How tight to trim wrist seals on a drysuit?

[ChrisA]

I just had the wrist seals on my drysuit replaced. They are the "cone" type that you trim by cutting along some molded-in rings. Pretty much the standard setup except these are the "Heavy Duty" type made from very thick latex.

Question: Is there a rule of thumb for how tight the seal should be. Is it the "smallest hole that you can possably get your hand through without the hand turning purple or is the idea just not to have an air gap.

I know what you all are going to say: Trim off one ring at a time until the seal leaks then add the last ring back on. Ya right.

 

[Aquanautchuck]

I always trim mine to the tightest possible. They seem to stretch a bit and also I can trim them up again if the edges start getting gummy.

 

[Scottri]

Trim it so that it is tight but not so that it cuts off the circulation. I rarely have to trim wrist seals but I always have to trip neck seals. I usually do it about a half a ring at a time with a pair of small, very sharp scissors. Make sure you don't leave any jagged edges when you are done. Some people use exacto knifes.

 

[jonnythan]

Don't want them to be tight. You want about 1cm of seal up against your skin when wearing it.

 

[LG Diver]

If these are the DUI cone seals, the drysuit manual that you can download from their website has recommendations on how many rings to trim off based on neck and wrist measurements.

Here's a good link on how to trim them:

http://www.dui-online.com/how_to_trim.htm

 

[Peter_C]

Most drysuit manufacturers will actually tell you to not trim them but stretch them first. Place a larger object in the seals and leave overnight. Something like a two liter bottle in the neck and some soda bottles or something in the wrist seals. Then if necessary trim the seals as a last resort.

 

[jonnythan]

Latex will *not* maintain a stretch. You must trim to suit.

 

[Peter_C]

Question: How tight should my latex seals be?
Answer: All seals must be “snap” tight to keep out the water, however not so tight that they cut off circulation to your feet, hands or head. If your neck seal is choking you it’s too tight!
To make a seal larger simply trim the latex down with a pair of sharp scissors. (See the drysuit manual before attempting this!) Before trimming a seal, you can also stretch it over a larger diameter circular object, such as an ice cream tub, and leave it for 24 hrs. This can make the seal slightly larger.

From here: http://www.oceanrodeo.com/drysuitsfaq.html

NEW SEALS:
New neck or wrist seals may feel tight or restrictive at first but will relax a little with use. WARNING! Never use a seal that is so tight that blood flow is restricted to the head or hands. Too tight of a neck seal can lead to a life-threatening situation once in the water.

You can pre-stretch your seals by pulling the wrist seals over a small bottle and pulling the neck seal over a scuba tank or large soda bottle. 23 inches in circumference works well. Leave the seals in a stretched position for only 6 hours at a time. Tests fit the seals after the first 6 hours and repeat the 6-hour sessions as needed until the seals are comfortable. Make sure that you have applied silicone (or Seal Saver) to the latex prior to stretching. Consult your dealer if you have any questions.

NOTE: O.S. Systems manufactures 3 sizes of wrist seals and 4 sizes of neck seals, make sure that you have the correct size seal installed on your drysuit BEFORE you start any stretching of the seals.

From here: http://www.my-town.com/learn2dive/equip_drysuits.asp

A thread from scubaboard: http://74.52.40.173/showthread.php?t=842

Last but not least the best one with pictures: http://www.andysdrysuit.com/howto/LatexSealCareAndUse.PDF

Now are these correct or is it all misinformation? I am sure if someone searched they could find all kinds of info saying trim only and in my research here, I do stand corrected on "most manufacturers" as it seems most actually say to trim. In my own experience with drysuits and my friends we have found that they do loosen up over time or by placing an object into the seals themselves. Maybe a call to the manufacturer is in order.

Here is D.U.I.'s write up on trimming seals: http://www.dui-online.com/how_to_trim.htm

 

[jonnythan]

It's misinformation. Of those sites, Andy's is the only one I've ever even heard of, and they're out of business.

Stretching works for neoprene seals, not latex.

 

[dlent]

The following link proves that any material can be stretched out:

http://www.tiscali.co.uk/reference/encyclopaedia/hutchinson/m0021767.html