ideal lexan thickness?

[melbel1023]

i'm looking up lexan polycarbonate sheets to make my own monofin - what is a good thickness for the material?
i've seen everything from .031-.375

[AniaR]

I think, thicker is good if you want to swim in the ocean, thinner is more flexible and easier but wont hold up in ocean

[melbel1023]

eh, i don't like to swim in the ocean as much - my area has too many jellyfish (which are drawn to me) and some lion fish infestation for me to enjoy the ocean in my tail lol.
so thinner for a pool or spring?

[Mermaid Photine]

If you can, go to a plastic company yourself. It doesn't have to be the place you are planning on buying from. Ask to see their lexan in your prospective thicknesses and bend it for yourself to see how it would work. I brought my monofin, a Finis Wave, to give them an idea of what I was looking for (This, only a bit less bendy, please) those guys sure know their stuff. They wheeled a couple sheets of plastic up to me and let me test their bendiness. :)

[Capt Nemo]

.085-.093" is what usually sells for 1/8" Lexan. That's what I built the Titania fin from.

You could try the .031" as a blade and add cutout stiffeners to each side of the blade of the same material for better fin effects like in the pic below. It would take some rather intricate routing and solvent welding, but could be done.

http://coris.noaa.gov/glossary/fin_ray_186.jpg

[Aquatica]

Melbel,
what thinkness did you end up using?
I am in the planning stage right now and seaching things out.
Thanks

[Mermaid Miel]

I'm also in planning stages and would like to ask what thicknesses are recommended.

Preferably in Metric (ie: mm= Millimeters)

[Capt Nemo]

1/8" ~= 3mm.

I'm considering trying the .031 (1mm) for my next fin attempt.

[~Serendipity~]

Just what I needed. Thanks Capt Nemo. It's been a long while since I've been on the network and there's a lot more here than there was before, but I found exactly what I was looking for rather quickly. :)

[Mermaid Bella]

I was looking for the same info. Ha ha ha. Thanks guys :) and welcome back purrmaid!