In most cases you will first clean and scar a good sized area around the puncture using a piece of sand paper. Make sure the area you clean and scar is bigger than the the size of the patch you will be using.
How to Fix a Flat Tire - Fix Your Own Flat Mountain Bike Tire
By Kevin Tisue, About.com
Different patch kits require different techniques and you should read the instructions that come with your patch kit to make sure your patch holds. Some holes are too large to be patched. If you have a tear that is too big for any of your patches you will need a new tube.
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