Dying neoprene? (colouring)

[Killa]

hey anyone ever tried to coulour his wetsuit?

I was thinking of making it a bit camo (some brown and green patches) but I don't have any idea of what paint to use, it would have to be permanent (or at least so good it doesn't loose colour in like 10 dives)

 

[tim_a]

If you want a camo suit just buy one

 

[Killa]

If you want a camo suit just buy one

I will, but not for now. Thing is I dive in water from 26°C to 10°C and I'm not buying 2 different camos for now so I'd like to dye my "winter" wetsuit.

 

[bobdonny]

I suggest a camo rash vest + if you fancy a pants also
Mares Rash Guard Top Camouflage Brown 2010. Suits Apnea, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive

 

[foxfish]

Bob probably has the best idea but you can look here http://forums.deeperblue.com/wetsuits/82590-d-i-y-camo.html

 

[Magpie]

Saw that Omer had wetsuit paint in their 2010 catalogue in another thread.

 

[Killa]

I suggest a camo rash vest + if you fancy a pants also
Mares Rash Guard Top Camouflage Brown 2010. Suits Apnea, Scubastore.com, buy, offers, dive

damn that's a nice store, too bad I didn't know it when I was buying my gear for the first time

 

[Mark Lamont]

Nylon cannot be dyed except by the manufacturer. Or should I say with great difficulty. I like put something on over your suit like maybe a camo t-shirt. Is is really necessary??? That is the question.
Is a fish able to see your color or is it the silouette that they can distinguish? Using the lateral line I believe they can sense ones presence. If one doesn't move, I've had them park in front of me (could have been the lamest of fish for all I know). Calico bass here on the coast are one species of seemingly sight orientated fish and hence very skittish. I think that if anything warrants camo it might be the gun because in fact isn't that the closest thing to Mr. Fishy? I have other thoughts on that besides paint for visual coverage. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all sit in our personal camo blind while hunting?
It also seems to me that fish camo is relatively the same in the ocean world. Light on bottom and dark on top.
All of this is not a real answer to your question but just the ramblings of an old mind.

 

[cmburch]

I used an exterior acrylic paint with some additive that is mixed in for fabrics.

This was available at a crafts store called Michaels.

I think Walmart also has the paint. It comes in small plastic bottles 2oz and 8oz.

I wanted to paint the back of my wetsuit white and break up the front of the wetsuit with broad bands so I would not look "seal" like.

I only practiced on my gloves, belt buckles, lead weights. Have not got around to whiting out my shoulders to reduce the heat from the sun.

Dark colors such as blue do not work well on a black wetsuit. Must paint white first for the blue to show up.

The paint has not come off my gloves. I think I got the idea from someone on SpearBoard.

http://www.plaidonline.com/apFA.asp

There is a video.

 

[Killa]

Nylon cannot be dyed except by the manufacturer. Or should I say with great difficulty. I like put something on over your suit like maybe a camo t-shirt. Is is really necessary??? That is the question.
Is a fish able to see your color or is it the silouette that they can distinguish? Using the lateral line I believe they can sense ones presence. If one doesn't move, I've had them park in front of me (could have been the lamest of fish for all I know). Calico bass here on the coast are one species of seemingly sight orientated fish and hence very skittish. I think that if anything warrants camo it might be the gun because in fact isn't that the closest thing to Mr. Fishy? I have other thoughts on that besides paint for visual coverage. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all sit in our personal camo blind while hunting?
It also seems to me that fish camo is relatively the same in the ocean world. Light on bottom and dark on top.
All of this is not a real answer to your question but just the ramblings of an old mind.

that's exactly what I think and that's why I want to paint PARTS of it camo and leave areas of black - I think I'll do something like left arm and shoulder, right leg and some smaller patches inbetween so it breaks up the big image of me, leaving several smaller parts for the fish to "see"

 

[jon penrith]

Sounds like what you blokes need is a.....klingon cloaking device; )

 

[jon penrith]

Saw a bloke once who had glued bits of an army cammo net to his suit to break up his outline.He reckoned it worked well apart from the drag factor....In the water that is, not wearing ladies clothes : )
At the end of the comp he had a good haul of fish as I remember.....an several pigeons.; )