Lorelei's First Silicone Tail Attempt!

I am so sorry this happened to you. If it makes you feel any better, know that I had a leather skirt to split at the butt like that when in public once. Make it one size larger maybe by adding a zipper. Since yours split at the waist, maybe use a skin colored "latex waist cincher" (available on ebay)with it and cover it with a loose net to camouflage it. Order a "latex waist cincher" 6 inches too small for your current waist and it will pull you in nicely. These latex waist cinchers can actually spot reduce the fat in your tummy while tightening and toning the muscles if you apply a "thermal fat cream" to the belly before you put it on.

I will get one today myself off of ebay in prep for my upcoming mermaid tail!:)
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Well, it's not actually a problem with the sizing. I measured correctly and don't have much width on my stomach to lose. Thank you though.

Hmm... not too sure about the latex mixing with the silicon tail either - if it touches. Plus it would probably make it difficult to swim in.

I wonder if scoring the silicon on each side before bonding would help make a stronger hold. Good luck!! I hope you are able to find a relatively easy solution. ^^

latex and silicone can be beside each other once they are both completely cured/dried.

latex + silicone do NOT mix. My smaller tail has latex on it (perma wet) and it peels off, and means I can't repaint is for touchups, because the paint wont bond on top of the latex :/

http://www.therpf.com/f24/sealing-pa...x-mask-130636/

Thank you guys for your input.

Basically, yes, latex and silicone hate each other. Once silicone is cured, it won't melt or anything like that if it comes in contact with latex. However, latex will not bond to silicone permanently, in the case of perma-wet, or something like that. The only thing that sticks to silicone is silicone. However, latex can affect the ability for silicone to bond properly to silicone after the fact, such as Raina's case with her smaller tail. Over all, I just steer clear of latex wherever I can. If nothing else, I'd rather not gain an allergy from the stuff.

Cordellia - I've actually found a solution, but your idea is a good one. I might look into trying it sometime. :3

Hi Lorelei! I'm starting a silicone tail of my own, i've got most of the little stuff done (laying foam for scales, trimming my mono fin) I have yet to buy shellshock and dragonskin FX pro. I think the hardest part for me is figuring out how to do the seams and how to hold the tail together until it cures. If you have any advice at all I'd be more than willing to listen! :3

And btw your silicone tail is beautiful! I hope mine comes out just as gorgeous!!

Hi Lorelei:) I just wanted to ask, for your final paint job did use the psycho paint base from smooth on with the silicone pigments or a different type of paint?

The psycho paint base is basically just more dragonskin, so no, I did not use it.

I was reading somewhere that the Psychopaint was just a waste of money b/c it is, like you said lorelei, just more dragonskin....I mean, if ya have the funds you can get it but it's just a waste ;P I think when I come to the point of painting my silicone tail I will just use dragonskin and put the pigments in there. Also, have you seen the shimmer powder they have from smooth-on? It's absolutely stunning!

Oh Mercat, that makes sense. I'll probably just do that as well:) But what did you use Lorelei?

Pictures!!!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...46331879_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...72267783_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...65365296_n.jpg

The seam is back together! -happy dance- I'm about to paint it, but I couldn't help myself from going for a swim. Whenever kids asked about the patches and strange colors, I told them that I was shedding and about to change colors. :P

Magnificent! It's really amazing:)

Lorelei, this is beautiful!

Thank you both!

This is such a beautiful tail! I LOVE your fluke! Did you use anything to seal the silicone to the monofin or did you just seal the silicone together around the edges?

That looks so amazing Lorelei!

Jessica: Thanks! I actually did both. I am experimenting with a silicone caulk, but I can't say whether I advise it or not since I haven't really tested it out yet. As for the edges, I just used more dragonskin.

Goldie: Thank you!

I can confirm that this tail looks AWESOME in person! :D I can't wait to see it with the new paint job!

Yay!! :D I'm so happy to see pictures of it!! It looks amazing!!

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Originally Posted by Mermaid Lorelei

Pictures!!!

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...46331879_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.n...72267783_n.jpg

https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...65365296_n.jpg

The seam is back together! -happy dance- I'm about to paint it, but I couldn't help myself from going for a swim. Whenever kids asked about the patches and strange colors, I told them that I was shedding and about to change colors. :P

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This is beautiful! And may I ask, who's the tail behind you? ;)

Is it Theobromine? :)

Yup, that's me :) We went swimming again today, and as soon as my husband edits the pictures (he won't let me touch them :P ) then I will post them on Facebook and probably here as well (or Lorelei will).

Looks pretty

Great job on the tail

I'm excited Lorelei! It looks so good already, I can't wait to see the re-paint.

Thanks everyone, and yes, that's Theobromine that was swimming with me. :3

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Theobromine

Yup, that's me :) We went swimming again today, and as soon as my husband edits the pictures (he won't let me touch them :P ) then I will post them on Facebook and probably here as well (or Lorelei will).

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Thought so by the but of fluke showing. Hahaha! But that's funny and I can't wait to see them and her tail :)

your tail is beautiful!!!! Its going to look stunning once its done!

Aww, thank you Ilonka!

Alright, update time.

As most of you know, my tail has been one of those journeys that goes and goes and just doesn't seem to stop. It's been over a year and a half and I'm still working on my tail. Is this bad? No. It just means it's taken me forever to learn, practice, and perfect different techniques that are necessary to make a working tail. Some of you have asked if I will eventually be selling tails. I'd like to, but it won't be anytime soon. I'm not confident enough in my tail making abilities to try and sell anything just yet. I will be making another tail or two in the next year or so, and depending on how those go, I might look into selling. So keep your eyes open, but don't expect anything soon.

This will likely be the last time I post anything on this thread. I'll continue to answer questions and such, but if you want to follow me and my progress, I suggest liking my facebook page. It stays FAR more up to date than anything else. :P

To everyone who has been following me and giving praise, YOU ARE AMAZING! I can't tell you how many times I have stopped by this page when I'm feeling less than motivated only to find a slew of helpful comments and assurances. So yeah, you guys are freaking awesome. Thank you!!

Good Job Mermaid Lorelei!!! It looks great!!!

I'm working on making a silicone tail and I have a few questions...
1. what brand of paint can I use to paint dragon skin silicone?
2. is there other sites to buy dragon sink silicone other than from smooth on, possibly one that sells in bulk or cheaper?

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Originally Posted by KellyMermaid

I'm working on making a silicone tail and I have a few questions...
1. what brand of paint can I use to paint dragon skin silicone?
2. is there other sites to buy dragon sink silicone other than from smooth on, possibly one that sells in bulk or cheaper?

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To paint silicone you buy silicone pigment that you mix into the silicone, and use the silicone itself as paint. You can buy stuff called psycho paint which is made specifically for painting silicone, but it is expensive and pretty useless when you can just use more silicone mixed with silicone pigment.
As for other sites that sell Dragonskin silicone, you're just lucky you don't live in Australia where we have to buy it from a reseller at almost three times the price. Smooth on are the people that actually make the Dragonskin silicone, so buying directly from them will be cheapest.

You actually don't have to use special silicone only pigments. There are a couple of different threads on here that show people using anything from mica pigments to powders and makeup.

Also, for anyone curious, I've sold this tail and am in the process of getting a new one from Finfolk Productions. I'm still toying with the idea of making another tail, too, so don't worry. You'll see more from me eventually. <3

Hello, I have doubts about the painting, acrylic paint used to paint the latex?
and pearl ex, mixing for use as paint? that I can mix the ex pearl paint my mermaid tail? thank you very much.

I did not make my tail out of latex. I used Dragonskin Silicone. Pearl Ex can work in silicone, but I don't know anything about latex.

Umm I get this tail is finished and all but I really don't wanna go through the WHOLE THREAD looking for the answer to this question....
Um, what type of clay do you use?

I get this tail is done but I don't want to search the whole thread looking to the answer to this question...
What type of clay did you use? What type of paint?