Can I repair wet suit

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jet one - 21 Sep 2004 14:23 GMT

Have a good size split in the crotch area of my wet suit - can this be
fixed?

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Cpt. Dale Bennett - 21 Sep 2004 14:52 GMT

> Have a good size split in the crotch area of my wet suit - can this be
> fixed?

Most wetsuit repairs can be fixed relatively easily. If the tear is clean,
you can just glue it back together with neoprene cement.
Get the cement from your local dive shop.
Coat both edges of the neoprene wetsuit with cement and let it dry to the
touch (about 15 minutes).
Coat it again and let it dry again.
Coat it a third time, let dry again, then press the edges together.
That's about all there is to it.

If the edges of the tear are damaged or at a sewed seam, you may have to cut
some material out of the area. If you do this you will have to piece some
material in. For this you will need to obtain some material of the same
thickness as your suit. Usually, this means finding an old that you can
cut up.

Hope this helps.

Signature

Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

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chilly - 21 Sep 2004 19:06 GMT

> Have a good size split in the crotch area of my wet suit - can this be
> fixed?

Is it a rip in the neoprene or a split seam?

If it is a split seam, just use a little neoprene glue and then stitch it
back up. I stitched mine back up years ago without the Aquaseal and it
still holds today.

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Cpt. Dale Bennett - 22 Sep 2004 02:08 GMT

> Is it a rip in the neoprene or a split seam?
>
> If it is a split seam, just use a little neoprene glue and then stitch it
> back up. I stitched mine back up years ago without the Aquaseal and it
> still holds today.

Aquaseal is not neoprene cement. It is urethane. Aquaseal can be used to
fill a small hole or to seal the ends of stitching so that it does not
unravel but it is not good for cementing neoprene panels together. Aquaseal
gets harder than neoprene and does not stretch the same. So, if you use it
to repair a tear it will put additional strain along that tear and the suit
will fail along the repair in a short time.

Signature

Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

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mike gray - 22 Sep 2004 02:37 GMT

>> Is it a rip in the neoprene or a split seam?
>>
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> to repair a tear it will put additional strain along that tear and the suit
> will fail along the repair in a short time.

True about the cement, but good repairs almost always require a needle
and thread. The needle should be a large one, like a canvas needle, and
the thread must be nylon, doubled, and the stitches not too fine or too
close to the edge (don't try to duplicate the original stitching).

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Cpt. Dale Bennett - 22 Sep 2004 02:42 GMT

> True about the cement, but good repairs almost always require a needle
> and thread. The needle should be a large one, like a canvas needle, and
> the thread must be nylon, doubled, and the stitches not too fine or too
> close to the edge (don't try to duplicate the original stitching).

Yes, but I am not that good with a needle and thread. I can repair a sail
all right but I can not seem to be able to make the stitches pretty. I
usually use tape instead. it's faster too. You can get special tape for
nylon faced neoprene and it works wonders. The trouble is that not many
dive shops know about it or where to get it.

Signature

Safe diving,

Dale Bennett
Captain Dale's, Inc.
Enterprise Marine, Inc., Dive Charters

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Tony - 22 Sep 2004 09:17 GMT

'Black Witch' or another suitable neoprene cement (glue) will be more
suitable to repair the tear.

Aquasure, Stormsure or Aquaseal are fine for small holes (punctures) but not
fro a tear where stress will be put across th repair.

> > True about the cement, but good repairs almost always require a needle
> > and thread. The needle should be a large one, like a canvas needle, and
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> nylon faced neoprene and it works wonders. The trouble is that not many
> dive shops know about it or where to get it.

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chilly - 22 Sep 2004 02:47 GMT

> > Is it a rip in the neoprene or a split seam?
> >
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> to repair a tear it will put additional strain along that tear and the suit
> will fail along the repair in a short time.

Lucky for me, I didn't use the Aquaseal. :^)

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Mike Painter - 22 Sep 2004 07:50 GMT

> Have a good size split in the crotch area of my wet suit - can this be
> fixed?

Yes, with neoprene cement.
Many years ago I had somebody borrow some from me, fix a rip in the same
general area, then went diving....
When he got out of the water I happened to be nearby.

Make sure everything is dry before putting it back on as getting certain
hairy areas of the body glued to a wet suit is funny only to on-lookers.

That was back when there were no parking meters on Cannery Row and on a busy
day you might have to walk a hundred feet or so. Damn Tourists.

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