Sticky bush prick holes in waders - attempt to fix or trash?

[Underdog]

Tiny holes the kind you can't really see without hunting. Try to find and fix? Or just chuck em? 150 dollar waders.....not expensive but not free in my world....
Method that works best if find and fix?

 

[Bamboozle]

Considering you will most likely end up with "sticky bush prick holes" in your next pair of waders, I'd hunt for them and fix them with Aquaseal.

If nothing else, it's good practice.

 

[redietz]

Tiny holes the kind you can't really see without hunting. Try to find and fix? Or just chuck em? 150 dollar waders.....not expensive but not free in my world....
Method that works best if find and fix?

They're not that hard to find and fix. The method that works best for me is turn the waders inside out, darken the room, put a lit flashlight in them. The holes become evident soon as I move the flashlight around. I then circle the hole with sharpie. (The reason for turning them inside out is hide the circle when I'm done.) I then seal with each Aquaseal or UV resin. I use a patch only for larger holes.

The stream I fish most frequently is lined with multiflora rose. I'd be shelling out for new waders every couple of months if I didn't know how to fix them.

 

[Forestfishin]

I’d try what redietz said. Once inside out if you still can’t find holes fill them with water and look for leaks. I had a pair of hippies that had a small leak and that’s what I had to do.

 

[ryc72]

I remember seeing a video where they turned the waders inside out and sprayed waterproof sealant spray to fix waders where they had difficult to find/fix leaks around the connection point at the neoprene bootie and the wader. I’ve never tried it myself but this situation sounds like this solution could be applicable if you know the general area of the leaks and pinholes. May want to try and look it up on YouTube. I want to say it was from mad river outfitters but I’m not certain.

 

[Underdog]

Thank you guys. Good ideas. I'll try it out for sure.

 

[RLeep2]

With lower end waders (<$150 or so..), I've found seam leaks to be much more common than tiny holes from thorns, etc. This is especially true if the waders are at or beyond their 2nd season. For seam leaks, I use a soap bubble method that employs an air source like a small pump or flow reversed shop vac hose and a dish of soapy water. Constrict the air flow to the area you suspect and paint it with a cheap brush and soapy water. Mark where it bubbles and patch accordingly. Aquaseal is best, IMO.

 

[Trapshooter]

Use 3M 5200. Cures with moisture. It will out last you and me.