Painting a Mahina Merfin

[Sheira Seastar]

Hi merfolks!

I'm just about to embark on a tail journey. I have a spandex tail that I made, but I am going to make a neoprene sequin tail with a Mahina merfin. I was just wondering how successful I'd be if I painted the merfin itself, and what kind of paint I should use for the best results.

Thanks for the help!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Oil paint. Or Spray Paint. The kind naughty kids use to deface walls and local train stations.

For it to stick properly, you have to lightly sand the merfin, then wash and dry it. This way, when you paint it on the rubber surface, the oil paint has something to grip to. Just like the canvas you buy at the art supply shops, have a gritty, rough kind of surface.

You can paint directly onto it without sanding, but that might make the paint slippery and harder for the color to take.

You can buy oil paints that have a faster drying time. Otherwise you have to let the paint cure for a few weeks.

Both types are removable with a soft cloth and dabs of turpentine. I'm not sure of whether it'll break down the rubber monofin or not. If you wash it with soap and water, thoroughly after doing so, I think it should be fine.

Don't use acrylic because that's mainly for porous surfaces, like paper and art canvas, which merfins are not.

Overall, if you plan on continuing swimming, I'd recommend just painting your fabric instead of the monofin. That way, if it doesn't work out the way you planned, you won't have wasted your money on a big expensive monofin!

[Sheira Seastar]

Thank you! I'll definitely try:D

[lotusauriel]

I am allergic to latex, and had a reaction to my merfin. So I painted it with Plastidip, then glitter spray paint on top of that. Some flake glitter, and then coated it with the Plastidip glossifier. I haven't gone swimming with it yet, but it sure is pretty. LOLhttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160528/a1a785b76d2e05d58044300e783ac5d1.jpg

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I am allergic to latex, and had a reaction to my merfin. So I painted it with Plastidip, then glitter spray paint on top of that. Some flake glitter, and then coated it with the Plastidip glossifier. I haven't gone swimming with it yet, but it sure is pretty. LOLhttp://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160528/a1a785b76d2e05d58044300e783ac5d1.jpg

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk
It sure is! Never heard of this Plastidip. Does it crack when you bend the monofin?

[lotusauriel]

I don't bend it too hard. I don't think just Plasti-dip would crack. But the actual paint might.

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Lilyrose Fish]

It looks great. I hope you will let us know how the paint holds up after swimming.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

[lotusauriel]

Thanks! I will.

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[lotusauriel]

Super excited. The fin works. The dive socks work. The top works. My bottoms almost came off the first time I dived.... lol. The paint on top, where it was too thick with the spray paint, did crack, but I learned some things from it. And the plastidip does work. I can get clear, color it with pearlex, and paint anything I want with an airbrush, and never have any problems. And still, it IS going inside a full tail. I am very happy with my first mermaid swim.

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Any allergy reactions to where your skin touches the paint?

[lotusauriel]

Nope!

[lotusauriel]

But it is coated again with the plasti-dip.

[Mermaid Nelly]

Wowza that is beautiful!!!!

[lotusauriel]

Thank you. 😆

[Merfin_Aurora_Oceania]

I'm inspired! I have a merfin, I love the colour I have however all that sparkles is way too tempting. I'll bare this mind if I want to "dip" in ;)

Thank you for the question Shiera and thanks for the share auriel :)

[Mermaid Jaffa]

How did it go? Did you swim in it yet?

[Sheira Seastar]

How did it go? Did you swim in it yet?

I haven't painted the fin yet, but I swam in it the other day and it was like magic. My old fin kept sending me off to my left, but the merfin was wonderful. I'll be painting it soon and I'll be sure to post pictures!

[lotusauriel]

Awesome, and you're very welcome!

[Shimmer Mermaid]

Just ordered my own Mahina- was wondering the same thing!
Personally I'm going to attempt to use Tulip 3d fabric paint and see if it will stick to the Merfin and stay while swimming.

[Sheira Seastar]

Well, I painted it. I used a white Plastidip base and green krylon spray paint over the top. Then I swam in it. I now have scuff marks everywhere on the edges of the fin:( I think I'll try again and sand the edges to give the paint something to stick to.

Also, I can't upload my pic for some reason:/

[Celaeno]

I painted mine also! I used one can of the matte black plasti-dip on my blue Mahina, it turned out lovely. I can see that it'll scuff and peel with use, so not a permanent change, but it'll do nicely until I buy a black fin.

[Mermaid Emeraldina]

Omg wow!!!

[MermaidBrandie]

I'm allergic to latex too and never had an issue with my mahina. Curious. That's a pretty paint job on it tho!

Sent from my E2306 using Tapatalk

[lotusauriel]

Hi. I know this was almost a year ago. I hope you found a better way. Mine scuffed too, and I think I used too much spray paint on it. After a few swims, the paint cracked in the middle, over my feet, where it was too tight anyway. I got another merfin, in teal, in the large size, and haven't painted it yet. Kinda leery about sanding this one, as that aggravated my allergy last time, and didn't help keep the paint on. It never flaked or broke up, it just cracked and has made a weird paint pocket.
Now I am seeing this new Luna, from Finis, and waiting til more people have them to review. If it has decent propulsion, or moves at all like the mahina, I'll get one.
Basically, for me, the painting was beceause I didn't like the orange color, and to try to block in the latex. I still haven't made my sequin tail cover, but when I do, I'll also make a fluke cover for whatever I use.
Another possibility, is to pigment E6000 with pearlex and/or glitter.

Sent from my SM-N910H using Tapatalk