Washing , hanging a drysuit

[Pierre Farrugia]

Hello,
How exactly do you rinse (with a pipe, in a water basin)your drysuits after a saltwater dive? How do you hang it to dry out? Any ideas , pics or links are wellcome.

[Dominic]

Outside, in the garden, with a hose.

Hang it up to dry a bit, then take it indoors to finish off.

If I've washed out the inside as well, then I'll use my low-tech DIY Dampire - cat litter in a pair of tights - to ensure that the boots don't stay wet and get smelly.

[jjflash]

As Dom says, good rinse with the hose is the way.
As for hangers, I made one from copper piping, two pieces for the arms (each about as long as half the arm length measured from the middle of the neck hole) joined in the middle with a tee piece with another pipe going vertically up from the tee.

Drill a hole in the vertical bit and put a rope loop in it to hang it on. Cover the arm parts with pipe insulation foam for protection and cap the ends of the arm bits to stop any catching on the suit. All joins soldered up.

Works for me, sorry if preaching to the coverted. Saves a bunch on buying a ready made one though

Cheers
Paul

[Seadart Bob]

Paul
Not preaching to the converted, that’s for sure.
Brill idea about the suit hanger could kick myself for not thinking of it.
Got 15 and 22 mm pipe and connections all over the workshop, pipe insulation by the bundle. Sod the work, first job in the morning make a decent hanger for my suit
Thanks a bundle.
Good way for testing for leaks on the cheap.
Nick a few of those cones that you see around cafeterias when they cone off a section after the floors have been cleaned and they don’t want you to walk all over it. Cut them down to size to fit the cuffs and neck opening, fill the cones with expander foam to make them air tight. Fit the cones then inflate the suit, lay it in the back garden, get a bucket of warm soapy water [not to much of the washing up liquid] with a soft broom brush it all over the suit and check for the leaks. I think this is how old plumbers use to check for gas leaks, perhaps they still do. Hose off with fresh water. Hang to dry using your new tubular suit hanger.
Not so cheap if you have to sell your one bed flat and buy a three-bed semi with a back garden and a garage that you use as a workshop.

Bob
P.S.  Perhaps I’m preaching to the converted.

[Phil Ennis]

Another way Bob, rather than the brush, is to have a solution of soapy water in a plant spray and work your way round the suit.

[jjflash]

Nice one Bob, I'm off to nick some cones, I've got some foam filler lying around that I've been wondering what to spray it on !!

YD DIY Forum please Jay ?? :thumb:
Sure we could get on Discovery Home & Leisure with combined input !!

Cheers
Paul

[Lawrence Debono]

Ok - my DIY way of testing for leaks (Don't laugh). -- Put two coca cola cans in the cuff seals and place a small plastic bucket or ball that fits the neck seal. It does work.
One point - if you are hanging the suit inside don't forget to tell the wife. I heard a few screams and the odd swear word, because she taught that there was some one hanging in the basement.

Lawrence

[Seadart Bob]

sounds a much better idea Phil
I'm learning a lot to night
Bob

[Pierre Farrugia]

Hello,
I like the idea of the hanger I will do one soon. About the drysuit hanging in the basement I have same problem with dog that does not stop barking after an encounter with the drysuit.Is the hanger stright or did you bend the arms are down?

[jjflash]

Forgot to add that bit - bend the arms down so it doesnt strain the fabric - mine bend about halfway between the shoulder and elbow I guess

Cheers
Paul