P-valve install

[mrpolar]

I was curious how other divers have punched the hole into their drysuits to install their p-valves. I am a little shaky about cutting into such an expensive suit.

I am installing a diverite p-valve into a diverite drysuit.

So any help or suggesitons would be appreciated
thanks Jared

[Signal 20]

my best suggestion would be to send it to someone that specializes in drysuit repair. like you said, it would be a shame to do it wrong and mess up an expensive suit. I can suggest someone but I dont think "according to rule number something stupid" i cant advertise the persons services. PM me and I'll give you his name. His initials are SG though

Titen, there's a button at the bottom of his post labeled "PM." You could utilize that button to send him Steve Gamble's name directly.

[Signal 20]

Titen, there's a button at the bottom of his post labeled "PM." You could utilize that button to send him Steve Gamble's name directly.

I know I am just pretending to be too lazy

[flyczek]

I used a block of wood (inside the leg) a spent .45 cal shell casing and a big hammer. Made a nice clean hole in my tri-lam. I heated a nail and then used it to heat/melt the edges. I finished everything off with RTV silicone to install. No leaks so far.

[diesel128]

my best suggestion would be to send it to someone that specializes in drysuit repair. like you said, it would be a shame to do it wrong and mess up an expensive suit. I can suggest someone but I dont think "according to rule number something stupid" i cant advertise the persons services. PM me and I'll give you his name. His initials are SG though

His work is top notch and very affordable.

[Diver Bob]

I was curious how other divers have punched the hole into their drysuits to install their p-valves. I am a little shaky about cutting into such an expensive suit.

I am installing a diverite p-valve into a diverite drysuit.

So any help or suggesitons would be appreciated
thanks Jared

I used a soldering iron for mine. It burns the material and seals the edges as it goes. Did a small hole and checked the size before increasing it to the proper size. I knew I could have sent it to a number of people, but I am a DIY guy and enjoyed the process. With that being said, it was difficult to willingly put a hole in a perfectly good suit to start with.

[JDostal]

Gah... don't send your suit to someone for something as easy as a p-valve install.

I bought a punch at a hardware store for like $3. Put your suit and, and find where you want your p-valve. Mark it with a marker. Put a block of wood in the suit, and punch a hole in it.

My entire p-valve install took me about 5 minutes, 3 of which were putting on the suit and finding where I wanted it.

[Oxtox]

If you need professional assistance for making a hole, you're pretty inept.

I used a .38 casing. Put a bit of an edge on it with a round file, backed it with a wood block, and drove it thru with one precision hammer blow.

I simply screwed the p-valve thru the hole (it was quite snug) and did not use any sealer. Hasn't leaked a drop in 3 years.

[mfascuba]

I'm a .40 S&W kind of guy, but I used a pair of sharp scissors and aquaseal to keep it dry. No leaks, no issues. Did it at a picnic table at Ginnie, on a Dive Rite trilam suit. Took about 30 minutes, all done.

Mark