FredT
Guest
As a general rule when working codura do not try to weld the slits or any cut closed, just melt the edges of the slit a bit to keep it from fraying. An old butter knife (or computer slot blank) placed on a stove burner until it glows slightly, and handled with pliers, will hold enough heat to seal the edges quite easily. If you try to close the slit you'll find there is not enough material. The slits are not in a load bearing part of the wing, and should be just through one side of the fabric "pocket."
BTW a "hobby" low wattage iron at radio shack or wally world should set you back about $6-10, and is handy for dealing with frayed strap edges and cutting nylon line without fraying it. Consider the investment in a "nylon tool" if you intend to do much gear customizing. After doing the nylon thing the tip is pretty much worthless for soldering anyway unless it's abrasive stripped to virgin metal and retinned. That process is more of a PITA than it's worth for a cheap iron.
As far as bonding to old neoprene externally you can clean and scrub to use a neoprene cement as described above, or just go with a good grade of flexible construction contact cement and a solvent like Goof Off or Everclear to degrease. Fully wet the dry nylon skin with the cement, then oversew the joint with sail needles and heavy kevlar or dacron thread without pulling the stitches too tight so there is some flex left. Overcoat the sewn area externally with the cement to lock the stiches. Something similar to the stuff used to put down Formica is a good choice. It's not pretty, but it IS permanent. Use a neoperene cement to seal the inside stiches if you do that though. Formica glue can be quite scratchy.
FT
