Trimming seals

[sjp2057]

Hi
Im new to diving and have some tight seals on my dry suit. It looks easy to trim the seals but im told by some that its harder than you think , to ensure it does not split afterwards.

Does any one have any suggestions on how to trim without splitting after wards.
:confused:

[northern_diver]

Sharp hobby knife, full can of coke et al, seal...

-place can in seal, so that it sticks out and simulates a wrist through it.
-firmly cut down into the seal, taking it a ring at a time.
-cut with a smooth, even line, without ang gashes in, which could rip.
-remove can and try on wrist after every ring.

Personally, i just let it stretch (with a can over night) over time and its fine now.

I've never had to do it o my suit.

John

[sjp2057]

I will try the stretch method first

My wrist seals are measuring as 150mm dia and my wrist is measuring approx 190mm.

What would be a reasonable size to trim the seal back to ( diameter I mean ) 160mm or 170mm or 180mm.
My own feeling is 170 mm so the seal will be tight by 20mm.

Whats your thought on this. will it still seal at 20mm tight

[davemanroe]

I take it they are latex seals? normally there are circles marked on the seals to help you when trimming them down - never do more than one circle at once unless you are certain that it will still be tight enough!

Splitting after trimming is down to nicks / cuts in the seal, particularly those which run perpendicular to the seals edge. The last time i trimmed seals, I used the same method that northern_diver said - a sharp craft knife, and a vase to stretch out the neck seal, and pint glasses to stretch out the wrists. All it takes then is a careful cut with the knife to remove one ring at a time.

I always err on the side of caution - still tight, but not so it cuts off the blood!

[PeteM]

I use a sharp pair of scissors, cut long cuts not short snips as that reduces the risk of nicks that will tare. Take off a little at a time, you can always take off more you can not put it back

[ratcliffe]

Sharp hobby knife, full can of coke et al, seal...

-place can in seal, so that it sticks out and simulates a wrist through it.
-firmly cut down into the seal,

Note: Do not try this with a real wrist! :D

[Roz]

So you've had a go at stretching them and they still need a trim. You need some very sharp long bladed scissors, (as recommended by Pete). And a roll of sellotape.

Place the seal between your two hands as if you are making a clap sandwich, so effectively you have a flat seal. Make sure that the ends all line up properly. Then sellotope the end of the seal together very carefully. Place the seal on a flat surface and cut a ring off in a smooth motion so that you don't get nicks. Take your time and do a controlled cut. If the seal is still too tight, then sellotape together again and repeat. Don't get carried away as you coud be looking at a new set of seals if you get too keen.

[sjp2057]

I have trimmed the neck down to a reasonable fit whch has worked but the wrist ones are a pain .
I have tried coke tins then bottles and they neopreen seals wont streach so the trim seemed the best idea however they are the seals which have parallel sides for 40mm and i have been told these dont trim very well.
its looking like new seals in latex i think unless you know better

thanx in anticipation

sjp

[Roz]

it's looking like new seals in latex I think, unless you know better

Yes, I do. Hang on and watch the market for Silicone Seals from the Swedish Manufacturer, Waterproof. These seals are amazing. Ubber stretchy, amazingly so. So stretchy in fact that when you have a muppet moment and don your drysuit and you've left your computer on your wrist, you just pull the seal back over the computer. V. simple. They feel light to wear and very sensual to don. Very robust, don't know how robust, but a better longevity than latex. Not affected by fuel or ozone. Great for people with latex allergies. I think I can safely write that it's going to be bye bye latex soon and these seals will do for the seal market, what Miflex has done to the Hose market. Keep your eyes peeled, these will be the answer to your prayer on this one. No idea on UK launch date though.

[northern_diver]

Yes, I do. Hang on and watch the market for Silicone Seals from the Swedish Manufacturer, Waterproof. These seals are amazing. Ubber stretchy, amazingly so. So stretchy in fact that when you have a muppet moment and don your drysuit and you've left your computer on your wrist, you just pull the seal back over the computer. V. simple. They feel light to wear and very sensual to don. Very robust, don't know how robust, but a better longevity than latex. Not affected by fuel or ozone. Great for people with latex allergies. I think I can safely write that it's going to be bye bye latex soon and these seals will do for the seal market, what Miflex has done to the Hose market. Keep your eyes peeled, these will be the answer to your prayer on this one. No idea on UK launch date though.

Sounds good, any rough idea on prices Roz?

John

[Roz]

Hi John

No idea on prices or when it will be rolled out into the UK market. I'm not sure but I think Mr Waterproof himself will be attending the London Dive Show. I'll ask the question and come back.

HTH.

[robscubaproxlt]

In future use a couple of small pop bottles like lucozade small size (narrow neck wide body) very sharp hobby knife as someone has already said, I use a stanley knife blade (new!) cuts through in a continous line all the way round in one go if you apply enough pressure and leaves a untethered nice edge! Good idea to practise on the old seals just to get that bit of confidence. BE very careful how much you trim off.. trim a small piece ie half of one of the rings that are marked on the latex, go diving see how it feels and if its still too tight trim a little more! try to put up with it being atad tight for a while as they will wear in a little.

[ChristianG]

In future use a couple of small pop bottles like lucozade small size (narrow neck wide body) very sharp hobby knife as someone has already said, I use a stanley knife blade (new!) cuts through in a continous line all the way round in one go if you apply enough pressure and leaves a untethered nice edge!
Some good advice there. In my experience scissors, never mind their quality, are not for the cackhanded, at which I qualify superbly. More particularly I defy anyone to get a good "cut" via scissors, or a Stanley knife for that matter if using the "doubled over" technique, particularly at the start and end of it where the latex folds on itself. Never mind how well taped down, this stuff can, and will, move.

Pop, or plastic bottles, are also good because you'll be able to use that knife or knife blade in future, it hasn't messed up on metal or glass. The trick is to do it in one continuous operation, that avoids any irregularities as best as you're able - and then be particularly careful when you join the cuts up.

I used to employ my surgeon father to do it for me using one of his scalpels (he always grumbled :)) but sadly he's no longer with us. Now that man's hand was wondrously steady.

[ChristianG]

No idea on prices or when it will be rolled out into the UK market. I'm not sure but I think Mr Waterproof himself will be attending the London Dive Show. I'll ask the question and come back.
Didn't one of the bigger dive companies, Italian perhaps?, roll out something like this quite some years ago? Wasn't it called Super Latex or some such?

[DRW]

Didn't one of the bigger dive companies, Italian perhaps?, roll out something like this quite some years ago? Wasn't it called Super Latex or some such?

A Google search suggests that Mobby's "Armorshell" drysuit had "Super Latex" seals. No detail, though, about what made them different from standard latex seals. Latex and silicone are quite different materials, though, noticeable for example when comparing swimcaps. Latex swimcaps mould and flex better to the head and are more watertight than silicone swimcaps, which are thicker, warmer and more robust than latex swimcaps. Swimmers sometimes wear both, the silicone one first for warmth and the latex one on top to keep the silicone in place and to keep water out. So both latex and silicone come with advantages and disadvantages. Why not maintain choice and let the end-users, the diving community, decide which kind of seal best suits their individual purposes. We live in a diverse world with different needs, priorities and preferences.