Care and Cleaning Hang, Do Not Bundle, Damp Waders After Use Or Cleaning to Prevent Any

WADER REPAIR

• Care and cleaning – Hang, do not bundle, damp waders after use or cleaning to prevent any damaging mildew. Remove suspenders and repair kit from inside front pouch prior to washing. Store in a cool, dry place. (1) Do not dry clean, (2) do not use chlorine bleach, (3) hand or machine wash warm. Bootfoots, hand wash only. Use a powdered detergent with no additives, such as Ivory®. (4) Air-dry (turn inside out).

• Condensation – Even though these waders are breathable and moisture is allowed to escape, condensation may appear, particularly in the neoprene foot in both the Stockingfoot and Bootfoot models. Although much of this moisture will escape, there will be some moisture buildup in the foot, particularly when you are active. This is not due to leaks in the wader. If you do have a leak in the wader, chances are you will see significantly more water in the foot than condensation will produce. If you stuff the wet interior of the waders with crumpled or ‘rolled-up’ newspapers, you will find that they will absorb the water quite well.

Finding a wader leak • The flashlight method – This method works for minor tears, blackberry punctures, and other small leaks. For this method you’ll need a waterproof marker and a flashlight. In a completely darkened room, place the flashlight flush with the inside of the wader in the area you suspect the leak. Identify the leak by looking for the bright spot that shows through from the outside. Pinch this spot from the outside. While holding the pinched material, turn the wader inside out and mark the nylon tricot liner as close as possible around the pinch.

• The inflation method – This method works especially well with neoprenes and other fabric waders where it is not always easy to pinpoint holes using the flashlight method. You’ll need a canister-style vacuum cleaner or any type where you can reverse the hose and get the unit to blow air. You’ll also need a waterproof marker and a solution of 1/4 dishwashing liquid and 3/4 warm water in a small bucket. Constrict the upper of the wader around the vacuum cleaner hose and turn the vacuum on. (It helps to have two people for this procedure.) Once the waders are inflated, let enough air in to keep it inflated without overextending the wader and putting too much pressure on the seams. Carefully brush the soapy water over the area you suspect may be leaking; any leaks will show up as active bubbles as you brush the mixture on the waders. A leak will be easiest to spot if you avoid creating bubbles when brushing the mixture on the waders. Circle leaks with the waterproof marker. Another method is to use talcum powder inside the wader. Then when you apply the air pressure, you can see the powder/air mixture coming out the hole.

• Alcohol method - Fill a small spray bottle with rubbing alcohol. Saturate the outside of the wader around the area where you suspect the leak. Immediately turn the wader inside out. Examine the inside, nylon tricot material. A leak usually will reveal itself as a darker spot on the nylon tricot liner.

Repair instructions • Repair kit, including tape and fabric swatches, are in the zipper pocket in the pouch in the wader front. • Turn iron to low steam polyester/rayon and turn waders inside out. • For small tears, cut a piece of the fabric tape to size and place over the hole, white side down. • Press with iron for 10 seconds. Rub with a cool piece of fabric to set. • For larger tears, cut a piece of the wader fabric patch to size and place over tear, gray side up. • Cover edges of patch with heat tape, white side down. Press with iron for 10 seconds and rub with cool fabric to set. • Wader repairs using Aquaseal®, or for large tears. Iron-on seam tape won’t work with large tears, holes in rubber boots, or holes in neoprene. But that’s no reason to retire your favorite waders! The most complete wader repair kit available on the market, contain- ing Aquaseal, is designed and sold only by Orvis. Item #62X5 “Orvis Aquaseal Repair Kit” can be obtained from Orvis retail stores, by calling 1-800-548-9548, or from www.orvis.com. Individual, 1-ounce tubes of Aquaseal, item #1102 , are also available. Find the leak by one of the methods listed here. Clean the area to be patched with alcohol (leaks are best patched from the inside). Apply a thin coat of Aquaseal to the hole and an area about one-half inch beyond the tear. When the Aquaseal is very tacky (in about five minutes), cut a piece of light nylon fabric, or nylon stocking material, to match the glued area and smooth it over the area. It helps to place some wadded newspaper on the other side of the repair to give you something to press against and to keep from gluing your wader legs together.

Duct tape works in temporary sense but usually doesn’t adhere to some of the new wader materials, although it will work for rubber. Shoe Goop will also work in some cases but it is not as strong as the Aquaseal listed above If the waders need sewing, dental floss makes a great thread and then add the Aquaseal.