Repairing Breathable Waders???

[crawfish]

I'm needing some help here lads Ive got a couple of small pin prick like holes in my waders and would like to know how to repair them . i know about aqua-sure and the likes but don't want to smear loads of the stuff all inside my waders . Ive heard that the pro`s use alcohol to find where the holes are but not sure which , idont want to use the wrong stuff and ruin my waders they`re only a year old , any help would be appreciated thanks in advance

[jock]

I don't know about the pro's using alcohol to find the holes but I can advise on using it and even more so on abusing it ;D

It is highly unlikely alcohol will damage your waders. However do a test patch high up and then test to see if that leaks.
If the pros do use alcohol it is most likely methylated spirits bought from a chemist. This is 95% ethanol and 5% methanol and should, as I said earlier, not be a problem.
If need be you could always resort to the tried and tested method of filling them with water. Check, do your waders carry an unconditional guarantee?

[elwyman]

I use Jock's water filling method as a last resort - it works but it's messy!

What works well for me is going into a dark room and using a small torch inside the waders to find the leak . You usually have some idea where the leak is - just run the glass on the torch tight across the inside of the waders (ie torch is touching the material) any any pinholes will be obvious.

Circle pinhole with biro and use aquasure.

[crawfish]

thanks alot gents most helpful i`ll try easy method with the torch first then try out the rest

[elwyman]

Thank heavens we have a chemist on the forum Graham. ;D

[elwyman]

graham said:

Incidentilly if trying the method of filling the waders with water to find the leak, dont hold them up when filling. The weight of water can open up the seams, speaking from experience here.

Yes, I made that mistake a few years back.

[sjf]

You can do it in reverse. Wipe soap solution all over the out side of the waders, Make sure they are full of air and roll the top shut, pretty little bubbles get blown where you are leaking.

Mind you I use the 'Simms approved' alcohol method. The bubbles is now only used on my neoprenes.

[salmonking]

graham said:

No problem.
Incidentilly if trying the method of filling the waders with water to find the leak, dont hold them up when filling. The weight of water can open up the seams, speaking from experience here.
Lay the waters along the ground and fill them up while just holding the tops of the waders up a little. This is a good way to find any leaks in non-Goretex breathables and any leaks in the neoprene feet.

I have a very slight leak in the sole of the neoprene foot,any ideas?,thinkin of buying neo socks as its only wet on the very bottom.

[salmonking]

Will do Graham..cheers.

[donnieW]

I've never had much success with aquasure on any part of the waders but especially on the feet. Is it not the case that it wears off quickly if it's on the soles?

[para1]

My neoprene feet has probably got more Aquasure than nepoprene. ;D
Finding leaks in feet: Start at the open end and screw up tightly,
place feet in bath or river, like fixing puncture on bike the bubbles will show in the feet.
Now use breathables with boots attached.

[para1]

Agree with above.
Try cleaning with nail varnish remover as it makes the neoprene go tacky and it seems to get abetter grip.

[buntinbee]

I, like a lot of other people, have had problems with the neoprene feet wearing and leaking. I have found that by wearing a thin pair of socks over the neoprene feet the problem does not really develop. The sock saves the sand rubbing directly between the boot and the neoprene.

[davewallbridge]

para1 said:

Agree with above.
Try cleaning with nail varnish remover as it makes the neoprene go tacky and it seems to get abetter grip.

Nail varnish remover is not really the best stuff to use for applications where adhesive will be applied.
It's usual for the manufacturers to add a small percentage of castor oil or similar to counter the de-greasing effect of the solvents and this will inhibit adhesion to some extent.
It would be better to use plain Acetone or cellulose paint thinner but always do a test to see how the material will react.


Dave.

[diverdave]

The manufacturer of Aquasure make a product called cotal 240 which is used as a pre cleaning agent and curing accelerator. I have used it for years on both dive suits and waders, and if used it makes a better bond that just aquasure,
The way we repair them is to turn them inside out and push a compressor hose inside them, a car tyre one is fine with the end removed. A cable tie will stop the majority of the air escaping. Inflate the waders then tip a bucket of soapy water over them, mark the bubbling bits with chalk then leave to dry.
The repair is made by firstly cleaning the area with cotal. Then mix cotal 50/50 with aquasure, it will thin it to a water like consistancy and paint on. it will soak in much more than just aquasure. We pull the fabric to encourage the mixture into the hole.
it dries solid in 2 hours, so we always apply 2 - 3 coats on the inside only. Aquasure mixed with cotal is seriously permanent, and makes an excellent repair.

[para1]

davewallbridge said:

para1 said:

Agree with above.
Try cleaning with nail varnish remover as it makes the neoprene go tacky and it seems to get abetter grip.

Nail varnish remover is not really the best stuff to use for applications where adhesive will be applied.
It's usual for the manufacturers to add a small percentage of castor oil or similar to counter the de-greasing effect of the solvents and this will inhibit adhesion to some extent.
It would be better to use plain Acetone or cellulose paint thinner but always do a test to see how the material will react.


Dave.

I have use nail varnish for years on neoprene and pvc with no ill effects. Just because it is cheap doesn't make it bad.

[davewallbridge]

para1,

I was not suggesting it was bad because it's cheap. Cheap is my kind of price ........ :-)

I was just pointing out that it does contain a small amount of oil which will be left on a surface after the solvents have evaporated. This will stop an adhesive making complete intimate contact with the surface.

Dave

[colliedog]

There is an excellent product available for the instant emergency repair of punctures in neoprene and breathable waders - they are called Leeches and are self adhesive, neoprene puncture repair patches available from Halfords and bike shops for a couple of quid/10.

They are about an inch in diameter and cover holes made by barbed wire, thorns, mis-directed flies (and possibly airgun darts for those who fish in the modern urban environment!)

They are seriously sticky and so long as the material is dryish can be applied in the field. (hot, air conditioned air from a car climate control system works fastest). I have applied a number of these on a temproary basis and just left them as permanant repairs because they have been so effective.

Nothing spoils expensive salmon fishing as fast as a serious wader leak on a cold day so it is well worth investing in some of these.

CD

[salmonking]

C D,can these be applied to the inside of breathables,for a normal
wader leak?

[madkeen]

Great idea CD I have been caught out on a few occasions when I needed an instant repair of to halfords it is then.