My DUI manual has a special tip about using a mild soap/water mixture to lube seals when entering/exiting suit. Anyone have experience or thoughts on using the same soap/water mixture on the zipper when entering/exiting the suit to to reduce wear and strain on the zipper? This obviously applies to actual diving the suit and not to the cleaning and storage routine after diving. Thanks.
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That was an old school trick to suit up on Neoprene/ no nylon wetsuit in the old days. Talcum powder was another thing that they used for our wrist seals . We used Johnson's baby shampoo back when we were using Poseidon Unisuits in the late 700' and early 80's. Just make sure that you use the mildest soap because it can irritate your skin if it is too strong, thus the "No Tears" Johnson baby shampoo. We did not use soap/water to lubricate the zipper, we cleaned the zipper / area if it got dirty that way. we used bees wax, actually the dive store where I learned to dive in a drysuit was also a plumbing supply company when I first started working at and we used the Bees Wax toilet rings instead of the expensive lipstick bees wax from the manufacturers.
Boarderguy
Chief Narctopus Wrangler
Avoid hard waxes, in cold water the crap gets solid and flakes out of the zipper teeth. Find a chapstick style at your LDS for $10 and use that pack for 100s of dives.
After discovering it in a sewing supply store, I used pharmaceutical-grade beeswax for 15 years.
Unlike regular yellow beeswax this is white and has no bee bits or pollen.
It's harder, stands up better, and does not flake off in cold water. I've used it as low as 36 degrees under the ice, and it's fine.
The only suit I did not use it on was my Otter, which had a plastic zipper. For that, I used silicone grease in a syringe on the docking end only. The zipper action distributes it.
Unlike regular yellow beeswax this is white and has no bee bits or pollen.
It's harder, stands up better, and does not flake off in cold water. I've used it as low as 36 degrees under the ice, and it's fine.
The only suit I did not use it on was my Otter, which had a plastic zipper. For that, I used silicone grease in a syringe on the docking end only. The zipper action distributes it.
flymolo
Contributor
DUI sells zipper wax although when I had a zipper changed out a few years ago by the late Steve Gamble he included a stick of beeswax along with it.
WillieJustice
Contributor
No, just metal.
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of course it works for plastic if you're at all interested in using soap
seaskin.co.uk
Buy a few spread them around give them to your friends to make more friends
Cheep, as chips, I grab some every time I buy some parts, not as cheep as soap
still got no friends
Bees wax blocks (Spare Part) - Seaskin Drysuits Shop - Purchase Drysuit Supplies
Bees wax block for keeping the dry zips running smoothly. Looking after your zip is essential for a keeping a suit dry and avoiding expensive repairs. Purchase Bees wax blocks (Spare Part) from Seaskin - drysuit supplies made to order directly from the factory.
seaskin.co.uk
Buy a few spread them around give them to your friends to make more friends
Cheep, as chips, I grab some every time I buy some parts, not as cheep as soap
still got no friends
WillieJustice
Contributor
I like your attitude. I don't have any friends either. So there's that.of course it works for plastic if you're at all interested in using soap
View attachment 858748
Bees wax blocks (Spare Part) - Seaskin Drysuits Shop - Purchase Drysuit Supplies
Bees wax block for keeping the dry zips running smoothly. Looking after your zip is essential for a keeping a suit dry and avoiding expensive repairs. Purchase Bees wax blocks (Spare Part) from Seaskin - drysuit supplies made to order directly from the factory.
Buy a few spread them around give them to your friends to make more friends
Cheep, as chips, I grab some every time I buy some parts, not as cheep as soap
still got no friends
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