How many of the neoprean sheets did you buy?
Printable View
How many of the neoprean sheets did you buy?
Thank you very much for the information :) I really can't wait to see the finished product, it is looking amazing so far! And congratulations on graduating :D
How many sheets of neoprene did you buy and what size was your finis comp. monofin & what size shoe are you?
I love all the progress photos and videos!!!!
I'm relatively new to the Mernetwork, but I've been thinking about making my own neoprene tail as well! I was looking at the competitor monofins today, and I had NO idea they were that big! I'll definitely have to have a family member who works with carpentry cut it down for me! Also I was reading somewhere that the thicker the neoprene the more buoyant the tail will be. I haven't ordered any supplies yet, I'm still very much in the brainstorming stage right now, but let me know how the 3mm neoprene does for you! Good luck!! Can't wait to see the end results!
How are you guys planning on doing the fluke? I've been thinking about this and there are a few different ways to make it so the fluke doesn't fill up with water when you swim. What are your solutions?
Where did you get your belt?
I was wondering where you purchased your zipper? I'd love to do something similar to this for the back of my tail, I'm just stuck on where to find a zipper at! and how to attach it...I'm proficient at sewing, i've just never sewn a zipper before! :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Mermaid Nyla
You can get pretty long zippers at JoAnns fabrics. They're for jackets and such so they're heavier duty and you can get plastic ones (metal will rust in the ocean). The longest I saw when I purchased mine for my tail was 22inches I believe.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
Cool! Thanks so much, that helps out a lot n__n!
Homesick: I bought only one sheet, but it was a 12 by 6 foot size sheet. it was huge. I had to buy it online on a major swim retail type of site and they sell it in large chunks.
mercat: i would suggest getting a thinner neoprene actually...the thicker was harder to sew, and thats why we had to use my grandmas heavy duty serger. its also harder to sew detail like sequins on because the neoprene is so thick. otherwise the thickness( i don't think) doesn't change my buoyancy in the water very much. its still comfy and suction cups to my body really nicely.
Mermaid Autumn: i wear a size 8 because normal i wear a 71/2 shoe but some reviews i read said that the company makes the sizes a bit small. but otherwise, your shoe size will not change the overall size of the fin. the foot holes are very comfy too!
UPDATE!
sorry guys! its been FOREVER since i last posted, and i am sincerely sorry. i actually just recently bought a small airbrush so i could paint my fluke. I have already painted my fluke on one side and decided it didn't look as nice as i wanted it...the lines didn't blend very well and it just looked sloppy... so i bought an airbrush. i have seen and heard about others using this technique and the pictures of their tails are stunning. the lines are clean and the overall look of the tail seems very professional.
So whats next? i am painting a white layer of my fabric paint over the fluke so i have nice bright base to start on, then I will paint the fluke with the airbrush.
gosh, i never knew how big of a project i was getting myself into :P hah.
Why did no one send me to this thread when I was using shelf liner?! Lol it's so weird, I've been working on this dang tail for what feels like forever (it's actually not even a year and I've been taking long breaks lol) I started looking at this thread and was like IT'S SO SIMILAR. You must have a great mind, because they think alike. Muahaha. How did you get the vinyl on the back? I sewed it, but some of it has torn.. /: but yours probably has a seam down the back, right?
I don't know if this was answered, but somebody said they don't think paint would stick well...IT DOESN'T. It peels off. I'm going to have to try a paint for plastics. Which stinks because my fluke looked really cool! lol
this tail is fintastic!
sydthefairebrat:
yes great minds do think alike! haha:)
i actually have seems on the side of my tail! i sewed the vinyl in with the zipper. because it was sewn inbetween my neoprene layer AND the zipper layer, thats just two more things holding it in place so its actually really secure. ill tug on it and there is no sign of it ripping or moving.
And i am soooo worried about my paint! i actually put a special layer of this water proof fabric spray onto my neoprene so it would soak into the fibers, and then i painted on top of that layer with another type of waterproof fabric paint. Im also thinking of spraying another protective water proof coat over the entire tail when I'm done painting...
all these types of small annoying problems that i keep coming across is just another reason that justifies me making my own or buying a pure silicone tail. i realized half way through my project that it i had just saved my money for a couple more months, i could have bought a silicone tail from merbellas...GRRR! why is money so frusterating?
WOW!!! :)
holy moly. okay why this project is taking so long i have no idea.
BUT!
i got my wisdom teeth out early this week so im am determined to finish the last bit of painting on my tail. I havn't been working on painting my tail because i have grown a lot. So last weekend i sent it with my mom back to utah again where they would add in small sections on neoprene to the back of the tail (which was not yet painted) so to fit me. i will post pictures of the inserts tomorrow as well as the progress i have made.
i am also re-designing and re-painting the fluke because i wasn't really liking the look of it. so i went and bought an airbrush to help with that section of painting. (still using the same types of fabric paints).
Attachment 21708Attachment 21709
WHOO! this is finally happening! Finished sewing the top, the hair piece, and the belt today. I will be adding shells and other things to the belt later, but its pretty much done! i finally finished painting all the scales and will be finished painting the fluke hopefully by this weekend. ill be practicing with my airbrush tomorrow, and then onto the neoprene.
I ordered 30mm sequins to be sewn on the tail (around the top, seems, and fluke) and those should be here by monday or tuesday, so next week all i'll be doing is sewing.
But i can't believe I am so close!
The family and I are going to Atlantis in July, so I am finishing it before then so i can take the tail with me!
Wow those scales turned out beautifully! Airbrushed I assume?
Nyla, the whole outfit is beautiful! Well done!