Final Notes:
- If you have not used it before, neoprene glue remains wonderfully supple and extremely flexible even once it is dry (very different from aqua-seal).
- Use a well ventilated room---this glue produces lots of fumes. I cracked the patio door and turned on a fan after I started to get a head-rush.
- Consider trimming some of the neoprene right along the edge of the patch; make the cut at a sharp angle rather than squared-off straight perpendicular edges (the patch should taper from narrower to wider towards the outside edge of the patch). This would help the patch lay flatter on the wetsuit surface once glued down. My concern was the patch might not be as durable if i thinned out the neoprene materials along the edges; however, my patch ended-up sticking out above the wetsuit surface along the edges (as i described earlier).
- I probably should have used a slightly thinner piece of neoprene, as elios suggested in their directions (1 to 1.5mm). They sent me a few different thicknesses with nylon-out and open-cell-in. I chose a thicker piece (approx 3mm ?) for 2 reasons: 1) the nylon side matched my wetsuit pattern---fashion first, baby--- and 2) i figured a thicker piece might be more durable as it was hard to tell exactly how deep the original damage went.
- If the wetsuit is torn all the way through then a different approach might be required, including sewing the suit back together. Best to email photos to your suit makers and get their expert opinion. Also take a look at this thread from a few years ago by jon
http://forums.deeperblue.net/wetsuits/37449-wetsuit-repair.html
A day later, on close inspection my patch seems solid and feeling around from inside the suit with my hands I can't feel the presence of the patch at all. Additionally, the glue on the small tears seem like it will prevent any further damage to the area.
I will report back after diving.
Dive safe and barnacle free,
Sean
