Plexiglass wrapped in duct tape?

[Lostariel Telrunya]

So my friend just recently made a monofin (not for a tail, she lives on a lake and wants to try one), but she cut it out of plexiglass and then wrapped it in a gazillion layers of coloured duct tape to match her tail. She said it would probably be safe, but I'm not sure. Does duct tape really take the risk out of using a plexiglass fin?

[PearlieMae]

NO! It's NOT SAFE! The forces in water are much stronger than you might think and when plexiglass shatters, it's as sharp and dangerous as thick glass and will cut right through the tape. Might as well swim with butcher knives taped to your feet!

[Lostariel Telrunya]

Haha good to know! I didn't think duct tape will do much, but I just had to make sure. Thanks again!

[PearlieMae]

No worries! It truly is dangerous. I don't want any mers ending up getting hundreds of stitches up their legs, or bleeding to death from severing an artery and not being able to get out of the water in time!

A rubber floor mat could be an alternative. It won't give monofin propulsion, but it will be mermaid-y looking in the water.

[Lostariel Telrunya]

That's actually what I've been looking for. I like the look of more flowy tails. I'll tell her just to buy a monofin!

[Capt Nemo]

The duct may keep things together, but I wouldn't count on it!


Even polycarbonate can at times snap with sharp edges, but the force applied to do it generally won't happen in monofin use. I've had it happen when using my router to cut the polycarbonate. The longest sharp edged break was about 2-3" and occurred when the router bit got pinched (2HP router) near the end of a cut. I actually hand broke a 1" section once. But generally, the plastic will fail by turning white and then tearing in a rough edge, similar to a fatigue break when you bend metal back and forth. The rough edge will scrape skin but won't slice deep.

[PearlieMae]

I snapped mine last week (I think we talked about it in another thread), but it just snapped in half, it didn't shatter. Still sharp, though. I WAS suprised!

[Mermaid Kate Silverfin]

Also, in addition with what people have said above, duct tape will eat into polycarbonate materials! You shouldn't use it if you can possibly avoid it as it will weaken the plastic.