How to Repair a Vulcanized Rubber Suit

For diving, a vulcanized rubber dry suit has many appealing characteristics, including that these suits dry quickly and are easy to repair. When a suit is damaged, you can send it out for repair, but you can repair a suit yourself as well. Many suits are sold with a repair kit, which is the easiest way to repair a vulcanized rubber dry suit, though all of the items in a repair kit can be purchased individually: a patch, dry-suit glue and sandpaper.

Things You'll Need

  • Towel
  • Vulcanized rubber dry-suit repair kit
  • Stiff brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Dry the suit completely. Use a towel.

    • 2

      Roughen the surface of the area that needs repair with sandpaper. Repair kits usually include sandpaper for this purpose.

    • 3

      Remove the patch from the kit. Your kit should include a patch to apply over the damaged area or material that can be cut to the proper size. This material will most likely be made from a rubber material similar to that of the suit.

    • 4

      Apply glue to the patch using a stiff brush. Some patches have the catalyst to activate the glue on the back of the patch itself, while others do not, and some use heat as a catalyst. Read the instructions for the glue carefully for this step.

    • 5

      Press the patch onto the damaged area firmly. This is very important; be sure that you press down all parts of the patch, including the edges. This will ensure that the patch does not leak. Wait for the glue to dry. Drying times will vary, but many glues set quickly enough for immediate use.