27
votes
Accepted
How to clean and refurbish a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife?
When mine gets too bad I use WD40 to free it up, then clean with soapy water and a brush. Mine also goes through the dishwasher sometimes, with the blades partially open. If it gets gummed up with ...
- 27k
26
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
Where I live, we just take such shoes to a Cobbler and he stitches the sole with the shoe all the way around within 30 minutes for negligible amount of money.
And the shoes get a new life. Your boots ...
- 429
24
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
My experience with gluing boots and shoes is that it never does the job for long. Whilst this may to some extent be down to the glue I've used, I think it is also due to the surfaces having been glued ...
- 401
21
votes
How can I fix joint between shoulder strap and chest strap?
One solution, if you don't need the strap to be adjustable along the piping (vertically), is to remove the plastic clip and sew the chest strap to the shoulder strap, in the right place for you.
Any ...
- 2,699
19
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
They were glued when they were originally made, there's no particular reason they shouldn't be reglued now. It's better than having no shoes or the heel flapping about as you walk.
Though the glue ...
- 8,097
16
votes
How to clean and refurbish a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife?
The producer offers a page of care instructions on their website (here) (PDF). The gist is:
don't use a dishwasher, that might be too aggressive
open and close the blade multiple times in warm water
...
- 1,469
13
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
I've had nice boots glued properly - the local shoe-mender took a look and said "this needs three-day glue, come back on Friday" Wasn't particularly expensive either.
Those boots lasted years more,...
- 1,190
13
votes
How can I fix joint between shoulder strap and chest strap?
Those clips do come off, and in many designs you'd be able to thread them back on from the end. It is possible to clip them back on though.
The way I've found works is to gently prise open one end ...
- 27k
10
votes
Accepted
How can I prevent a fiberglass crack in my sailboat from getting worse?
Gelcoat cracking is pretty much a fact of life in boat ownership. The sun and water is a tough environment. However, gelcoat cracking is usually not too concerning as long as it is fixed right away.
...
- 10.7k
10
votes
What happens when fiberglass gets wet?
Often when we say "Fibreglass" we're actually referring to a composite of both fibreglass and resin (usually polyester for glass, epoxy for carbon/kevlar - sometimes glass). This is important, that ...
- 1,475
10
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
My Merrell boots came apart like yours after a few years. I glued the soles back on with Gorilla Glue (original version, amber polyurethane) and they're still holding strong after several more years. ...
- 851
9
votes
Accepted
In a boat repair, what would cause Gelcoat not to harden?
There are several factors that can inhibit the gelcoat from curing. There is not enough information in the review to identify the specific cause. The only specific cause mentioned is stirring, if we ...
- 30.5k
8
votes
How to repurpose an old self inflating sleeping pad?
My only thought is to use them as patching material for the other self-inflating pads your kitties will puncture. Cutting them to-size for inside an animal crate or other surface you want to protect.
- 365
6
votes
How to repurpose an old self inflating sleeping pad?
If you ever have to get into a crawlspace under a house or car, pads like this can be invaluable in making it more comfortable; especially where you are lying on your back to do something.
Insulation/...
- 11.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Yellow Overboot Repair
The answer is (de-)vulcanization, at least for boots made from proper vulcanized rubber (some cheaper variants are made from vinyl for example - in this case this suggestion won't work).
Assuming ...
- 13.4k
6
votes
Can I fix my boots by gluing the soles back on?
You can get a fair job yourself with "Shoe Goo" , a product in the US that sells for less than $ 5 /tube ( enough for several shoes). I used it on a pair of sport shoes about 2 months ago and they are ...
- 1,152
6
votes
How to repair a surfboard leash?
Temporary solutions until you can get a new leash
Below is a list of solutions I tried. With any solution, use the repaired leash on small surf days and when the break has no beach-goers in case it ...
- 241
5
votes
Accepted
Are my climbing shoes worth repairing?
Shoes can be resoled from a worse state.
My current shoes have been resoled from a similiar state three times. The first time they worked even better than new (the rubber was better).
It all ...
- 1,469
5
votes
Are my climbing shoes worth repairing?
These shoes are pretty far gone. At the very least you'll need a new toe rand in addition to the resole, which is going to cost you a significant portion of the price of a new shoe. Your shoes may ...
- 6,879
5
votes
How to repair top section of tent pole
Aluminum poles will typically break in the fashion you describe when they aren't fully inserted into their fittings. There are easy patches for breaks in the middle of a pole (just slide a sleeve of ...
- 53.7k
5
votes
How can I fix an airbed valve that pops open?
Stick a cork in it. Or a rubber stopper. Or a wooden dowel (wet or waxed). See what you can find you might luck out.
You got me curious though and I’ve been googling. Sounds like your best bet ...
- 3,476
5
votes
Accepted
How to repair a surfboard leash?
Miguelmorin's answer is very comprehensive, and if you do want to make a repair, I would definitely recommend following his guidance, however:
Your leash can be the difference between life and death ...
- 25.1k
5
votes
Accepted
How can I clean water filter's intake filter?
Try scrubbing with a toothbrush. In addition to scrubbing, push the toothbrush bristles through the mesh. Wipe the bristles off when they poke out the other side, otherwise you pull the same gunk ...
- 4,364
5
votes
How to repair dry sack with delaminated TPU
Small areas of damage can be repaired with tape (for example Tenacious Tape), but even with a very robust tape this is temporary in practice. Once the delamination starts it will continue. I ...
- 27k
4
votes
Accepted
What's the best or easiest way to attach a loop tag onto canvas?
If I was going to do this, I would use a Speedy Stitcher or similar tool,
to stitch the loop to the tent and then cover the stitches with a canvas seam sealer.
I wouldn't trust glue as there is ...
- 69.4k
4
votes
How can I prevent this canvas swag from sagging in the middle?
The main thing is that the outer guy-line needs to pull in a direction which pulls the top of the hoop outward effectively. Extending the guy-line in the picture farther away from the tent and closer ...
- 536
4
votes
Accepted
How much gelcoat should I remove before redoing the entire hull?
Talking of brushing coats make things a bit difficult because you can apply thick or thin depending on your "hand" and if sanding is required, which could mean even 4 coats, you have some coarse ...
- 3,280
4
votes
Accepted
Drain plug replacement for DePersia Bailer on Sunfish Sailboat
This is the plan B answer. It works but uses ferrous (will rust) parts.
I found a source for Hex bolts, Zinc plated grade 8 steel yellow, 7/8"-14 x 2" I ordered it (Just under $10 with shipping.)
...
- 30.5k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible