Neoprene sources- Responses

Neoprene sources- Responses

Randall McFarland, CPO

Here are responses to my query about sources for neoprene. Thanks to those
who contributed! Randy McFarland, CPO

RESPONSES
Have you tried Hely-Weber (Body Glove)

When I used to scuba dive, the bigger stores would have it for repairs and
people who made their own custom whatever. Give em a call.
    There is a store up in Seattle that supplies materials for outdoor
clothing.
I know they have a mail order catalog as well. I am going to Seattle in two
weeks.
   I will let you know if they carry it. I think they carry a thin version of
the double cloth backed neoprene.
    They DO carry that material that is used to make those AK donning sleeves
.(That slick nylon) So if you want to make your own custom donning sheaths
for AK's you can do it and it will cost less than the $35-$40 DAW charges.

Try Quintanna Roo (www.rooworld.com) . They sell wetsuits - maybe they can
point you to their supplier?

You might be able to purchase wet suit material from Hely-Weber.
They are also the makers of a wet suit brand whose name escapes me. We
had a thunder thigh patient in that would not fit in to the largest off
the shelf knee support we could find. Hely-Weber is going to custom make
one to our specs (from wet suit material I believe).

Check with Cushman & Marden
www.cuchmar.com

OleTex is a sister division to Rubatex and we are both part of RBX.
   Rubatex makes the neoprene material as well as other rubber products and
we manufacture cross-linked closed cell polyethylene foams. We can make
1/8 and ¼ foams but I think it is not what you need.
    You can check out the Rubatex.com website or call them at
1-800-782-2839.
Some of our customers laminate different types of fabrics to our foam,
but I don not know if nylon is one of those fabrics.
Do you want me to check with my laminators or do you want to see samples
of my material?
    Thank you for your inquiry.
Bruce Forbush
Customer Service Supervisor
OleTex, Inc.
1-800-343-1255 x 517
<Email Address Redacted>

I am a student of GBC in the O&P program in
Ontario,Canada. My mom scuba dives so I went to here
for the answer to your question
    Neoprene is the main material of all wetsuits
available however. . . there are different types of
neoprene wetsuits.
- you have a nylon lining- which is common in some
places
-others that have titanium flakes that are glued or
laminated into the neoprene- this claims to be strong
and durable but does not conduct body heat well
- and lastly- liquid fit platinum- suits that seal
against your body so well to allow a min. amount of
water between skin- this allows for a greater thermal
protection as well.
    She owns a drysuit- which means keeps the body
completely dry. It is made from some sort of rubber-
the tag states rubatex G231-N
    There is also materials out there like gortex which
keep the body completely dry- or claims to- and also
the body to retain thermal temperature
    another note to add is dive suits or wetsuits- come in
different thickness such as 2mm, 4mm, 6mm, the higher
the number, the thicker the material, the warmer the
suit.

If you're looking for spandex, take a look at SleeveArt for Amputees. You
can find it at www.sleeveart.net. They sell it in flat pieces for
laminating, too.

Try McMaster-Carr a company that supplies industrial manufacturers, plants,
machinists, they are great for any tool or odd raw material you might need.