View Full Version : DIY Drysuit repair
I think that there is small hole in the foot of my drysuit. What is the best method for locating the flaw and how would I go about repairing it?
I had the exact same, several years ago. The top of the foot.
I simply treated it like a puncture on a bike tyre!
1. Locate hole and mark with chalk. (you dont really need the chalk)
2. Use some some sand paper to rough up the rubber (:snigger)
3. Get some glue (aquasure or other similar type), dont sniff it but apply to the hole.
4. Place suitably sized patch on glue over hole.
5. Ensure patch is placed firmly against glue and hole by using heavy object to hold in place.
6. Once dry, rub down a bit then apply another layer of glue.
7. Treat every year with a new layer of glue over the top just to make sure.
I have been doing this for the past 5 years and had no problems.
Where abouts are you?
Ive some glue backed rubber which iveused in the past then covered in aquasure and it worked a treat.
In Stepps my location is..Aquasure and rubber then. Should have said that the foot is made from hyper compressed neoprene, not rubber- will this make any difference?
'Black Witch' neoprene glue would be better.
Mr Flibble
02-04-07, 14:33
Have done dozens of repairs/additions/alterations to suits/boats etc over the years, I normally do the following, hasn't let me down yet.
1. Locate hole.
2. Get patch for hole, ensure no square corners on patch, cut to make rounder if required (corners can catch and lift).
3. Mark area patch will cover on drysuit.
4. Lightly sand both patch and suit area.
5. Apply light coating of Aquasure (or even better Bostick Single part glue) to both surfaces.
6. Leave at least 40 mins until surfaces are dry (this gives a good surface to bond to.
7. Apply second coat to both surfaces, leave at least 15 mins (until both surfaces are tacky) (or for best results leave for 45 mins then apply 3rd coat and leave for 15 mins).
8. Apply patch, sprinkle some chalk dust or talc over area and roll over patch with a bottle to press patch to suit and remove air pockets (talc stops patch/glue sticking to bottle).
9. Leave for at least 48 hours for glue to cure.
10. Go diving and don't blame me if you get wet.
as DB1 says, but i use a 2 part adhesive called hypobond.
suitable for repairing RHIB's. smells fantastic MAN!!
i can bring it with me on wednesday if you like.
toulene or meths is good for cleaning the suit prior to application to ensure its free of grime.
i also have some 'sika' boat sealing product (white) which works very good.
dispense it from a gun, like mastic.
i find aquasure, although very good initially, only has a user life of around 1 year before it starts to wear off.
p.s. have a look on the safety officers disc i gave you, there is a pdf on suit repairs.
Thanks folks, great feedback on the repair. Isn't toluene a major carcinogen though? Anyway, finding the leak is the problem. Is inflating the suit with its orifices plugged by plastic bottles, and then lighly sprinkling it with water or putting it in the bath the best way to proceed?
Isn't toluene a major carcinogen though?
thick black rubber gloves! buy a pair by calling 0898... ...:)
Thanks folks, great feedback on the repair. Isn't toluene a major carcinogen though? Anyway, finding the leak is the problem. Is inflating the suit with its orifices plugged by plastic bottles, and then lighly sprinkling it with water or putting it in the bath the best way to proceed?
I found the leak in my drysuit by using quite the opposite approach, peeled myself out of a suit which was soaked from the waist down, went home, hung it up then looked for the damp bits next morning, the one damp bit was where the night before's Loch Long had forced its way in under pressure and was now finding its way out at atmospheric.
If you're sure the leak is in the feet, pour a couple of pints of water down each leg, hang up the suit and see where gets wet. Easier than plugging wrist and neck seals then inflating the suit and keeping it below the surface in a bath!
Just my tuppence-worth,
Al.
pour a couple of pints of water down each leg, hang up the suit and see where gets wet.
or how about puting the suit on, use a hose pipe to fill the suit.
zip it up, squeeze yourself into a ball & watch where the water spouts from
i can assist with the hose. :D
Or just cover yourself in talc
Put suit on
Get in bath then get out take suit off and see which bits of talc are wet.
alternativley, two tennis balls and 1 football, inflate suit, get a water spray with a washing up liquid mix and spray suit and wait for bubbles.
craigdiver
03-04-07, 10:15
Isn't toluene a major carcinogen though?
I take the opportunity to test out my regs while working with toluene :D
Yes stuff a football in the neck and bottles / small balls into the arms and inflate - dunk each bit in the bath to find leak.
I have found that the most important part is preperation - make sure the neoprene / membrane material is clean and degreased with the surface roughened up a bit with fine sandpaper. Also, I think these types of adhesive are pressure sensitive so get a decorators seam roller and roll with a lot of pressure.
Good luck
Craig
Thanks folks. It occurs to me that diving gets slightly surreal sometimes, could an innocent bystander separate the true and false responses on this page? I'll let you know how I get on, if I am not arrested for attempting to drown a football headed, tennis ball-handed inflatable man who is covered in washing up liquid.:D
Lizardland
03-04-07, 13:05
I've found compressed neoprene is very hard for actually tracing leaks in as holes can self-seal when they aren't under pressure. I used to find the biggest source of leaks were seams rather than holes. My ND compressed suit had a seam right across the top of the boot where the fin rubbed through continually. A bead of Aquasure both sides can seal it up.
One big problem with pinprick holes is that it takes a lot more pressure to make air bubble through than it does to make water seep through so they may be very hard to find.
The 2-part glue Stewart mentions is very good, it's a contact adhesive (if it's the same as the Bostik version) so you get one crack at positioning the patch. But once it's cured then it isn't going anywhere.
Cheers,
Stuart
i find leaks by plugging orifices with balloons inflate suit . then use a small plant spray with a mild soapy mix .i have found some very infuriating leaks this way . on the subject of repairing suits don,t admit to being successful or you,ll get everyones to do.
dive granny
03-04-07, 22:35
or how about puting the suit on, use a hose pipe to fill the suit.
zip it up, squeeze yourself into a ball & watch where the water spouts from
i can assist with the hose. :D
Think that should be 'kinky whale' not 'minky whale'. :D :D
To find leaks.
Using air rather than water in the suite is about 100 times more sensitive.
Use soapy water on the outside to find the leak.
If the leak cannot be found by the above technique then it is possible to inflate the suite inside out and then test the inside surface.
This technique can show leaks which are self sealing and so don't show when tested in the normal way.