Holes in your Otter sled? Here's a tip for you...

[Moose-Hunter]

Howdy all...

As I was finishing up a few mods to my Otter Lodge, I noticed that "someone" had put a few small holes into the sled. Since the new mods didn't make use of these, what do I do?

After a bit of research, I found out the material used in the manufacture of Otter sleds is very close to what downhill skis have for a base surface. I knew that ski bottoms can be repaired with a material I've always known as P-Tex. So why not with an Otter sled?

I started out with a small (1/4" dia.) hole for my initial test.

After wiping off the hole with a dry rag. I began the repair by plugging the hole on the other side with Aluminum foil and tape to keep the molten material in the hole. I lit the P-Tex with a propane torch and let it drip into the hole. It took a few applications to build up enough material to finally fill the hole. Let it drip, let it cool... And so on, and so on...

After the hole was filled and a bit extra for good measure, I let the repair cool for a while then went back and scraped of the excess with a utility blade. Scrape, don't try cutting. Draw the blade towards you. You get a much better "finish".

Only close up can you tell the hole was ever there. Initial results were very good. Field testing begins as soon as possible!!

**CAUTION** DO NOT GET ANY OF THE MOLTEN MATERIAL ON YOUR HANDS!! IT WILL BURN YOU BADLY!!

Trust me, it hurts...

[Gissert]

Hey! That stuff looks pretty groovy! Thanks for that post.

[Dusty]

I wonder if P Tex will work on any plastic sled? Where can I buy it??? Thanks for the info

[Moose-Hunter]

It's been a while since I last bought the stuff, but I'm sure any ski shop should be able to set you up. If memory serves me, it's not that expensive either. For six holes the size in the pictures, I used about 6" of a 1/2" dia. stick.

I have not tried this on any other sled but my Otter. So if yours is from a different manufacturer, results may vary.

[psegriz]

This p-tex ya talk about is it the same thing as hdpv plastic. It looks the same and I've got a bunch of it. I actually built a house outta it. Got enough of the 1/4"dia stuff on a spool did the corners on my house and might save the rest if it'd patch my otter too.

[1DIRTBALL]

Very smart Moosehunter. Congratulations on a job well done. That stuff you are using must be just like using ferrule cement on a rod you are repairing.

[Moose-Hunter]

Back to the top by request....

[Backwash]

Nice job Moose-Hunter. I did a quick web search for P-tex and found an interesting ski/snowboard repair site that has alot of helpful information on useful tools and P-tex materials that seem very reasonable. Again, thanks for getting us thinking about how to do this job. [sorry, No unauthorized links]

[Moose-Hunter]

Hey there Backwash...

Thanks for the kind words. In my search for repair material I sort of stumbled on the P-tex idea. I actually tripped over an old pair of skis in my basement.. LOL!!!

Unfortunately, I had to delete the link you posted as it was unauthorized.... Sorry pal. No hard feelings, I hope. Anyone looking for information on P-tex can do a quicky web search as you did, or a call to a local ski/snowboard shop would probably net the same results.

[Surface Tension]

Neat idea Dan, I used P-tex in my to be a ski jumping days.