I'm about to run out of 303 and have been obsessing lately about 303 vs McNett's
UV-Tech - since I hose down my seals with 303 fairly religiously and the folks
at OS Systems tout UV-Tech like it's almost essential to keep the seals going
for any reasonable length of time.

Happened to stop by a local dive shop today - to pick up a wet suit that needed
taking in.

Seeing maybe fifty rental dry suits hanging up in the shop, I asked the guy
there what kind of life he gets out of a set of seals and what they do to
mitigate wear.

The reply was "at least five years" and "nothing except rinse in plain water".


Hmmmm......
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) wrote:

The reply was "at least five years" and "nothing except rinse in plain water".

I've expressed suspicion with these 303 type treatments in the past. I have had
a dry suit ($$$) with frequent application of 303 stored in the same closet as a
drytop ($) that never got 303. The untreated has outlasted the treated.

I have pair of pure latex overshoes that I've worn over dress shoes in the rain
for over two decades. Never treated with anything and they get _walked_on_ when
used. Still going strong.

Now I only use McNett's stuff sparingly on latex that's exposed to UV frequently
and not on any other latex. YMMV.

Mike

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
I'm about to run out of 303 and have been obsessing lately about 303 vs McNett's
UV-Tech - since I hose down my seals with 303 fairly religiously and the folks
at OS Systems tout UV-Tech like it's almost essential to keep the seals going
for any reasonable length of time.

Happened to stop by a local dive shop today - to pick up a wet suit that needed
taking in.

Seeing maybe fifty rental dry suits hanging up in the shop, I asked the guy
there what kind of life he gets out of a set of seals and what they do to
mitigate wear.

The reply was "at least five years" and "nothing except rinse in plain water".


Hmmmm......

There are reasons for this. The things that damage paddling dry suit
seals most are UV exposure and the combination of skin oil, sweat and
sunscreen that they are often exposed to. There is much less exposure to
all of these with dry suits used for diving.

Per Brian Nystrom:
(PeteCresswell) wrote:
I'm about to run out of 303 and have been obsessing lately about 303 vs McNett's
UV-Tech - since I hose down my seals with 303 fairly religiously and the folks
at OS Systems tout UV-Tech like it's almost essential to keep the seals going
for any reasonable length of time.

Happened to stop by a local dive shop today - to pick up a wet suit that needed
taking in.

Seeing maybe fifty rental dry suits hanging up in the shop, I asked the guy
there what kind of life he gets out of a set of seals and what they do to
mitigate wear.

The reply was "at least five years" and "nothing except rinse in plain water".


Hmmmm......

There are reasons for this. The things that damage paddling dry suit
seals most are UV exposure and the combination of skin oil, sweat and
sunscreen that they are often exposed to. There is much less exposure to
all of these with dry suits used for diving.


I'm glad I posted then.... Makes sense, but I never would have thought of it.

Thanks.
--
PeteCresswell

"(PeteCresswell)" wrote:

Seeing maybe fifty rental dry suits hanging up in the shop, I asked the guy
there what kind of life he gets out of a set of seals and what they do to
mitigate wear.

The reply was "at least 5 years" and "nothing except rinse in plain water".

Yes, rinsing in water is the next best thing to 303. I still think
303 has an advantage because it makes the latex slippery. Note that
most gaskets are torn when you get into your suit.

In the case of rental gear, you've gotta wonder how many times a year
the suits get rented. Probably not as much as I wear my drysuit.

Per Bill Tuthill:
In the case of rental gear, you've gotta wonder how many times a year
the suits get rented. Probably not as much as I wear my drysuit.

OTOH, on my old Bare Polar - which I retired to hanger in a closet after moving
to a Kokatat bag suit - the seals definitely didn't last 5 years, even in the
dark of the closet. The rubber just sort of melted.

I guess there are other factors, even in an inside storage area - like ozone,
temperature, and so-forth. Also, maybe the Bare's seal would still be with us
if I'd washed it thoroughly before hanging it up...
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Bill Tuthill:
In the case of rental gear, you've gotta wonder how many times a year
the suits get rented. Probably not as much as I wear my drysuit.

OTOH, on my old Bare Polar - which I retired to hanger in a closet after moving
to a Kokatat bag suit - the seals definitely didn't last 5 years, even in the
dark of the closet. The rubber just sort of melted.

That can happen. Latex seals that are allowed to fold over themselves
can stick together, too.

I guess there are other factors, even in an inside storage area - like ozone,
temperature, and so-forth.

Ozone is definitely an issue with latex, but I don't think temp matters
much except perhaps if it's extremely hot.

Also, maybe the Bare's seal would still be with us
if I'd washed it thoroughly before hanging it up...

Perhaps, but I rinse my dry suit, dry tops and dry glove after every use
and the seals still only last 3 years or so.

Per Brian Nystrom:
Perhaps, but I rinse my dry suit, dry tops and dry glove after every use
and the seals still only last 3 years or so.

That brings me back to a strong suspicion that I got hosed when I bought my new
Kokatat dry top a couple months ago. The seals are date-stamped "Nov 2004".
--
PeteCresswell

(PeteCresswell) wrote:
Per Brian Nystrom:
Perhaps, but I rinse my dry suit, dry tops and dry glove after every use
and the seals still only last 3 years or so.

That brings me back to a strong suspicion that I got hosed when I bought my new
Kokatat dry top a couple months ago. The seals are date-stamped "Nov 2004".

That sounds like an '05 garment to me.

Dear Brian Nystrom:

Brian Nystrom wrote:
(PeteCresswell) wrote:
....
I guess there are other factors, even in an inside storage
area - like ozone, temperature, and so-forth.

Ozone is definitely an issue with latex, but I don't think temp
matters much except perhaps if it's extremely hot.

Any chemical reaction is speeded up by temperature (double rate with 10
C deg rise). Ozone is universally present in some concentration. As
are the crosslinkers built into the latex (and the "scissioners"
produced by natural radiation and / or humidity).

Temperature, ozone, and humidity are used to artificially age natural
and artificial rubber goods.

Colder and dryer is better, for storage.

David A. Smith