Repair suggestions for Touratech pannier

[Captain Colonial]

I'm sure it had nothing to do with it but...... having sorted out a couple of dents on my touratech pannier by gently tapping them out on a steel bench with a 4 lb engineers hammer, the bottom seam has seperated along the inside edge. I'm still sure it wasn't my fault but the 4 tack welds seem to have let go and I can see daylight. Any suggestions on a reliable repair, I'm thinking liquid metail for the bond and bath room sealant for the waterproofing, or a sloppy araldite mix and clamping it down with a pile of bricks...............Yes I need some help and ideally wisdom from someone who has done the same sort of repair. FYI I have given the hammer back to the bloke who owns it.

 

[Timolgra]

When you need to knock them outwards, cut a piece of wood slightly longer than the width of the pannier and hammer it 'accordingly'... then use pop rivets.
I did my old and battered TT panniers this way a couple of times and they're fine

 

[Vern]

Pop rivets and bath sealer would be the best thing to use, unless yo have a decent welder down there.

And if anyone else is thinking of boshing out a dent in an ally pannier, never use a steel hammer on a steel bench to do it, as you'll just end up stretching the ally, and it's a pain in the butt to shrink back.

 

[Captain Colonial]

Convinced as I am of my innocence...

Gentlemen, I am indebted to you for the wisdom. Off down to Wickes at the weekend. At least the seam that has seperated is on the inside. Note to self, I must not beat out the dents with a hammer, I must not beat out the dents with a hammer, I must not beat out the dents with a hammer, at least not without adult supervision.

 

[MarkN]

You already had some great advice but I thought I'd add that if you take it to a local car body shop and ask nicely, someone will do it in their lunch time. This is what I did with mine, a guy did it for £20, a great weld and never failed again.

 

[Captain Colonial]

Thanks Mark, out of interest did the fella re-do the spot welds or run a new seam weld along the edge. I'm not familiar with the niceties of welding aluminium. If he redid the spot welds did you have to do anything to ensure the waterproofing of the join.