latex vs silicone,help a mermaid out???

[shimmygoddess]

I ordered some Neoprene and want to make one tail using that as a base. I think I have read on the forum at some point, that Dragonskin does not adhere to neoprene, but alot of tailmakers are making them w/ Neoprene backing. So my questions is, did I just get that wrong? or does it not adhere? And how can one go about making it stick to neoprene? If I paint the neoprene first, would that work? I was going to use latex, but I figure Dragonskin is more durable? Any advice is appreciated!!

I have learned alot from Kanti's videos, waiting for a latex making one! LOL

[merline]

glue?

[ShyMer]

I always thought we were pretty vague on that point too. I'd guess you do the same as with latex. You saturate the material with silicone so that it sticks to itself. If you want to use sheets of molded silicone (or latex), it works like glue to adhere the sheets to the material. Check out Dr Seaweed's thread for how he made his latex tail- one of the videos shows him saturating his neoprene with latex to attach his side fins.

Of course, if I'm wrong and it's different for silicone, feel free to correct me, everybody.

[shimmygoddess]

I am not planning on making a scale sheet for this one, and was going to try the chicken wire method. I will try and find his link. thanks

[Elle]

because neoprene is porous, dragonskin will stick as it gets soaked in. Dragonskin will stick to itself so you can put a layer of dragonskin on so it soaks in and then use more to glue it to a neoprene/dragonskin base. I don't know if that makes any sense.
I asked the same question on this thread, go down to post #114
http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?2089-Full-Silicone-Tail-Tutorial-In-the-works/page6

[Jadestone]

hmm... this thread made me think of a general question for people who know more about making silicone tails than I do... if this is the case with dragonskin soaking into neoprene as it dries, and since in a scale box mold the textured side is on the bottom while the silicone forms a flat top layer above it (due to liquids/gravity, and all), would it be possible to just carefully lay a piece of neoprene on top of that so it became glued right there? :confused:

There has to be some problem with that I'm blanking on right now or someone would have tried it already...

Ohhh, nevermind. It wouldn't be able to cure probably without the exposure to air/gas exchange. Duh. Nevermind, ignore me, dumb Jade is dumb.

/talking to myself