Repaired Silicone Neck Seal

[swimlikethefish]

As a favor I repaired a silicone neck seal for @Colliam7. Here is the how to:

Step One: Tear your silicone seal.

Step Two: Use MEK to clean both sides of seal around tear.

Step Three: Apply 3M AC79 Primer to inside of seal around tear, try to get it in the tear as well without making the tear larger.

Step Four: Let primer dry for 15 seconds.

Step Five: Apply 3M SF100 Adhesive.

Step Six: Apply the adhesive to the inside of the seal first. Doing your best to get it in the tear as well as around the outside.

Step Seven: Allow adhesive to dry 5 minutes.

Step Eight: Repeat step three to outside of seal.

Step Nine: Repeat step six to outside of seal.

Step Ten: Repeat step seven.

Step Eleven: Verify both sides have dryed thoroughly.

Step Twelve: Set seal in safe place, allow to set overnight. (This step is not necessary, at this point the seal is ready to dive, I just do it for extra assurance.)

Step Thirteen: Reinstall seal in suit.

Step Fourteen: Go Diving

It might not look great to the naked eye, but it will keep the water out. I have yet to dive any repaired Silicone seal. So I am going to send this back to its owner and he will be our test pilot. (I am positive it will not leak) I hope to have a report back on its validity once it is received and the owner dives on it.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Great write up, thanks. May I suggest, for thorough testing of course, to first dive it in waters around 38f/4c. That way there'll be no confusion as to how well it's holding up.

 

[swimlikethefish]

Great write up, thanks. May I suggest, for thorough testing of course, to first dive it in waters around 38f/4c. That way there'll be no confusion as to how well it's holding up.

That will be up to the owner. You can take your test criteria up with him.

 

[Colliam7]

Well, I won't immediately be able to dive in 38 degree water. But, I will dive it in 48 degree water and report back.

 

[Compressor]

Very nice write up.

 

[Colliam7]

I have yet to dive any repaired Silicone seal. So I am going to send this back to its owner and he will be our test pilot. (I am positive it will not leak)

Ah, I am the SB test pilot for this? And, the official repair station is 'positive it will not leak', eh? Seriously, I very much appreciate the fix, and am glad to be the TP.

I hope to have a report back on its validity once it is received and the owner dives on it.

I will definitely report back.

Looking forward to trying it.

 

[divad]

"They" said it couldn't be done......

 

[grf88]

Great write up, thanks. May I suggest, for thorough testing of course, to first dive it in waters around 38f/4c. That way there'll be no confusion as to how well it's holding up.

I don't recommend that. I had a similar tear in my neckseal while diving in 34F water in Labrador last fall and although I knew I was very cold I did not realise I was in the first stages of hypothermia until I got out of the water. Thought I was going to shake all my filling loose.

 

[Colliam7]

I gotcha! Be assured that I will try it in our local quarry, and I am very sensitive to leaking, given where the tear was neck, front. In fact, I felt the results of the tear on a dive there some weeks ago, when the entire front of my undergarment flooded as soon as I submerged. So, I will be in a position to immediately surface, doff the suit and put on dry clothes.

 

[АлександрД]

Cyanoacrylate - Wikipedia
one nice trick: baking soda highly increase solidification speed.

but I think it is not a best idea to use such kind of glue to silicone.
much better is here: How to glue silicone seals