Amazing stuff - Sugru
The future needs fixing - the future needs fixing - sugru (http://sugru.com/)
This can be used to fix broken motorhome parts
sugru is the exciting new self-setting rubber that can be formed by hand. It moulds like play-dough, bonds to
almost anything and turns into a strong, flexible silicone rubber overnight.
Developed by a team of product designers and material scientists, sugru's patented technology is unique in its
combination of hand-formability, self-adhesion and flexibility when cured. It feels like modelling clay, and
it's that easy to use too. Once cured, its durable properties mean it's comfortable in extreme environments
from the dishwasher to the ocean in Antarctica.
sugru can be formed and shaped by hand for up to 30 minutes once it has been removed from its packaging
sugru is designed to stick to as many other materials as possible. It forms a strong bond to aluminium, steel,
ceramics, glass, wood and other materials including some plastics like perspex and ABS and rubbers like
silicone and butyl rubber.
sugru is like modelling clay when you take it from its pack. Once it's exposed to air, it cures to a tough
flexible silicone overnight using the moisture in the air. Working time = 30 mins. Cure time = 24hrs (3-5 mm
deep)
sugru is strong and durable. Once cured, it will also stand up to anything the weather throws at it, wet or
dry, hot or cold it will be great. It also won't fade in the sun and it's fine with sea water too!
When sugru cures, it's flexible rather than rigid. Which means that you can repair things that need to be able
to move like textiles, cables, or shoes. It's also electrically insulating - how awesome is that?
As sugru is a silicone rubber, it feels soft to touch when it has cured, but is also grippy. This makes it
perfect for handles and grips as it is comfortable but non-slip.
sugru is resistant from -50°C to +180°C. It gets hot and cold but it won't get softer or harder or melt.
Once cured, sugru can be removed* by cutting it off with a sharp knife. Remove any residue with fingernails
and tissue paper.
* from non-porous materials
John and the other engineers at his work wanted to put sugru to the test. They patched a small hole in a water
diffuser which had been spraying them for weeks. So far it's held up to 80 psi.
sugru will stay fresh for 13 months from the date it was made. If you use it within its date, the cured sugru
will last and last. (You'll find a Use By date on the back of each individual minipack).
PRO TIP: If you keep sugru in the fridge, you can triple the number of months you have left!
Have the normal people gone yet? Great. Let's talk technical. sugru is a formulation of Formerol - the
patented formable silicone technology invented by Jane. It's Formerol F.10, to be precise. We call it sugru,
because that's its superhero name.
Formerol can be designed with variable physical properties, but sugru is the best version for most people.
I wish I had known about this stuff when I had to replace my black tank last year! The old one could not be repaired.
jor
Jor- I had a large crack about 6 " long in the black tank on my first FT 93 225 and took it out and had it abs welded. Another fix is the ABS filler that is used on car plastic bumpers. Tried the kit you can buy from RV places and after 2 days of letting it cure I was able to pull it off- waste of money.
JohnH
I also had mine ABS welded but it did not work. Perhaps our tanks were manufactured differently. On the 95, both the black and gray tanks are polyethylene BUT they are what is called Crosslinked Polyethylene. This is a different molecular structure than straight polyethylene. I talked to the manufacturer and to Foretravel. Crosslinked polyethylene cannot be repaired with heat and nothing sticks to it. I tried to fix it myself and also had it professionally welded. It turned into quite the project.
As it turned out, Foretravel doesn't have any of our old tanks left and I had no luck in locating one anywhere. I could have had one made but that would have been extremely expensive. Anyhow, Mark Harvey came through for me with a later model tank which "almost" fit. Close enough anyhow. I ended up creating a new platform for it with the same incline. After all was said and done, I gained two gallons. Now have 56!
Incidentally, I took a good look at the old one before I got rid of it. Felt a bit strange peering into that black tank. Anyhow, it looked like new inside.
jor
Looks like neat stuff! Although I dought it would work on the tanks. The plastic tanks and rotomold products release oils that prevent adheasives from bonding to them. The only repairs are made with gaskets and flanges.