DIY latex bladders??

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#1

Anyone have any experience or advice to make custom tubular latex bladders?

My mandrels are about 1.5m long and approx. 50mm x 20mm rectangular profile.

I was thinking to simply fill a long PVC pipe (sealed at the bottom with a cap) and dip my mandrels in there.

After watching a few YouTube videos of ballons etc I see that there may be a few other steps involved such as pre wetting the mandrels, soaking the fresh latex dipped mandrels in hot water after to help with vulcanising etc??

Is this possible?

Any advice??

#2

What is wrong with tube film?

#3

I have considered film and got small sample of one to test. It seems a heavier weight than I was hoping for. Not sure what brand it was, it’s a redish colour.

The reason I was thinking to go with a formed bladder is that there is a small amount of internal laminate that gets folded around the bladders as moulds are closed and I thought the shaped bladder would assist in making it easier to layup or at least less risky process than a film tube.

#4

Yes, that is true.

Just keep in mind that latex bladders are not very durable, so if you need to do a number of products, you might need to make several bladders.

#5

If I can recycle them at all then that’s great but I am not worried too much if we need to make new ones each time??

#6

I’ve done heaps of bladder molding and prefer the use of poly tubing over the time it takes to make and use latex bladders.