Reparing a peeling scale?

[Sephina]

So I was rinsing off my tail today and I noticed that one of the scales is pulling off my mertailor tail. I"m not sure if I got it caught on something, without realizing it or what happened but would there be a way to 'glue' the scale back down in place? If there is what should I use? It's kind of strange because the neoprene doesn't seem tore, or roughed up in anyway. just a single latex scale is peeling off of the tail leaving a fleshy colored spot where the neoprene is underneath.

[Mermaid Lorelei]

A bit of alex caulk should work since it's a latex tail.

[AniaR]

yup! Thats what I used to do, and it doesnt have to catch on anything, the neoprene keeps stretching and the latex doesnt stretch with it :( so it starts to pull apart.

[Mermaid Karin]

Im sorry about your tail. :< if the gluing doesnt work, you can always do what Raina did and try to touch it up with paint too. Its not much, but it will do. :eek:

[Winged Mermaid]

Yeah, that will happen over time- the tin cure latex will start to degrade. Eventually you'll have to retire the tail, as several other mers with Mertailor "latex" tails have. Best thing to do to help slow it down is to always rinse it with fresh water as soon as possible after every use, make sure it dries well inside and out (some people make tail drying racks)- especially the top/opening of the tail, and protect it with silicone protectant (Like McNett's Aquaseal (http://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Spray-Lubricant-Protectant-AQUASEAL/dp/B001O78GY0)). However, your tail may eventually look like my Mertailor tail...

http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc227/winged_mermaid/Me%20as%20a%20mermaid/Mertailor%20Tail/Wear%20and%20tear/ALEX%20Degradation/th_IMG_2944.jpg (http://s219.photobucket.com/albums/cc227/winged_mermaid/Me%20as%20a%20mermaid/Mertailor%20Tail/Wear%20and%20tear/ALEX%20Degradation/?action=view&current=IMG_2944.jpg)


For now, catch the rips and cracks while you can. Use DAP ALEX Plus to do so. You may have to remove the paint around the area so it will adhere properly- do so manually, NEVER use solvents of any kind on your tail- then repaint the area after curing. Note the Archive: "Using ALEX for Tails" thread (http://http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?553-Archive-quot-Using-ALEX-for-Tails-quot) and Material Safety Data Sheet (http://www.dap.com/docs/msds/00010019002_english.pdf) for safety warnings.