Make your own vintage wetsuit

[jviss]

Whoops, thanks John, I corrected that Freudian typo!

[SeaRat]

jviss said:

Whoops, thanks John, I corrected that Freudian typo!

So did I,

John

[jviss]

The Rubatex arrived today. I simply cannot find the zippers I need, anywhere (on the web). I'm looking for nickel plated brass, a long (24", 26"?) separating one for the jacket, and 6" closed end ones for the ankles and wrists.

EDIT: I measured the prototype this morning, my mid-1970's U.S. Divers suit; the zippers are made by YKK, and are 8" at the wrists and ankles, and the jacket zipper is 21".

[duckbill]

Maybe try Tandy leather?
www.tandyleatherfactory.com/products.asp?dept=236

Or try some local canvas shops if you haven't already.

[jviss]

Thanks, that's a good lead. I've looked at the canvas guys but they all seem ot have gone to plastic.

I'd really like to be able to find the YKK manufacturer's specifications, and then find the selected product in distribution somewhere, so I can control quality if I get into the kit business. Not that I'd get rich doing it, but I think fellow vintage scuba divers would appreciate it.

By the way, the Rubatex is different than what I anticipated. It has one side smooth, and the other is like the raw foam, so a higher friction, very dark black surface. I really haven't decided which side should be turned out, so I'm open to suggestions.

[jviss]

The pattern for my 70's vintage US Divers suit is simpler than the Fenjohn kit pictured in the scans posted by John (Searat) from the book "Handbook for Skin Divers," in that my suit has only one piece for the collar, while it appears that the Fenjohn pattern has two; and, my pants don't have the darts, or "wedge-shaped cuts" that make the waistband form-fitting. The Fenjohn pattern, however, has no beavertail. So, exclusive of the beavertail there are only four unique pieces for the jacket, one for the pants.

I think I can recreate the Fenjohn pattern, sized for myself, easily enough. Having a set of the small, medium, and large Fenjohn patterns would be great!

Also, I'll need a hood pattern.

[jviss]

Question for anyone who has ever made a wetsuit - did you glue the zippers in instead of stitching, or is it just crazy to think this could be done?

[duckbill]

jviss said:

I'd really like to be able to find the YKK manufacturer's specifications, and then find the selected product in distribution somewhere,............

Check out the Tandy link I gave you. It takes you right to their YKK zipper page.

jviss said:

By the way, the Rubatex is different than what I anticipated. It has one side smooth, and the other is like the raw foam, so a higher friction, very dark black surface. I really haven't decided which side should be turned out, so I'm open to suggestions.

Since the Rubatex number was given to you as a known wetsuit material, my guess is that this is material that was designed for nylon fabric lamination. Adhesives should stick really well to the rough surface. I think I know the texture you are talking about.

Unfortunately, with the smooth in, the outer,rough surface is quite unattractive. With the smooth out, I think it would be extremely difficult to don and doff with that rough surface against the skin.

[jviss]

Yea, I'm kind disappointed in the surface finishes. But, it seems like really good stuff, we'll see.

[SeaRat]

I'm thinking that you may not have a closed-cell foam neoprene, with a surface like that. See whether it absorbs water, and if it does, it is not closed-cell. If it is open-cell, then you don't have the thermal protection of a closed-cell foam neoprene, but you also do not have the loss of buoyancy either. With open-cell, it would not be indicated for cold water (below about 50 degrees F.

John

[jviss]

I ordered it directly from Rubatex, and it's supposed to be G231N.

[scubadude]

There is a Company in Buffalo, NY that stocks and sells Genuine Rubatex G231N and a denser version called G207N. They make wetsuit Components for the US Navy as well as sheet goods and rubber adhesives.
Sealing Devices Inc. [phone] Ask for Dan Yousett