Leak in silicone wrist zip seal :( Can I patch it?

[geoff w]

Background referred to in Exhaust valve leaking? but basically my left arm was full of water, DUI replaced my exhaust valve, my left arm was still full of water, I swapped my wrist seal for a dry glove and my arm stayed dry, and then some troubleshooting tips from Janet at DUI on the phone and Kathy here

Tonight I stuck my dive light in the wrist opening, shined it around, and found one spot where the slightest bit of light was coming through the silicone, about 1" from the zip ring. It looked like it was either slightly abraded or pinched. Since it's silicone, is there anything to try patching a silicone wrist seal with, since it's not torn? Silicone adhesive? Aquaseal, since it works on anything? Or is my wrist zip seal toast and only option is to pop a new one in (which is why I keep spares)?

 

[Jax]

I would give the aquaseal a chance. You have nothing to lose.

 

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

 

[Dive Right In Scuba.]

I would not patch it. If the Aquaseal works (and I doubt it), it is still a weak point ready to tear at any time. Why take a chance on ruining a dive? If you have a replacement, this would be a good time to use it.

 

[divad]

I would give the aquaseal a chance. You have nothing to lose.

I've tried Aquaseal, and it did not work. I tried to link a video from 3M demonstrating their silicone to silicone adhesive, but the link didn't work.

 

[geoff w]

I would give the aquaseal a chance. You have nothing to lose.

I've tried Aquaseal, and it did not work. I tried to link a video from 3M demonstrating their silicone to silicone adhesive, but the link didn't work.

I always think Aquaseal is the answer, but somehow always can't get anything to stick to silicone. Thank you for saving me the time of finding out the hard way. I'll try to track down the 3M silicone-silicone demo

I would not patch it. If the Aquaseal works (and I doubt it), it is still a weak point ready to tear at any time. Why take a chance on ruining a dive? If you have a replacement, this would be a good time to use it.

It's not torn, which is why I was considering some silicone based seal to fill in the small pinhole. In the grand scheme of things, zip seals aren't that expensive compared to having a great dive, and I only need to use one. My question was as much for curiosity and to help others as to reuse a zip seal. I might try it as an experiment when I get a chance and report back, but I was hoping Cathy would chime in and tell me silicone adhesive will or won't stick to their seal material

 

[geoff w]

I've tried Aquaseal, and it did not work. I tried to link a video from 3M demonstrating their silicone to silicone adhesive, but the link didn't work.

Great suggestion on 3M silicone bonding demonstration video! I found one video for medical grade silicone adhesive, which is really hard to buy as a consumer. I think the non-medical grade versions are 3M AC79 primer and 3M CA100 adhesive. I have an inquiry in to 3M to see if they would be suitable for gluing some scrap silicone on to patch the hole, as well as whether some flavor of 3M adhesive would patch the hole as well. It may be moot anyway, since the 3M primer and adhesive are stupidly expensive for small bottles, only come in cases of a dozen, and probably cost way more than buying a bunch of replacement wrist zip seals. I'll see what 3M says and if there's enough interest (like 12 people) maybe we can organize a group buy so everyone would split the cost. Although in the long run I think just replacing the zip seal is the best answer

 

[James R]

At a dive site, between dives I would probably try patching it with some aquaseal and a bike tube patch or anything I could find, but after that weekend I would change it. I carry two wrist and one neck seal as spares every time I go diving since I am often teaching so I can't let a seal mess up someone's class.

 

[geoff w]

A technically knowledgeable guy from 3M called today based on my inquiry. He thought their PR100 adhesive might work (PR means it's flexible and would work for plastic and rubber). Their CA100 adhesive is brittle and not suitable. Just popping a new zip seal on would be the easiest, fastest, most reliable, and probably least expensive. But now I'm curious if the adhesive would work for a quick field patch between dives, but something for the back burner

 

[divad]

Ask 3M if they will test the glue on your old seal. Tell them they can make billions and billions more dollars if it works.