the purpose of this treatment.

Is it just a water repellent?
Does it tighten up ripstop/stitching?

I'm interested to see how you treatment holds up in hot summer sun and longer term. Perhaps the coating may speed up/slow down UV damage.

Probably to fix the porosity (think that is the right term). Basically to keep air from passing thru the fabric. I started powered paragliding 2 years ago and that is one thing the gliders need to be checked for every so many hours of flight or years of age. Too much air passing thru the canopy and you start losing lift.

[foilholio]

Other thread viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2392469

It does fix porosity.

[PugetSoundKiter]

Other thread viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2392469
It does fix porosity.

Yep, it helps.

viewtopic.php?p=964584#p964584

[sarc]

Thanks for the tip.
What is the cost of the 2 elements (100ml tube of Shoe Goo and 500ml Toluene) ?
Did you apply the the liquid on the intrados or the extrados of the kite ? Extrados I presume, but just to be sure.

Shoe Goo = USD 10 if you buy outside the US (USD 6 in the USA)
500ml toluene = USD 2
Hand pump sprayer = USD 2

Yes I applied to the canopy top side (extrados in French)

[longwhitecloud]

I'd like to thank shoegoo for saving my bleeding feet when my skate shoes wore out and I had no $ for new ones! Nice hack.. filthy vocs in shoegoo and toluene is filth too so you need a full face mask with right filter cos it gets into your bloodstream through your eyeballs too...

[nixmatters]

Other thread viewtopic.php?f=197&t=2392469

It does fix porosity.

How about bias stretch?

I checked the other threads on this topic and noticed that E6800 is UV resistant, while ShoeGoo TDS clearly states it is not.
http://eclecticproducts.com/e6800-indus ... esive.html

By chance that you know what the polymer base of ShoeGoo is? PU or synthetic rubber?
E6800 - the marketing B/S statement "Tough – 2X stronger and 60X more flex than Polyurethane!", should mean it's not PU based. thanks

[apollo4000]

What do the factories use before they ship, is that not available? Tom Court’s always down the factory on his skateboard or Demi M. They’re on here...let’s ask em.

Oi Demi old son...Court Marshal...can we have a video on this stuff