custom adjustments to wetsuits on one's own?

[Shannon R]

I like using the Aquaseal Neo for quick minute fixes in the field, it holds great long term, and super easy to use. If you want something that leaves a really nice finish and will be more flexible go with the Aquaseal +FD (8 hour cure). I have not played with too many other brands but I imagine they all have rather different cure times. The Aquaseal Neo is invaluable for large tears where you may not have a practical means to hold the split together, just work the glue into the surfaces, blow on it a little and shove it together. If you mess it up, add more glue to the seam as the solvent can open the new bond again and give it another go. The Neo stuff is fairly thin and runny like light pancake syrup but easy to clean up. The +FD is much thicker and will not run, very sticky. The +FD brand will stick to smooth skin surfaces very well, the Neo brand needs a more porous surface and will peel off a smooth skin surface but hold in tears very well.

Thanks so much for the detailed tip!

 

[musubi]

I've re-sized non-custom wetsuits a few times. Basically once I've made the cuts and are ready to join, I first join the edges with wetsuit glue. Only the edges. Once that's tacked together and cured, I'd sew it with a regular sewing machine. No particular stitch style. I'd top it off with some glue over the stitched area. That's worked for me.
For the areas that I adjusted, glue alone wouldn't hold, so I sewed it. I used the Picasso brand suit glue FWIW.

 

[Shannon R]

I've re-sized non-custom wetsuits a few times. Basically once I've made the cuts and are ready to join, I first join the edges with wetsuit glue. Only the edges. Once that's tacked together and cured, I'd sew it with a regular sewing machine. No particular stitch style. I'd top it off with some glue over the stitched area. That's worked for me.
For the areas that I adjusted, glue alone wouldn't hold, so I sewed it. I used the Picasso brand suit glue FWIW.

Thank you! I actually was able to minimize some of the water ingress on my last dive by hiking the pants up further. I think the pants had too much excess material in the crotch before and I hadn't realized that was affecting the top fit so much. It's really hard to pull them up that high but seems like the extra effort paid off.

Now I notice only really getting too much water in the cuffs (I have thin wrists) and hood. The hood is nearly okay just the top part is too loose, very high up on my forehead. I'm thinking maybe I could just add some neoprene fabric to that part of the hood. So I should try sewing it on and then gluing? some pieces of neoprene came with the suit (I'm guessing for repairs) but not open cell, just nylon. I don't suppose it would matter if I sewed nylon to the open cell (open cell exterior, nylon interior)?

For the cuffs probably wearing gloves over them will help but I have a hand injury (fingers in splints for several more weeks) that prevents my wearing gloves right now.