Drysuit neck seal

[the_dumper]

I have just had a new latex neck seal put on my drysuit and it is far to small, I tried putting it on a cylinder over night to stretch it but not much happened I don't really want to cut it as I will **** it up anyone got any ideas on how to stretch it ?.
And now for the LDS moan...
I took it to my LDS for new neck and wrist seals, when they returned it SIX weeks later they had only replaced the wrist seals and lost the drysuit bag, "I don't know anything about it someone else was dealing with it" was the only response that I got, "leave it here and I will send it off to have the neck done"
Well not wanting to have to wait another six weeks I took it to another shop about twenty miles away, this was last Monday, they measured my neck (they do five different sizes) and said that it would be ready for Friday as I was diving all weekend in 40 degrees water. I get to the dive site Saturday morning and I put the suit on and can hardly breathe as they have put the wrong size neck seal on it.
I would like to thank both stores concerned for the excellent service provided, and they can't understand why I would want to buy off the internet, save myself up to 50%, and get a faster service.
Support your LDS! Yeah OK.

 

[Tavi]

Neoprene seals can be stretched.
Latex seals have to be trimmed!!

Just trim a little at a time as you don't want to take off too much!!!

I doubt if you'll find someone on the internet to do it for you!!

I would have checked everything out before leaving the shop, rather than at the dive site sat morning.

Be careful, trim one ring at a time.

Best of luck

 

[Diver0001]

the_dumper once bubbled...
I have just had a new latex neck seal put on my drysuit and it is far to small, I tried putting it on a cylinder over night to stretch it but not much happened I don't really want to cut it as I will **** it up anyone got any ideas on how to stretch it ?.
And now for the LDS moan...
I took it to my LDS for new neck and wrist seals, when they returned it SIX weeks later they had only replaced the wrist seals and lost the drysuit bag, "I don't know anything about it someone else was dealing with it" was the only response that I got, "leave it here and I will send it off to have the neck done"
Well not wanting to have to wait another six weeks I took it to another shop about twenty miles away, this was last Monday, they measured my neck (they do five different sizes) and said that it would be ready for Friday as I was diving all weekend in 40 degrees water. I get to the dive site Saturday morning and I put the suit on and can hardly breathe as they have put the wrong size neck seal on it.
I would like to thank both stores concerned for the excellent service provided, and they can't understand why I would want to buy off the internet, save myself up to 50%, and get a faster service.
Support your LDS! Yeah OK.

You can trim it. Usually you'll see lines in the seal. Cut ONE line at a time off until it fits. Warning: if you cut off one too many then you can buy a new seal. Go slow. Cut carefully and accurately and only cut one line at a time.

R..

 

[turnerjd]

The only bit of advice is to cut neatly.

If you leave a ragged edge it is more than possible that in pulling it over your head it might tear. To avoid this just make sure that you cut neatly.

Jon T

 

[Mo2vation]

While I'm no expert in trimming neck seals, I have trimmed four (twice my own, once for Jaye and another on a boat for a buddy)in the last year, and had no problems. If I can do it, you can do it.

Three things that helped me:

#1) A NEW pair of dedicated (as in Dry Suit Seal only) scissors with long blades.

#2) Do not cut to the end (or tip) of the blades...that's where the "ragged edge" comes in. Its not a problem if you waiver a bit, so long as its smooth. The nicks (for me, anyway) came when I got to the end of the blades, and had to re-start.

#3) Don't try it alone. I cut mine with the suit on a table, and I have someone roll the suit as I cut. This last one I did was the best one yet. I'm actually pretty proud of it!

Does your neck seal have "rings" or ridges to follow? Cut them off 1/2 ring at a time until you get a good fit. A good fit should feel snug, but not tight. If you're turning red, if you're talking funny, if you can't take a drink of water, if you can't wear it for a couple of hours straight, its too tight. Trim off a half a ring and try again.

I know - the pressure is on when you're sitting with your suit in front of you, a pair of scissors in your hand and you're thinking, "If I blow this, I'm not diving. If I blow this, I gotta take it in and get this thing replaced..." I put way too much pressure on myself the first time I did it.

The key is taking off just a little at a time. And remember, you don't need a perfectly straight line for it to work.... probably 1/2" or more of the latex is against your next making the seal... so a 1/16" waiver ain't no thing. Surgical precision isn't necesary - a smooth cut is. Like Turner said, a nick in the seal and its danger time. BUT - a small nick can be fixed... a long, smooth cut around the nick will fix it.

Here's a cool link that might help.

K

 

[Cave Diver]

Mo2vation once bubbled...
While I'm no expert in trimming neck seals, I have trimmed four (twice my own, once for Jaye and another on a boat for a buddy)in the last year, and had no problems. If I can do it, you can do it.

Three things that helped me:

#1) A NEW pair of dedicated (as in Dry Suit Seal only) scissors with long blades.

When I cut mine, I used all the "tried and true" methods and wasnt really pleased with any of them, not even the sharp new scissors method.

The best thing I found was my EMT shears, they made a clean smooth cut with no problems.

 

[jonnythan]

Scissors - no.

Xacto - yes.

Stretch the seal inside out (so you can see the lines) over a large coffee can. Use the lines on the coffee can to guide you. Use the scalpel shaped Xacto blade and it will cut through like butter. Just cut one line at a time.. couldn't be easier.

Unfortunately, there's no other way to make the latex seal fit.

 

[Diver0001]

jonnythan once bubbled...
"Well, sunshine, I don't give a monkey's toss whether you dive DIR or Wanker Supreme."
-Doppler

LOL. Did Steve really say that?

R..

 

[jonnythan]

Diver0001 once bubbled...


LOL. Did Steve really say that?

R..

Yes.

Yes he did.

 

[torbaydiver]

the_dumper once bubbled...
I have just had a new latex neck seal put on my drysuit and it is far to small, I tried putting it on a cylinder over night to stretch it but not much happened I don't really want to cut it as I will **** it up anyone got any ideas on how to stretch it ?.
And now for the LDS moan...
I took it to my LDS for new neck and wrist seals, when they returned it SIX weeks later they had only replaced the wrist seals and lost the drysuit bag, "I don't know anything about it someone else was dealing with it" was the only response that I got, "leave it here and I will send it off to have the neck done"
Well not wanting to have to wait another six weeks I took it to another shop about twenty miles away, this was last Monday, they measured my neck (they do five different sizes) and said that it would be ready for Friday as I was diving all weekend in 40 degrees water. I get to the dive site Saturday morning and I put the suit on and can hardly breathe as they have put the wrong size neck seal on it.
I would like to thank both stores concerned for the excellent service provided, and they can't understand why I would want to buy off the internet, save myself up to 50%, and get a faster service.
Support your LDS! Yeah OK.

It takes a lot longer than overnight to stretch a latex seal , it took about seven days over a 12 litre dumpy to stretch mine to a comfortable fit, use plenty of talcum powder and check every few days several hours after removing it from the cylinder(to give it time to shrink back some)
People over the pond will insist that you cannot stretch a latex seal, although most UK people I have met and spoken to do with success !
You decide