Clear Silicone, or similar?

[Ayame]

Hello!
I'll be starting my mermaid tail hopefully by this summer. My plan is to have a neoprene base with sewn-on shell sequins. I worry that the sequins will get pulled/could cut or otherwise hurt kids. I was thinking of topping the tail off with a thin layer of silicone to coat over the sequins, and to maybe give it a bit of a clear overlayer. I can't find any information on what color the smooth-on dragonskin silicone comes out to be, does anyone know what color it would be? Or would coating with silicone not be a wise idea? Any alternatives?

[Mermaid_Izzy]

Smooth-On is mostly clear un-pigment. If it is applied thickly, it can look a little milky.

I don't think I would be able to find it again to show you, but other Mers were once talking about how silicone over sequins sometimes does go well. I know there was maybe one person who successfully made it work, but I am not that informed in it.

Hopefully someone can come along with more answeres that I can give.


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[AniaR]

I think people have tested this and it didnt work out so well since many things can inhibit the curing of silicone. I've used sequin tails, they've never bothered kids :)

[Mermaid Tula]

From what I remember, the sequins slice through the silicone. Same with chunky glitter.

[Freshwater_Nim]

Also; silicone doesn't stick to sequins. So if your tail is covered in them, the silicone-skin will peel off sooner or later (Which would look an aweful lot like a scale disease :D)

[Ayame]

Thanks for the info! Are there any alternatives I could lay over the sequins? These were what I was going to be purchasing http://www.ccartwright.com/sunshop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=14221
I just don't want the bare sequins to be out in the open, if at all possible.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Unfortunately, I don't think that would work. It sounds like it would be lovely, but anything that would stretch and bend on your tail would likely be sliced apart by the sequins or peel off. You could in theory coat the sequins individually in resin, but idk if that would help.

[Delphinus]

I've had a healthy amount of experience with top coats for various things in my crafting career (figurative career of course), but I'm with Wesley. I think (in my opinion) the very best bet would be to individually protect each one for the best results while maintaining any kind of proper and/or long term use with the tail. It would be extremely tedious, but it would depend on what you plan on using the tail for, as well as what material in particular is being used both for the sequins and the coating as well.

I'll need to dig up some stuff from the past if I can to show you, (and I will if I can find any), but individual scale coating should indeed give you good protection and coverage while keeping flexibility and utility.

[Ayame]

Thank you all so so much <3 Since I don't have a time frame and I can work on the tail during other projects, I may just coat each sequin with the silicone. I take it the Dragonskin silicone by smooth-on is clear, or close to it?

[Marinus Mortimer]

Thank you all so so much <3 Since I don't have a time frame and I can work on the tail during other projects, I may just coat each sequin with the silicone. I take it the Dragonskin silicone by smooth-on is clear, or close to it?

Silicone won't stick to the sequins it will just peel off looking like Madison when she was trapped in that tank, silicone only sticks to it self under right scenario.


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[Freshwater_Nim]

Hi Ayame!

Unfortunately I think it would peel off individual scales as well. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Especially dragonskin, which literally sticks to nothing but itself and fabric. Silpoxy has a better stick but that'd be very pricey...

I think you really need to let go of the silicone idea [emoji20]. Clear resin could work on individual sequins as suggested above.

[Ayame]

I didn't even see the suggestion of clear resin, I'm take a look ❤️
I was looking for 'similar' alternatives, but I hadn't seen most anyone say different, or elaborate on it :( I'm completely open for suggestions, like I said my only concern and reason for covering the sequins in something is to keep people from getting cut. :)
And who is Madison, if you don't mind me asking? I'm still trying to learn who people are XD

[Mermaid Wesley]

I didn't even see the suggestion of clear resin, I'm take a look ❤️
I was looking for 'similar' alternatives, but I hadn't seen most anyone say different, or elaborate on it :( I'm completely open for suggestions, like I said my only concern and reason for covering the sequins in something is to keep people from getting cut. :)
And who is Madison, if you don't mind me asking? I'm still trying to learn who people are XD
I dont think the sequins will hurt anyone, it should be ok! Madison is the mermaid from the movie Splash!

[Delphinus]

No, yeah the sequins should be fine if that's your only concern. Coating for a number of reasons (or really, any reason you feel is necessary) is good, but I also feel the sequins alone would be fine. Just make sure you maintain your tail well and the only reeeeal concern should be standard wear.

[Ayame]

I was going to knot them individually, so if one comes undone the rest of them won't get loose <3 Thank you all again, I won't worry about coating them then.

[Marinus Mortimer]

That's a good idea but I've made a few fabric tails sown by hand and I can't imagine how tedious it would be to restart the needle each time!


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[Rett]

Just know sewing sequins individually takes a lot of time. Prepare to spend all of your evenings for the next couple of weeks or months sewing the scales on. That said, the finished products are usually magnificent! Good luck!

[Ayame]

Yup, I was planning on working on it when I want something to do with my hands, in between normal cosplays and fursuits <3 I'm used to hand-sewing, I made my first few cloth costumes hand stitching before I was given a sewing machine, it's a nice trance-like task, just sitting back and listening to music for an hour or two while stitching :) There's a lot to do for training at least, and I have a monofin so I can work on practicing :)

If anyone cares to see, I'll be posting progress to this thread http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?14308-Ayame-Koi-Tail!-Sequin-fabric

Thank you all so much again for the great information!