The PS Dry Glove System Instructions

Many dry suit divers have traditionally avoided the use of dry gloves.  One of the more common reasons expressed for doing so is the donning complexity of many of the systems on today’s market.  Another story often heard is of the inherent fragility of the outer waterproof gloves.  Perhaps the most commonly heard complaint is that of the overall cost associated with most of the available products.

Keeping with the KISS approach, the PS dry glove system uses a minimum of parts to achieve a reliable and durable approach to keeping one’s hands comfortable throughout cold water dives. Using a simple approach means easy donning and doffing, and less chances of a potential leak.  Plus, if a part failure does occur, parts replacements are relatively inexpensive.

Prior to using your dry gloves for the first time, it is important to go through all of the steps a few times to gain familiarization. Being suited up in your dry suit is not the time to read the directions for the initial time.

Remove the individual parts from the poly bag and lay them out for close examination.  As each step is described, take the time to mentally picture the image.  After going through all of the instructions, take the time to actually assemble the dry glove system with your dry suit wrist seals.

There are also a few helpful hints to make using your dry gloves easier and to increase their longevity:

• Wear a pair of suitable winter gloves under the waterproof outer units.  Divers using the prototypes of this system have had excellent results with gloves containing synthetic insulating fibers.  Many of the synthetic fibers are hydrophobic, meaning they do not readily absorb water.  Several products can maintain much of their insulating qualities even when saturated.
• Glove liners should be as thin as feasible.   Try various gloves to determine the minimum thickness to maintain comfort.  Gloves that are too thick cause you to lose dexterity.
• After every few dives, take your fingertips and carefully touch all of the surface areas of the thermoplastic rings.  If you notice any rough areas, use fine grit sandpaper to lightly remove the imperfections.  We recommend 200 grit sandpaper.  After sanding, make certain to thoroughly wash the rings.  We also highly recommend checking the rings for such rough areas prior to the first use.  While the rings are sanded prior to shipment, some small rough areas may still exist.
• If you find donning the outer gloves somewhat difficult, use unscented, medical grade talcum powder to provide lubrication for the gloves to slide over the inner liners.
• Keep the O-ring seals in a warm location prior to installation.  Cold temperatures make the compound more difficult to handle.

Now, let’s get started!

1. Lay the various parts out and examine each piece individually.
2. Put two of the O-ring seals next to the ring to see how they will go together.  Put the seals on the thermoplastic ring to see how they will fit together after installation. You will notice that the seals fit the machined grooves fairly snugly.  When the dry suit’s latex wrist seals are locked in place between the grooves and seals, it provides a watertight sealing surface.
3. After removing the seals from the rings, slide the rings into the sleeve of the suit.  Continue moving the ring into the latex seal until they fit snugly.  Do not force, or stretch the latex to achieve a tight fit, as the outer O-ring will provide the necessary tension. Most divers find that having the rings about an inch or so behind the wrist bones is a good starting point.
4. While holding the ring in place with one hand, slide the O-ring seal over the latex wrist seal.  Continue moving the O-ring up the sleeve until it comes in contact with the area containing the ring. Roll the O-ring past the first groove until it comes to rest in the second groove.  Examine the latex material to make certain that no folds or gaps exist in the material. Also, make certain that the O-ring is completely in the groove.  This step locks the ring in place while the suit is donned.
5. Repeat steps 3-5 on the remaining suit sleeve.
6. Don the suit in the normal fashion.  After suiting up completely, look carefully at the wrist seals to make certain that the rings are still locked in the correct area. Again, making sure that the outer O-ring stabilizes the rings.
7. Put on the glove liners.  Next, pull the outer gloves on over the liners. Following the same procedure as used with the installation of the locking O-ring, install the remaining O-ring onto the outer glove.  Roll the O-ring up the glove until it locks into the outermost grove of the ring.
8. Check to make certain that no folds or gaps exist in the connection between the glove and the ring.  This O-ring creates a tighter seal than the other, as it covers both the latex wrist seal and the outer waterproof glove.
9. Using the above procedure results in dry gloves that are unpressurized.  This means that as you descend, the gloves fit more snugly due to the increased water pressure.  For most dives, this is advantageous as it maintains dexterity.  If you notice that this is uncomfortable, or that your hands become too cold, you can change the system so that the gloves are pressurized to match the internal suit’s level.  To create a pressurized system, slide a piece of latex or thin silicone tubing under the wrist seal.  This allows air to pass freely between the gloves and the suit.  Remember, though, that if your dry gloves should develop a leak it also serve as a passage for the water to travel into the suit.  The divers using this system typically use the gloves in an unpressurized fashion.  Ice dives exceeding an hour have been carried out using such an arrangement, and the divers reported that their hands remained comfortable.