MaDHOT wrote:Wow, this is an impressive job you done. I had to deal with an armpit tear before and all I used was SilPoxy but what you had to do is cosmetic surgeon level; you can barely tell from the last image!
Can't wait to see once the job is complete. Either way, I am sure others will find this useful, to see how you fixed it up, from what seemed like an impossible job.
I really appreciate it! I have no experience with a soldering iron, so going into this was quite daunting, especially having made things 5 times worse with trying the heat gun beforehand. I just made sure to scour these forums for repairing high-stress areas. I haven't been able to do any work on the tear for about two weeks, and I'm still waiting to receive the TPE test piece from my vendor, but it seems like having waited at least a week since doing the initial repair has allowed the TPE to cure and become a bit more resilient, as previously stated. I won't do any more work until I get that test piece, but in the mean time I'll post some
links and
information to show you guys exactly what I'm using for this repair.
Even having used a respirator that was only good for filtering organic vapors, I still felt the consequences of inhaling the toxic TPE fumes.
The effects from the fumes for me were short-term memory-loss, difficulty breathing, difficulty getting to sleep, and a raspy throat. Lasted about a week and a half after having worked for about 40-50 minutes on the tear in a space that was not very well ventilated. I live in an apartment, so I don't have anywhere well-ventilated to do this. I do it in my bathroom with the exhaust fan on, and I run the shower in the hopes of binding the TPE particles to the steam. If you're like me and don't have a well-ventilated space to work in, buy this mask to do your repairs. As of now, this respirator mask is $31 USD on Amazon.
I'm not sure what the long-term effects of exposure to TPE fumes are, but the short-term effects were enough to make me use a sick day at my job. The mask itself looks pretty awesome to be honest, but I'm not sure what the maintenance guys would think if they came into my apartment seeing a half-dressed guy with this thing on
For my soldering iron, I chose this one based on the price and the accessories. As somebody who hasn't used a soldering iron, it was very easy to get the hang of.
USE THE BLADE ATTACHMENT if you're going to do work on TPE; it's a lot easier to sculpt, and the increased surface area may make things faster, but
do take your time when you are using it for repairs. The tweezers came in handy when I had to add in more tiny pieces of TPE into the tear. As of now, this kit is $18.99 USD on Amazon.
Also, I think it's ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL to have copper or steel wool on hand to clean your attachment while working with TPE repairs. TPE will stick to your attachment and burn, which will introduce inconsistencies to the color of the TPE.
Using baby oil to saturate the tear and the TPE being used to fill the tear is non-negotiable. I also used the baby oil to "tin" the soldering iron attachment, which I'm not sure is necessary. Baby oil or mineral oil will make the TPE easier to work with when using heat, and it will keep the TPE from drying out. I got this 4-pack of baby oil on Amazon for $11.11.
If I can think of anything else while I wait for the spare TPE, I'll make sure to post it here.
But I think you're handling it well! Just stick with the patience approach.Already looking better than initially all things considered!
