What is a Flatlock wetsuit?
Flatlock. In this kind of seams, the edge of one panel has been laid over the other and the stitching goes through both panels, creating a flexible and durable seam. The downside of this method is that it results in a lot of holes going through the neoprene, which can let water in.
Can you stitch a wetsuit?
You’ll only need wetsuit cement, glue-on seam tape, floss, and a needle. Don’t forget that stitching punches tiny holes in the neoprene, which will cause small leaks. You’ll need to sew a blind stitch in your wetsuit to counteract this issue.
What is blind stitch wetsuit?
GBS seams, or glued and blind stitched seams, are a type of wetsuit seam which prevents water entering your wetsuit. GBS seams are constructed by first gluing the edges of the neoprene panels together to prevent water entering the wetsuit.
What is flatlock stitching?
A flatlock is a seam which ensures that two pieces of fabric stay together. A ”normal” seam can start to irritate your skin. This happens because two layers of fabric are connected by a single thread which causes some overlap between the two fabrics.
Can you use superglue on a wetsuit?
I opted for ‘water resistent’ super glue in the garage. Taking a risk, I squeezed a few dabs on the holes, then re-applied one more dab each as some of the first soaked in a bit to the fabric. It dried solid in about 10 minutes – good to go!
What is a flatlock stitch?
Are liquid taped wetsuits better?
Liquid taping This rubber increases the strength and durability of the wetsuit and stops any water leaking into the suit. The best thing to look for is double blind stitching as well as liquid taping.
Can you stitch neoprene?
What stitch to use? You can definitely use a straight stitch when sewing with neoprene. However, if you’re doing it in a butted seam you might want to do a zigzag stitch to make sure that you’re choosing a slightly longer stitch such as a three or three point five.
Is flatlock stitch strong?
The main issue with the faux flatlock stitch is its lack of strength: Those three threads need to work hard to maintain the seam’s integrity in close-fitting and high-stress areas, and there’s no backup thread in case of breakage.
What is the difference between overlock and flatlock stitch?
Flatlocking is used primarily for performance goods, it has fewer layers to chafe. It depends on what you want to do. If you’re running a marathon, you definitely want tights with a flatlock. An overlocked coverstitched seam, while it won’t pull apart, will chafe along your legs and cause bleeding.
Can you sew neoprene with a regular sewing machine?
Neoprene and scuba can both be embroidered on with an embroidery machine or sewing machine.
Do you need a special needle to sew neoprene?
Insert a 16/100 jean/denim needle into the needle casing. Smaller, weaker needles will cause tangles and break during stitching because they are not sharp enough to pierce through the layers of neoprene. Wind two or three bobbins and thread your machine with 100% polyester or heavy-duty nylon thread.
What glue works best on neoprene?
Herco “Worlds Finest” #7160 Neoprene Rubber Contact Adhesive is recommended for all porous and extra-porous surfaces such as closed-cell neoprene sponge rubber, cork and rubber compounds and other pliable low-density materials. Resistant to water, oils and grease.
Is flatlock the same as a cover stitch?
For this reason we also covet coverstitch machines, perhaps more than flatlocks. A flatlock is different in several respects. Unlike an overlock, there are no layers to the underside, the seam is butted together (usually, exceptions). On a flatlock, there is no seam allowance with layers folding to the underside.
What is Flatlock stitching?
Flatlock stitching involves laying one panel edge over the other, then stitching though the neoprene. The resulting seam is flexible and strong. The drawback to a flatlocked seam is that the process involved creates many holes, and is prone to high water penetration.
What is the best seam for a wetsuit?
Result: watertight, flexible seams. This is the ideal seam for cold water temperatures, and is the one found on higher quality, more expensive wetsuits. If you are a cold water surfer, do yourself a favour and pay extra for blindstitching.
What makes a well fitting wetsuit?
A well fitting wetsuit is essential for warmth, and the fit is achieved by the use of separate, tailored panels. These panels are joined to each other by stitching along seams. The seams are less flexible than the sheet neoprene. In a good quality wetsuit, seams are kept away from areas were high flexibility is important.
How are the panels of a wetsuit joined to each other?
These panels are joined to each other by stitching along seams. The seams are less flexible than the sheet neoprene. In a good quality wetsuit, seams are kept away from areas were high flexibility is important. Seams should not run along the shoulders or under arms, where they could intrude on paddling areas.