I can't let my beautiful bag die like this - DIY Repair ?

Ok, I am really upset, my most trusted enema bag I have had new since 1967 and is so so pretty, has suffered a stroke. Her hanging hole broke and I refuse to believe it cant be repaired to be as good as new again and have the repair look like that's how it was meant to look. I need help here. Any ideas? Thanks.

~ Anne Marie

My condolences!

I once had this happen to a bag of long sentimental value. Today I think I'd try to get a grommet for the broken hole. Back then, however, I stapled the rip over the hole a few times, and that lasted for years, IIRC. After that I gave up on the hole she came with, and used a paper punch to put in a new hole.

After years, the poor bag was finally buried with honor, filled with concrete and laid to rest deep below a very special place.

I understand your pain and share it, last year I broke a 70 years old black curved enema nozzle, (not joking), a gran father souvenir !

A repair is probably going to look like a repair no matter how it's done. That said, we all have scars from life, some are on the outside. With veterans, many are on the inside. Not knowing the extent of the torn hole, this suggestion may or may not work to your satisfaction, that's for you and your ability to decide.

I'd consider gluing a patch of suitable size and material to the inside of the bag and quite possibly on the outside as well, so the tear is sandwiched between two new pieces of strong material. That might be enough to support a new hole.

Another option would be to put a grommet into each patch and match them up before gluing the assembly together. An awning or upholstery shop could probably make a good repair, if you could put up with whatever looks you got from the proprietor when you bring your wounded bag in for repair. Of course, who knows what the "end" result could be.

There is a wetsuit manufacturing and repair factory here in town where I live. I would think a shop like that could also handle a repair.

In any case, don't give up, consider any repair as a reminder of the almost 50 years the two of you have been together. Good luck, let us know how it turns out. Nozzle Tov.

I'd cut and glue on a patch on the inside and outside then put a grommet in to spread out the force. You don't say what the bag is, but if it is red Ace had 1/16" washer/gasket material that shouldn't be too hard to find:

https://www.acehardware.com/departments/plumbing/faucet-and-faucet-repair/faucet-and-valve-packing/4218095?x429=true&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=Cj0KCQjwp5_qBRDBARIsANxdcik45Cr-UBRllG5pTm_GviVDWZDDbQDyW-H-kO-q96FP6ExGHKHNOCcaAvKnEALw_wcB

Use a very sharp knife and template to cut it and I'd use inner tube patch glue to glue it on (though I guess you could try silicone if you wanted to, that might work well enough).

My sub took two thin metal plates and somehow connected them after he had them shaped and smoothed so that they became one with the hole tab on the bag. He put a new hole in the metal so we could hang the bag up through it. I don't have the bag in front of me and I can't quite remember how he did it, rivets I believe.

He did it nicely so it was attractive on the bag. It is stll a fix, but the bag was once again useable.

It's still useful as a hot water bottle.

If you don't have sore joints you will as you age. Only a matter of time.

Also, after a bad enema, or during a colonoscopy prep you may want to hold a hot water bottle against your lower abdomen just to make it feel better.

Same thing for a really bad period on a really cold night when you have to really have it all together the next day.

Maybe it's days as an enema bag are over, but it can go on light duty semi retired status now !

A good grommet might do the job. Good luck.

Wow! from 1967 - wonder how many enemas it's given! Had the hanging hole break on one of my Davol's and I simple used a paper punch to punch a new one a bit down from the original where the rubber is thicker...

If you don't trust the hanging tab to hold after a repair, you might try putting the filled bag in a net bag like 5# of potatoes would be packaged and bring the tube out through a larger hole you could cut where needed in the bag. You would use the net bag to support the Enema bag, taking the stress from the hanging tab.

Dan

Ilffer, go all '70s and make a macrame enema bag holder like the plant holders.

ilffer, go all '70s and make a macrame enema bag holder, like the plant holders.

That's actually a good idea, especially for a closed top bag.

It would also work for an open top, but would be more prone to spilling.

I have had this happen quite a few times.. Open and closed type of bags. I found a real simple solution to the problem. I went to Lowes ( Home Depot ) and purchased me a small 1 and 1/2 inch hinge and some small nuts and bolts to attach the hinge to the bag. I then returned home and cut off enough of the hanging hole surface so that the hinge will fit over the existing tab. One on each side of the tab. Next I would push a small nail through the screw holes of the hinge. This will allow you to put a small bolt through the rubber of the tab. Once that is accomplished attach the nut and tighten. Do the same on the other side of the hinge. When this accomplished you will have a repair that will last. Cost ....maybe 3 dollars. I have done this to numerous enema bags and it definitely prolongs the life of my old bags. Mike

You could try brass groumets that you can get at a hardware store, Is the rubber still in fairly good condition ?

I have done the brass grommets and with very much success!! You could try it with a broken tab but mine were ok just getting weak so I did the grommets to them. They are super sturdy and very useful now!

STOP eating your heart out over an enema bag.

It's the enema NOT the bag.

Go online and buy yourself a one gallon silicone bag available from a few retailers and have some fun.

Sorry for your loss, but it's time for the coronet to play a few bars of "Taps" ....... and move on.

If you'd display a picture of it for us to see, perhaps we could offer a suggestion or two ?

Yes, I really understand Anne Marie's concern. For true klismos, many of us are EQUIPMENT JUNKIES, we MUST have the kind of equipment mom used on us and similar products that we saw in our formative days. We have to recreate those days as accurately as possible.

For me, the bag must be red, orange, red/brown, or amber latex translucent. They must be open top bags with real rubber hoses that match the color of the bag. It must have a metal clamp and real rubber black nozzles.

Or, for me, I acquired mom's exact bag ... a 1950 Armstrong Cork Co "Basketweave" open top bag that was orange rubber and real rubber black nozzles. Got it off ebay for lots of money.

When she replaced that with a Faultless amber latex translucent folding syringe with matching hose and white screw on nozzles, I had to wait until I found one like it that I got in a pharmacy. I have collected many other classic bags from the 40's, 50,s and 60's.

I too, have had several classic bags rip the hanging holes from water weight stress. I believe that age and deterioration cause the rubber to weaken and tear. They are all stored in their boxes in dark cupboards. Some were almost new when I got them, so I think that age alone can cause weaken the rubber to the point that it rips easily.

I would give almost anything to fix mom's Armstrong bag so that I could use it again.

Anne Marie

Can you tell us what brand and type the bag is? Or post a photo of it? I am liquidating a large collection of vintage bags. I might have something close. I too enjoy the emotional attachment of vintage equipment. I now use a B.F. Goodrich Coronet combination syringe that I bought on Ebay. It is identical to the first enema bag my mom used on me.

I'm with Susie on this one, go look up Aussie Health Co, they have a silicone bag with hose, one way flow valve, 2 nozzles, and shut off clamp and bag for a very reasonable price which should last the rest of your life.

I have used one of their silicon bags for three years or so without any problems. They also sell spare nozzles in bags (I think) of ten (so avoiding sharing if unexpectedly helping a friend!!!).

Anne Marie, wish you were close enough for me to fix your bag for you as I think I know how it can be done. There's something about having the comfort of "your bag" (or can, or bulb) even though as Susie notes an enema is an enema. There is a big psychological component in addition to the physical one.

I can identify with this. We all have our favorites, like an old shirt with holes in it that we just can't throw away. Maybe that bag reminds her of a particularly good enema or experience. However, eventually we have to move on.

@jimmyt44 - Couldn't have said it better "we MUST have the kind of equipment mom used on us and similar products that we saw in our formative days" so true for me too. As a result, I have no interest in enema cans, modern silicon bags, bags in black, amber tubing, white nozzles, metal nozzles.. nope! Has to be a red bag, black nozzles, and metal spring clips... One exception is my liking double balloon latex retention nozzles for some reason..

I wish we could see a photo of the worn-out bag. I use a product called Shoe Goo, it is available in clear and black. It is a urethane compound, seems to stick to about everything, even your fingers, very difficult to peel off.

An option is to purchase a small piece of rubber about the same color as the bag, and using Shoe Goo, laminate a piece of new rubber over the old, clamp it between two blocks of wood with a C clamp or two. Once it cures, go ahead with a tool and make a new hole lined up with the old, torn-out hole.

Shoe Goo was designed to repair tennis shoes, you can literally build up worn out rubber soles. It comes in a tube like tooth paste, once applied, it tends to self-level and dries to a shiny surface.

For more information on rubber adhesives, check https://www.permabond.com/2017/01/06/rubber-bonding-type-rubber-unknown/

According to the article, notice that epoxy is not a choice for rubber, any type.

Hope this helps - the hoseman1

STOP eating your heart out over an enema bag.

It's the enema NOT the bag.

Go online and buy yourself a one gallon silicone bag available from a few retailers and have some fun.

You can try rubber epoxy and possibly glue it. This is a very specific product and only works for rubber. You can also keep an eye out on eBay and buy the same model. The old stuff pops up all the time. I'm with Susie though, those new silicone bags really can't be beat. It might be time to give up the ghost.

Go to a hardware store and buy two rubber washers with fairly large holes (large enough to take a S-hook) Also buy a small bottle of contact cement. You paint the contact cement around the broken hole on both sides. Paint the cement on one side only of each washer. Let the contact cement dry until it is only SLIGHTLY tacky. It should fel almost dry to the touch. This takes 15-30 minutes. Now, press the glued side of each washer to the glued sides of the bag. Voila! Bag repaired! It won't be pretty; but if you find red rubber washers, it won't be ugly, either. AND, you're ready for many more years of laying beneath your old friend as oceans of pleasure flow into your thirsty back door!

While I have not kept an old bag that just rotted out or tore, I had a newer one that was splitting along the seam by the hang tab. I tried with e6000 cement but that did not hold. This bag was new to me and was brand new when purchased so it had some value and held a full 2 quarts.

I just tried the Loctite super glue ultra gel and that bonds the rubber really well. I don't have any leaks now so I will try it for a few months to see if it continues to hold. The new "drug store" bags hold a bit less water.

Can you post a photo of the damaged bag somehow?