Drysuit Zip Maintenance - advice?

[Malachy]

Noticed some good advice on zip maintenance recently which I think I will need as my zip seems to be leaking a little. Can anyone guess at possible causes and cures as the suit is very new and the zip was fine before.
Did not get soaked but there was a definite line across my back

[Chris Hall]

Hi Malachy.

Make sure that your undersuit is not caught in the zip, as this will cause a leak.

To lubricate the zip I would recommend bees wax, it works very well. But you need to keep it clean as well, an old toothbrush is good for that.

[gripper]

What make suit is it. I had an oceanic and I never could get it to be dry

[Woz]

Beeswax is hard work but should only be given a wipe over the zip and not scrubbed into it. Personally I use Beaver zip lube. One of a few Beaver products that actually work.

Look for wrinkles in the rubber around the really small teeth on the inside of the zip- this is the bit that does the sealing. Also caught zip threads- melt them off with a fag end (not a naked flame).

[Wacker]

Make sure you keep all silicone based products well away from the zip and surounding material.

[ray]

Hi.

Sure its not coming in via your neck seal?.

[Malachy]

Thanks for the reply Ray and others.

My neckseal is a neoprene one which I think is Ok but saw on the forums someones advice about turning it in and inflating the suit whilst standing to get required air around seal.
Bought some beaver zip lube and used a toothbrush so will find out again on Sunday whether effective or not. Not getting soaked but would really like to find the holy grail that is a DRY drysuit, preferably neoprene. Now wheres Indiana Jones and does he dive I wonder ?

Wacker , why no silicone products and is it OK to grease hands with vaseline to get them through neoprene wrist seals?

[Woz]

You should simply have to turn the neckseal in and pull it down to get a good seal with neoprene. Works fine with mine although when dropping in from a great height you might get a little squirt down the back of your neck.

No silicone as when the zip eventually goes you can't stick the new zip to it.

And definitely no to the vaseline- mineral based oils will rot your seals (in the same way that you can't use vaseline with condoms). Ideally you should use French Chalk, available from industrial suppliers. We buy it here in 1kg bags to keep natural rubber seals in good condition. If you prefer a wet lube then KY or a vet supplies for Vet Lube is what you need. But if you use a wet lube don't use french chalk afterwards as it turns into a white sticky paste. Yum.

Oh- and don't use talc either as if you look on the ingredients it says "parfum" which is basically a smelly oil which will rot your seals.

French Chalk- Cromwell Tools www.cromwell.co.uk 500g £3.57

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by Malachy

. Not getting soaked but would really like to find the holy grail that is a DRY drysuit, preferably neoprene.

when you find it let us all know , the owner of LDS has been diving since the sport began and calls his dry suit his 'dampsuit' cos its never been totally dry.

[Wacker]

Originally Posted by Woz

You should simply have to turn the neckseal in and pull it down to get a good seal with neoprene. Works fine with mine although when dropping in from a great height you might get a little squirt down the back of your neck.

No silicone as when the zip eventually goes you can't stick the new zip to it.

And definitely no to the vaseline- mineral based oils will rot your seals (in the same way that you can't use vaseline with condoms). Ideally you should use French Chalk, available from industrial suppliers. We buy it here in 1kg bags to keep natural rubber seals in good condition. If you prefer a wet lube then KY or a vet supplies for Vet Lube is what you need. But if you use a wet lube don't use french chalk afterwards as it turns into a white sticky paste. Yum.

Oh- and don't use talc either as if you look on the ingredients it says "parfum" which is basically a smelly oil which will rot your seals.

French Chalk- Cromwell Tools www.cromwell.co.uk 500g £3.57

Woz beat me to it.
But also don't be tempted to ease a stiff zip with silicone as it will never seal again!