soggy soft weights

Please register or login

Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.

Benefits of registering include

  • Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
  • A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
  • You can make this box go away

Joining is quick and easy. Log in or Register now!

gomi_otaku

Contributor
Messages
148
Reaction score
0
Location
Ballard, Seattle WA
# of dives
25 - 49
Anybody got a good technique for drying soft weights? They seem like they retain a lot of water after rinsing, and you can't really "squeeze" it out- and hanging them up allows them to drip, but they still feel soaked. I even have a dehumidifier run in the house all day, you would think the dry air would help. How long do these usually take to dry, or does everybody just keep them in a bucket and put them in their weight pockets when ready to dive?
gomi_
 
First it's often suggested not to rinse the things too often, you're just leaching more lead into the envionment. My wife runs soft weights and I have an old stainless steel wire refridgerator shelf that I keep on the floor of the garage or basement depending where the gear locker is with the seasons. Just break the rig down and let them dry. If they are still damp when you next need them that means you are diving enough.

Pete
 
After diving I simply lay the little guys out on a piece of car carpet behind my cars back seat....in several days they are dry and back in the wt. bag they go.
 
I lay mine out on an upside down plastic milk carton and leave them until I need them. Been working well for years.

Sea ya!
 
I just drop them on the ground a couple of times , there usually dry within a day , if not they will be in the water within a day or so anyhow .
 
It's rained for 22 days straight in Seattle nothing is dry around here! ; )

Brian

gomi_otaku:
Anybody got a good technique for drying soft weights? They seem like they retain a lot of water after rinsing, and you can't really "squeeze" it out- and hanging them up allows them to drip, but they still feel soaked. I even have a dehumidifier run in the house all day, you would think the dry air would help. How long do these usually take to dry, or does everybody just keep them in a bucket and put them in their weight pockets when ready to dive?
gomi_
 
gomi_otaku:
Anybody got a good technique for drying soft weights? They seem like they retain a lot of water after rinsing, and you can't really "squeeze" it out- and hanging them up allows them to drip, but they still feel soaked. I even have a dehumidifier run in the house all day, you would think the dry air would help. How long do these usually take to dry, or does everybody just keep them in a bucket and put them in their weight pockets when ready to dive?
gomi_
You must be using SeaSoft weights ... which have a neoprene cover (never could figure that one out ... encasing something designed to make you sink with something designed to make you float) ... they never dry.

I prefer Sea Pearls soft weights ... the fabric cover on them dries much quicker.

To answer the question directly, I have a dish drainer in my garage (like people used to use before dishwashers came with every house). When I get home, my weights go in it. They're usually dry by the next day.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)
 
NWGratefulDiver:
You must be using SeaSoft weights ... which have a neoprene cover (never could figure that one out ... encasing something designed to make you sink with something designed to make you float) ... they never dry.

I prefer Sea Pearls soft weights ... the fabric cover on them dries much quicker.

To answer the question directly, I have a dish drainer in my garage (like people used to use before dishwashers came with every house). When I get home, my weights go in it. They're usually dry by the next day.

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

It's nice to know someone noticed. We have been making weights for almost 30 years and created the soft weights as an answer to the old shot belt. They were, pour some in, pour some out, depending on weight requirements that day for the dive. I figured why not make pre-measured bags and end the confusion. To keep your weights in top condition, rinse with fresh water after salt water or pool diving. Salt water actually will pull moisture out of the air to keep your weights wet (and corroding) chlorine is actually a super-oxidizing agent and cause your weights to corrode. The quicker they dry, the longer they will last.
We use #4 shot in our product to keep the surface area to a minimum and a high quality nylon mesh that is made to our spec's, to allow the weight to dry quickly.
Smaller shot can have over a 33% larger area of exposure to promote corrosion.

I have been on charter dive boats where the weights we made over 15 years ago are still in use. Makes me proud!

Lee
 

Back
Top Bottom