"Care and Feeding"

Tried & True Recommendations for Extending the Service Life of Your

Bulldog & Top Cat Curing Envelopes

1. SNUG FIT IS IMPORTANT - make sure your envelope is the right size for the tire you are retreading. Excess envelope is unnecessary and can result in more clean-up work on final inspection. Too much skirt can lead to increased risk of nicks or tears on the skirt edge. Reference our color coding chart, use the online "envelope fitment assistant" or contact us for the recommended envelope size.
   
2. DO NOT TRAP ENVELOPE BETWEEN J-HOOK & TIRE BEAD - after the cure cycle when removing the sealing rings be sure to fold the skirt edge up out of the way before resting the weight of the tire back on the j-hook. Otherwise, pinching the envelope skirt between the j-hook and the tire bead can cause damage to the envelope.
   
3. HOT RUBBER CUTS MORE EASILY - get in the habit of checking your j-hooks, sealing rings and mechanical envelope spreaders for any rough edges or burrs that may damage a hot envelope. The occasional preventative check can save costs on both envelopes and equipment.
   
4. ROTATE ENVELOPES FOR SUFFICIENT "OFF THE TIRE" COOLING TIME - cooling between cures will accommodate the rubber "elastic memory" and extend envelope life. Ideally, three sets of envelopes are required per chamber; one set in the chamber, one set built and ready to go, and the last set are off the tires cooling.
   
5. STORE ENVELOPES FLAT AFTER EACH CURE - neat "pancake" stacks or saddling on a tee-cart will allow the envelope to properly cool and retain its correct shape. Folding and wrinkling envelopes in messy piles can lead to loss of proper shape when cooled and will make the enveloper's job more difficult.
   
6. ENVELOPE LUBRICATION NOT REQUIRED - the interior surface of every Shamrock envelope is treated with a proprietary cured-on lube undercoat designed to specifically work with our envelopes. Additional lube should not be needed and other lube brands should not be used.