Getting seals replaced on a drysuit, where would you go?

Matt S. · Post by **Matt S.** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 12:53 am

I have an unused Bare CD4 drysuit that I want to refurbish for sale or for a backup. It has fixed SI-TECH dry glove rings, which are kind of leaky, so I want to remove them and put on regular latex wrist seals.

Where would you have the work done? I know about KME in Auburn, but I am also close to NWSD, BB, UWS, and DD.

I'm also entertaining the idea of doing it myself. I've seen guides that list the exact glues and such that you need and I can take my time since it's not my primary suit. It seems like the cost of equipment and chemicals will be close to the cost of having it done for me, though.

Thanks for any advice.

Dmitchell · Post by **Dmitchell** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:33 am

I walk it into my shop, hand it to my wife and say "PLEASE

" and she

gets right on it. Usually while I'm mowing the lawn or shoveling snow or some other thing to earn it!

LCF · Post by **LCF** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:04 am

Doing wrist seals isn't very hard. If you don't have a heat gun to remove the old seal, you can cut it off at the suit and apply the new seal to the old one. All you need to do that is some fine sandpaper, some MEK, and some adhesive. You will also need something to put inside the suit sleeve to stretch it out to full circumference, so that the seal makes good contact everywhere.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:10 am

Well, since you asked where I would go ... I'd go to Tacoma Scuba. Especially with that suit. Why? Well, because (a) they're a Bare dealer, and know Bare suits and (b) because I've had seal work done there before and Wally's very good at it.

That's not to say any of those other shops wouldn't do great work ... they very well might. But I can only recommend what I have personal experience with.

Speaking of personal experience ... KME is off my list of viable options. I dealt with them for several years, but after Jim lost that Vietnamese woman who used to do his work, I had a string of bad experiences. So I gave up taking my suits down there.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Dusty2 · Post by **Dusty2** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 8:36 am

I agree with Bob, go with Tacoma scuba. They do quality work and really care about what they put out.

defied · Post by **defied** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 9:11 am

Ditto. I've watched him do his sealing work, and he doesn't mess around. He's got all the appropriate tools, and he verifies that his work is done properly.

D(B)

wallyc72 · Post by **wallyc72** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:31 am

Thanks for the praise guys !! I don't recommend doing the seals your self if you have never done it before. You will need a heat gun. The glue is heat activated. And the glue has a SHORT shelf life. Hope this helps.

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:39 am

Wally did my seals last time too - I couldn't be happier!

Matt S. · Post by **Matt S.** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 10:54 am

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Good to hear that about KME.

Wally, I may be at your Bare demo with a new diver... if so I will bring the suit in.

If not, then another day.

fmerkel · Post by **fmerkel** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 11:36 am

wallyc72 wrote:Thanks for the praise guys !! I don't recommend doing the seals your self if you have never done it before. You will need a heat gun. The glue is heat activated. And the glue has a SHORT shelf life. Hope this helps.

I do replace my own latex seals. Latex wrists are easy. The (floppy latex) neck is a real PITA but I figured it out after a bunch of failures.

What is this heat activated glue?
I've been using the OS glue, PB-300.

Fritz

Scubak · Post by **Scubak** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 7:07 pm

I'd have to second and third everyones opinion on Tacoma Scuba.
Wally (Aaron) does a great job!
Quick turn around, great price, and quality work!
Kirsten

wallyc72 · Post by **wallyc72** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:55 pm

WOW 5 GOOD REVIEWS about my drysuit repairs. THANK YOU !!!! $\:D/$

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:08 pm

wallyc72 wrote:WOW 5 GOOD REVIEWS about my drysuit repairs. THANK YOU !!!! $\:D/$

Yeah, you can do one hell of a drysuit repair but your mom still dresses you funny.

spatman · Post by **spatman** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:13 pm

Sounder wrote:
wallyc72 wrote:WOW 5 GOOD REVIEWS about my drysuit repairs. THANK YOU !!!! $\:D/$

Yeah, you can do one hell of a drysuit repair but your mom still dresses you funny.

good to have you back, sounder. :zots:

Sounder · Post by **Sounder** » Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:16 pm

spatman wrote:
Sounder wrote:
wallyc72 wrote:WOW 5 GOOD REVIEWS about my drysuit repairs. THANK YOU !!!! $\:D/$

Yeah, you can do one hell of a drysuit repair but your mom still dresses you funny.

good to have you back, sounder.

:angry:

BASSMAN · Post by **BASSMAN** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:40 am

Wally at Tacoma Scuba replaced all three of my seals on my Mobby's suit, reinstalled my Viking rings for my dry gloves !
All quality work Thanks Wally!
I wouldn't take my Dry suit any place else!

wallyc72 · Post by **wallyc72** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:05 pm

BASSMAN wrote:Wally at Tacoma Scuba replaced all three of my seals on my Mobby's suit, reinstalled my Viking rings for my dry gloves !
All quality work Thanks Wally!
I wouldn't take my Dry suit any place else!

Thanks Bassman for the GOOD REVIEW !! I REALLY appreciate everyone's good words!!!!

defied · Post by **defied** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 3:35 pm

wallyc72 wrote: Thanks Bassman for the GOOD REVIEW !! I REALLY appreciate everyone's good words!!!!

Uhh... Dude... You gonna get all teary eyed on us?

>0]

D(B)

MrsDiverBob · Post by **MrsDiverBob** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 6:47 pm

Ok, I'll add another log to the fire. Wally replaced the neck seal on my USIA. Not only did he have it done the same day I dropped it off, but when I went in to pick up the suit, he had just finished cleaning and detailing the zipper. The whole suit looked brand new! Thanks Wally!!

girldiver · Post by **girldiver** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 5:53 am

I'm not really sure how many recommendations one person needs...but...

I recommend Wally, as well...wouldn't take my seals anywhere else.

Grateful Diver · Post by **Grateful Diver** » Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:12 am

girldiver wrote: I recommend Wally, as well...wouldn't take my seals anywhere else.

Me neither ... :looking:

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

Northwest Dive Club

Getting seals replaced on a drysuit, where would you go?

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