Bare drysuit latex seals are tight

LadyGoDiver · Post by **LadyGoDiver** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 8:31 pm

And I need some help cutting them down. I'm not sure I want to do this myself.

How best to proceed? Anyone wanna help me? I pay in baked goods.

PM for brownies...

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:14 pm

Have you tried stretching them out first? A couple days with soda cans in them usually helps.

WylerBear · Post by **WylerBear** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:26 pm

Bare seals shouldn't stretch. They are thick and have a memory.

LadyGoDiver · Post by **LadyGoDiver** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:28 pm

Tried stretching. No dice.

The seals are "bottleneck" style and pretty thick.

eliseaboo · Post by **eliseaboo** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:42 pm

New razor blade, and something underneath like a piece of PVC or a cone. Cut small strips until it fits. Don't be afraid, you can do it!!

LadyGoDiver · Post by **LadyGoDiver** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 9:52 pm

You over-estimate my razor-fu...

coulterboy · Post by **coulterboy** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:18 pm

LadyGoDiver wrote:Tried stretching. No dice.

The seals are "bottleneck" style and pretty thick.

Take it to UWS Seattle. Danny will help you with that with probably just a very nominal fee.

eliseaboo · Post by **eliseaboo** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:45 pm

...also, how fitting is my signature for that advice?

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Tue Apr 10, 2012 10:59 pm

I can help you with your seals. Don't do them with a razor blade. Either take them in so someone with experience and a VERY sharp set of scissors can cut them, or come over to my house. I use a rotary cutter like you use for fabrics. It doesn't catch and make sharp divots in the seal.

Blow-N-Bubbles · Post by **Blow-N-Bubbles** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 4:36 am

Mine were very tight for the first 15-20 dives. Are you talking about the Neck seal? Neoprene and Latex. I didn't cut mine just folded in in more. The Latex has to go against your skin and a fold that's a few inches is best. It does develop a memory at the fold to make it easier later on. I would recommend folding it more and then cutting it later after it develops the memory. It should loosen once you hit the water. Its the surface interval and donning that was uncomfortable. And I too tried the bottles to help loosen it and it didn't work for me either. As for the wrist seals...Dry Gloves was the answer for that.

+1 on sharp scissors, gives an even straight cut. The Neoprene and Latex is thick and harder to cut straight with a razor.

pogiguy05 · Post by **pogiguy05** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:03 pm

Well seeing that I have had just about 3 new dry suits from Bare in the past year. (it was fit or manufacture defect) I have latex seals on both wrist and neck. Only the neck seal seems to be very snug but I have never cut them and they have relaxed after 10-20 dives and fit fine. Mine right now is a bit snug but I know it will relax eventually so I just put up with it for now. One thing for the guys do NOT shave just before diving snug latex seals will rub your neck RAW!!!

As for my wrist seals I have dry gloves and dont seem to have any problems with them and have never trimmed them.

DFessler · Post by **DFessler** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 12:08 pm

If you haven't already had them done, I would be happy to do them for you.. I have been wanting to experiment with this chainsaw here for a while....just kidding. Seriously I would be happy to do them for you at no charge.

cardiver · Post by **cardiver** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:35 pm

DFessler wrote:If you haven't already had them done, I would be happy to do them for you.. I have been wanting to experiment with this chainsaw here for a while....just kidding. Seriously I would be happy to do them for you at no charge.

You're being much nicer to Jeff than you werre to me, David!

CaptnJack · Post by **CaptnJack** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 2:24 pm

LCF wrote:I can help you with your seals. Don't do them with a razor blade. Either take them in so someone with experience and a VERY sharp set of scissors can cut them, or come over to my house. I use a rotary cutter like you use for fabrics. It doesn't catch and make sharp divots in the seal.

Agree, sharp scissors are fine. I have never used a razor blade but wondering if this might cause the latex to bunch up or snag?

eliseaboo · Post by **eliseaboo** » Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:14 pm

CaptnJack wrote:
LCF wrote:I can help you with your seals. Don't do them with a razor blade. Either take them in so someone with experience and a VERY sharp set of scissors can cut them, or come over to my house. I use a rotary cutter like you use for fabrics. It doesn't catch and make sharp divots in the seal.
Agree, sharp scissors are fine. I have never used a razor blade but wondering if this might cause the latex to bunch up or snag?

If you stretch it over something (like a PVC pipe or similar) and use a brand new, sharp blade it shouldn't. Scissors are a fine option as well, I just can never get an even edge when I do it that way. Hopefully your seals have rings to make it easy to measure!

BASSMAN · Post by **BASSMAN** » Sun Apr 15, 2012 2:51 am

cardiver wrote:
DFessler wrote:If you haven't already had them done, I would be happy to do them for you.. I have been wanting to experiment with this chainsaw here for a while....just kidding. Seriously I would be happy to do them for you at no charge.
You're being much nicer to Jeff than you werre to me, David!

I believe that offer is to LadyGD.
Way to go David!

"Now I'll have to take back all of that stuff I've said before, about you!"

LadyGoDiver · Post by **LadyGoDiver** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 12:41 pm

Thanks, all, for your helpful suggestions.
I scretched the neck over a tank and took after it with a fresh X-acto blade. It went okay.

The weekend did not allow for diving but I'll try again next Saturday.

Any and all hecklers/helpers are invited to stare in amazment at my l33t diving skillz (okay, I flail around but I have fun).

Northwest Dive Club