New Zealand Gold Prospecting & Metal Detecting Forums Archive

You're opening yourself up there with the Gel request.... :)

But Poly's are fairly rough, have you tried cycling tights underneath the suit? ( http://www.torpedo7.co.nz/shop/bike/tights ) These are nylon based and although won't add any heat they are much smoother and "slippery" then poly's, also being skin tight the wet suit won't move them against the skin which is what causes the rash. I've a pair that I sometimes use under the wetsuit and not only saves on the rash but since they have foot loops make getting in and out of the wet suit a lot easier.

A mate put me on to a really good fix to stop your dive gloves from wearing out.
You get a glue called Aquaseal and apply it to all your finger tips etc where you wear the gloves out most. Its about 20 bucks a tube and does a set of gloves once. I have worn mine for about 14 days and I havn't got a hole in them yet. Well I lie, I do have a hole in one but its where I didn't have any glue.

Aquaseal always did the trick for me. Dont buy the cheap stuff, make sure it is aquaseal. A good overglove is a pair of industrial rubber type gloves, the gauntlet type. You can always cut them down. Another good idea is buy a pair of oversize gumboots, that your dive boots will fit into. Diveboots will last forever then. Polyprops did the trick for me, but once again get quality ones, not the Chinese variety. Pantyhose will also do the trick, get the thickest ones you can find. After all you dont want to many ladders in your nylons do you. But they work.

Cheers Trev aka " The Hatter"

Hey Simon

Stop peeing in your wetsuit, this will stop the rash, LOL :)

After spending up to $65-00 for a pair of so called 'good gloves' that lasted no more than a weeks dredging
brought some $5.00 gloves from the warehouse blue nylon plastic type stuff lasted up to a month.
Also the surface of the glove is good for picking up rocks etc under water.
Not sure about peeing in your wetsuit...as previously mentioned a good way to give yourself a rash or stuff your wetsuit...I got a peeing pouch thing put in my Wettie sniper 7mm wetsuit allows the pee to escape outside the wetsuit rather than passing around the wetsuit inner....however looks a bit odd!!!!.
Unfortunately if you are wearing a wetsuit up to 8 hours a day etc you are going get rashes......Rawleighs antiseptic ointment helps.

Edited by user Monday, 5 August 2013 1:39:34 PM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Hi Simon, after a few years of dredgeing , im with THE HATTER on this subject. Ive tried lots of gloves and rocks wear them all reguardless of what the stiching is. Otago cleaning supplies Dunedin sells a large nitril rubber gautlet glove which fits over my Apollo---xtra tough dive gloves--A full season of dredgeing and no signs of wear on either gloves. The rubber gloves cost just 16 bucks. Cut the rubber ones down to the wrist--helps to get them on and off, sorry but no brand name on the glove, if you need , I can post photos on here----Im always keen to help fellow dredgers, I build all my dredges including making my own pumps, check out pass post-----Good luck

Thanks everyone for the responses. some awesome stuff.

Shilo: re - wetsuit undergarments:

I've tried a few options but yes, all the poly pro and icebreaker type items do rub. i have found best option at present is get tough and jump straight into a cold suit and get working to warm up. once started don't need extra undergarments. the wetsuit fits and works better without all this i think. just means a toilet stop lets the sandflies have a snack of your torso and arms.
I may get some bike apparel to wear in summer under the suit to stop rubbing. this is when the heat gets you if not fully in the water for long periods.


Overdog: re - gloves wearing out quick:

I don't think any gloves will las the abrasion of sharp schist. i've tried heaps at all prices. best i have found that i can source when needed locally is the Pro Dive ones - the black ones without the stitching in the palms. i found any stitching usually falls apart - best to use ones that have less material components. the pro dive white ones were hopeless. to make them last i buy gauntlet type gloves to wear overtop.

1864hatter: re - aquaseal:

Matt, i've got some Aquaseal right here next to me. was going to use on my old pair of muck boots. i've seen the guys on Bering Sea Gold with white shit over their gloves - was wondering what they were using. will try with some on some old gloves - sure have enough old pairs around!

Goldstalker: re - rash vest:

Yeah, i think i need one for summer. Throw a few boulders around when you're half out of the water but in full summer sun and you get pretty sweaty pretty quick lol.

The Hatter: re - boots and pantyhose:

I've got some Muck Boots. Just bought my second pair. Hate the price but they are great boots. done 3 summers and winters in first pair. great for protecting the feet and lower legs while in the water. and if it's shallow don't even get wet feet with the higher sided "tay" model of muckboot. and the neoprene is good for wearing them to keep warm out of the water too. i do buy them in a bigger size. that way i can fit in them with 5mm socks and a 7mm suit.
I could perhaps drill some holes in my old pair of boots - a great idea. mine fit pretty snug anyway with all the layers of neoprene and all.
You're not the first to mention to me the benefits of pantyhose. a nifty idea. unfortunately i don't have any round and they wouldn't fit anyway.

Golddigger7: peeing in wetsuit:

No, i've never been a wetsuit pee-er. had some urgent moments trying to get out of the suit yes. i think my suits stink enough in my truck without any pee on them. i hear it breaks down the wetsuit stitching too.

Digger37: peeing tube:

Someone did suggest this to me once. might look a bit suss walking out in my suit with such a contraption! also worried about any cold water coming back in. plus wrecking my suit trying to set it up. and i have a few suits now so can't really be bothered setting them all up. i think with my new 2 piece suits i can get out of them ok every now and then for a toilet break. it's just the sandflies - gotta watch what they're biting right!

Garrymac: gloves:

you're the second person that has mentioned this place for gloves. i might check it out. thanks.

as far as gloves go, going to try tripple dipped pvc gloves that have removable liners, so the 3mm wetsuit gloves should fit in those, fingers crossed, and hopefully get some good wear outta the pvc. tried everything, if it got seems they fall apart in 2 - 3 days. If it got kevlar, it wears out in 7 to 9 days. Found that pvc tape repairs prolong the life of the glove, but no one has invented a glove yet that is good with the schist.

have a pair of those lined floro freezer gloves, pretty damned good, but just a little awkward with respect to big chunky fingers and using the pliers to pick up the bits of gold :)

anyone tried a steel mesh butchers glove over top a wetsuit glove. I put my wetsuit on in the shower with hand and body wash keeps it clean , my claim is only 400m from my house , biggest problem peeing in a wetsuit is if someone sees you doing it!