Modifying wetsuit

[OldNSalty]

Hey All,

This is probably an easy one but I don't sew. I have an old US Divers farmer john that is around 6.5mm-way too much for the diving I do hear in North Florida. I was thinking of taking the top and cutting the sleeves to make it more of just a shorty (a thick shorty) that I could pull on top of my 3/2 for winter diving.

Is it just as simple as cutting the sleeves, rolling them back about a 1/4 of an inch and stitching it back? Is there special thread, clue of some type or what? The suit is probably 15+ years old (but hasn't seen much action) so it is no big deal if I screw it up but I want to do it right if I can.

Thanks

 

[Thalassamania]

At 15 years old it will not provide enough additional warmth to be worth the trouble. You can't see it, but the insulating gas cells in the rubber break down.

 

[KCrofoot]

Before you cut it off try it the way it is. If it is too warm cut off the sleeves. I cut up an old wetsuit and use it to protect my photography equipment when traveling.

 

[Rich Keller]

All you need to do is cut the sleeves off. You do not need to roll back the edge or sew anything. You could also just wear it as it is over a pair of jeans if you need leg protection.

 

[Damselfish]

They don't hem neoprene unless it's pretty thin - trying it on 6.5mm neoprene would be a losing battle. Plus if you were successful you'd have a big bump that leaves dents in your arms. Finished edges would usually be bound but that's at least partly for looks. I might bind them because I sew, but if I didn't I'd probably just put a dab of aquaseal or goop at any seams/threads to reinforce and stop things from unraveling.

 

[OldNSalty]

Thanks all- What Thal says makes me think it is not worth it. I know a couple of years ago I did 3 dives in the springs (68 degree water) with an outside temp in the low 60's and I was pretty cold by the end. Of course, I didn't take the wet suit off between dives (should have) but I was a lot colder then I thought I would have been.

 

[g1138]

For future reference you can press an iron on the cut ends to seal the neoprene threads from unraveling. The local custom wetsuit shop does just that with a hot press. No need to fold back and do fancy dancy stitching. That's really to make it pretty, it does a poor job at keeping a water seal if that's what you're aiming for.

With most wetsuits I've seen, thin and thick, they use a very thin (less than 1mm) sheet of fabric and stitch that over the cut neoprene cuffs. But the cuffs are still heat sealed to prevent fraying. So like I said, cosmetics really, no useful purpose as far as I've experienced.