Sewing neoprene

[MerAnthony]

Ok I was reading the sticky on how to sew neoprene an I understand on how, but insted of sewing together like you do plain fabric by holding the 2 pieces together side by side which would create a seam. What if you butted them together an try to make flat seam? Now also keep that in mind, would gluing them with wetsuit glue make the seam stronger? (--> || <--) no ( --> __ __ <--) yes . Just an example of the idea.

[Winged Mermaid]

There are some people who have found glues strong enough to make a seamless tail that way, yes. However none of the people have talked about what glue they use. You'd have to research and buy different glues, and be sure to do swatch tests before you make an entire tail. It would have to be a very strong glue. I know Seal Cement is a wetsuit glue, I have used some for repair and I'm not sure it would be up to that task. Like I said, you'd have to go by trial and error.

[Ilyena]

I've used an Australian equivalent to E6000 to glue the neoprene together flat as you said (_ _). I am also using stitching on the inside which doesn't come through on the outside, if that makes sense.

[MerAnthony]

Ilyena that does make sence an I think that is a very good idea. An Winged I plan on calling a few wetsuit makers an to see what glue would be best to do what I have planned. Hopefuly they can shed some light on what glue would be the best. If all goes as I plan (I hope) when the tail is finished there should be no seam at all , or not as noticable to the eye.

[Ilyena]

On my thread about the tail I'm using neoprene with I did a quick mock up with paint, seem is slightly noticeable but I barely put any effort into covering it smoothly with the glue.

This is what I meant with the stitching, just in case others read this and have no idea what I'm talking out :P
18292

Top is the inside, red is the thread and obviously black is the neoprene. ^_^

Good luck with calling around and your tail :)

[MerAnthony]

I understand what you were talking about an I just got off the phone with a woman that makes costume wetsuits. She said that I will not be able to sew it. An Ilyena For what you showed me is exactly what I was planning on doing an to try to get a no seam show. Now I do know that there might be a small seam but not as noticable ( I hope ). After I paint it or what I am tring to do the seam should almost disappear. That is what I hope to achieve.
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[Ilyena]

I knew you understood, but just in case anyone else looking here didn't, I apologize if I made it seem like you didn't.

The joys of hand stitching, Yayyy (kinda).

[MerAnthony]

No big deal Ilyena. The woman I was talking to ,I don't think she understood what I was or am tring to do. I did get ahold of a few that are in Cal. An they make costume wetsuits. I told her on what I would like to do an what it was for an she told me that I could sew it plus the glue I need is neoprene cement not basicly glue for repairs. So I also asked her if local hardware stores carry that type of stuff. She said thay might. So with that in mind I plan on heading to the hardware store tomorrow to see what I can find. I have scraps of neoprene from my other tail I can use for testing an to see what works best. I have about a week before my new neoprene gets here. An after the testing I have to come up with a fluke design. Something simple but not t simple if you know what I mean.

[Ilyena]

Hopefully they have some and the tests go well.



Simple enough to be achievable but not that simple that it looks boring.

[MerAnthony]

Ilyena yes simple enough to achieve but not boring. Any ideas for me? With all this fact finding an information looking up my brain as turned part mush. Any help tring to figure out a good fluke design I would be more than greatful.

[Ilyena]

I just google fish (mammals, plants, leaves, corals or even birds, especially the tropical ones, can be of use) and see if any shapes stand out, or just sketch without trying to think where it's going. I have quite a few pages of fluke and fin sketches which I don't think I'll ever use but I had just felt like drawing.

[Trident True]

it seems you've got everything sorted, but just to throw it out there. would it be easier to do a 360 with neoprene then glue or sew the seam at the back, then possibly cover with a fin or something? this way your only gluing one seam.

[MerAnthony]

Never really thought of that, but it could have some possablities. I might just have to give that some thought.

[Ilyena]

I think there would be the same problem with one seem in neoprene that people have had with one seem in silicone, it just doesn't curve properly...then again for a male figure it may work as guys are more straighter. I think Delphine made a silicone tail with one seem down the back. Not to discourage you or anything, just an opinion from what I have read.

[MerAnthony]

Over the past few days I have been experimenting with different types of glue to see if I can achive what I would like to have. An have been failing to find what works. All I have tried so far have failed , E6000 = fail, Elmers caftbond = fail, an there was neoprene contact cement = fail. Now in the tests I found that they are good for repairs for small rips or tairs, but to get the seams to lay side by side is not working. I have a different type of cement comming in the mail later this week. I will post my findings soon.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

how bout Aquaseal? Its made for neoprene.

[Ilyena]

Oh that's a bother and a half :(, hopefully the next one works

[MerAnthony]

how bout Aquaseal? Its made for neoprene. By looking for a neoprene cement I have fun out by many people that Aquaseal is garbage. The told me that it doesn't last an the strengh will not hold. It is mainly for small repairs an that is about it. When it comes to fixing bigger holes an tairs that is NOT what you want to use . My neoprene should be here tomorrow an my glue should be here today. But while doing my discovery of neoprene cement an what works best I found great way to do what I want without sewing the neorene. After you take an glue the 2 sides together you take a small strip on the inside an glue that strip along the seam to create a stronger seam on the inside = no sewing required. But I will test it first just to be sure.

[MerAnthony]

Well yesterday I got my new glue it is "M essentails seal cement" for neoprene. I glued a small sample an WOW!. I waited what it said an now I am not able to pull it apart without taring the fabric apart. This is the best glue that works. I didn't get my neoprene yesterday due to the snow storm that we are getting now. I am hoping that it will be here today so I can start my tail.

[Ilyena]

Yayyy, progress :D

[MerAnthony]

Progress has been put on hold. I just got off the phone with the UPS store an they told me that my order hasn't even been shipped out yet. As of yesterday it has been 2 weeks sence I ordered my neoprene. I am not a happy camper.

[Ilyena]

:( that really sucks. Hopefully it's shipped soon.

[MerAnthony]

The other day after I got off the phone with UPS store I contacted Foamorder where I ordered my neoprene from an they told me that UPS lost my neoprene. They said that they were going to put a trace on the package to see where it went an they put in a new order for me with the same stuff. An also to investagate where had my order gone to. Now I have to wait some more for my neoprene to arrive. Maybe I'll get lucky an both orders will arrive an I have both orders of neoprene . An that would give me 28 feet of neoprne to play with. LOL

[Ilyena]

Oh that would be good. I had a dress lost in the main and they sent it out again, but the first ended up arriving too :D. I modified the second dress, so its a win win. You'll win if the order gets there and win again if the lost one does as well ^_^

[MerAnthony]

All I can do is hope. An maybe I will get lucky. Who knows? LOL

[MermaidBrandie]

yay! Let us know about the sewing too. I have a pair of neoprene socks that were done this way and was wanting to do the same to my tail if I could.

[Delphine]

I think there would be the same problem with one seem in neoprene that people have had with one seem in silicone, it just doesn't curve properly...then again for a male figure it may work as guys are more straighter. I think Delphine made a silicone tail with one seem down the back. Not to discourage you or anything, just an opinion from what I have read.

Ilyena, you are right, I did do a silicone tail with on seam down that back. And, haha, I don't recommend it, mers! It's extremely hard to get the right shape with only one seam with work with. (I literally fought with the silicone, but it'd be probably still a pain with neoprene). I'll be doing a whole new technique for whenever Tail II will be made. Anyway, interesting about gluing techniques. Good luck, MerAnthony! Keep experimenting! :)

[MerAnthony]

Update with experimenting with glue for neopren. Over the past few days I have tried other glue to see what works an what doesn't I tried rubber tire cement for repairing bike tires an you would think that it would work because tire rubber an neoprene are very similar. The tire cement doesn't even hold. I also tried rubber contact cement.( the yellow stuff with a brush on a cap) Tht works alittle better for hold but as it should. It worked just to hold it, but when I started to pull it came apart. Now as for making a tail wit one seam Is a great idea but I see to many problems. 1) you have to make sure that you get the body measurments perfect. 2) When gluing eveything together there will be minor stress on the seam when tring to glue the seam. An you really don't want that. So I gave up that idea of one seam. It would be nice, but a pain in the butt.

[MermaidBrandie]

I question that's a little off topic, but maybe not too much. If I plan on making a neoprene tail, how many sequins would I need to cover it from my feet to the waist? I don't want scales on my fluke....

[MerAnthony]

I am not really sure on how many you would need, but from what I was told by Mermaid Bonnie she had well over 5000 sequins on her tail. If that gives you any idea. But also it depends on what size sequins you plan on using. So I would also guess it really depends on the size of the sequins as to how many you will need. It is always better to have to many than not enough. I hope this helps.

[Ilyena]

Maybe find one of the various sequin tail threads, they usually have approximates of how many they used, it varies with size of the sequin :)

[MerAnthony]

UPDATE. My neoprene is to arrive today an some more tests can begin an if tests go well the tail will start.

[Ilyena]

Did it arrive?

[MerAnthony]

Sorry been busy with other stuff. Yes my neoprene has arrived an sence then I have been doing test after test. I figured out that I can get fabric to stick to smoothskin neoprene by roughing the skin. E6000 will work after the skin is roughed. I still have wait a little bit. My mother is planning on buying a serger sewing machine off ebay. I think now that she is going to do that I wil glue the seams then take the serger an sew them together as well. (less chance of pulling apart) I can somewhat hide the thred with paint. I have my pattern both paintwise an tailwise. But before my mom get the serger I need a few more supplies first before putting the tail togeter. Neoprene cement, an some more of the fabric that I have for the fluke. Oh an if you ever need paint for tails or what ever look at this. http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1686882-AA.shtml

[MerAnthony]

UPDATE: I have finished a tail design an soon I will be starting my tail.

[Ilyena]

I like the pattern :D


Whoah...8 tubs of paint for $20....why can't the prices here be like that :(

[MerAnthony]

Ilyena They are the prices for online ordering so the prices might be the same. It never hurts to ask about shipping.

[Ilyena]

Shipping wasn't that bad, there was a chart. Stores here don't often have that kind of paint, so I order online from a place in Australia and each bottle is about $9, but with that I have the ability to pick the exact colours I want without having to order others.

[The Harlem Mermaid]

so love your new tail design MerAnthony (http://mernetwork.com/index/member.php?1022-MerAnthony) your going rock at NCMerfest 2015 cant wait to see you in it

[MerAnthony]

UPDATE: As of today I will be getting a serger sewing machine all the tests are done I shoul be starting my tail very shortly

[Capt Nemo]

Seal Cement is the glue you want for seams.

McNett also makes the Aquaseal urethane cement, but that sucks for building things from neoprene. The Aquaseal is more for coating kneepads or gloves for grip or abrasion, or sealing drysuit seams.

The old Henderson Gold Core wetsuits and similar,(gold or silver skin on one side) are glued and then stitched on the nylon side of the fabric. The blindstitching only goes partway through the neoprene. So a tail can be made the same way.