MerOliver's first tail project: Fabric

[MermanOliver]

Thanks! But now I'm not even sure if the lexan fin will be an improvement. Right now there is a really nice flow in the tips when swimming. I hope the flowing motion stays when they are re-inforced by the lexan sheet. Well there's only one way to find out ...

Pearlie, thanks for the tip for not using acetone! I thought lexan should be resistant to it (luckily I didn't have it at hand, so I used isopropyl alcohol for preparing the glue surfaces. Seems to be OK so far. EDIT: is that what you call "rubbing alcohol"?).

[PearlieMae]

Yes, Isopropyl is rubbing alcohol.

I have a quick rule of thumb for using solvents... (for when I don't know what will work.)

Start with the household stuff...first, try water, (dirt, dust)
then soap and water, (dirt, dust, grime)
then window cleaner/diluted ammonia, (grime, grease)
then bathroom cleaner (grease, wax)
then alcohol, (permanent markers)
then acetone (paint markers, nail polish, inks)

After acetone, then you start moving into the heavier duty stuff -- WITH ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS -- denatured alcohol, mineral spirits, paint strippers, etc.

If you are trying to remove a sticker from something, coat it in oil. Baby oil, cooking oil, peanut butter...it breaks down the glue, but you have to let it sit for a while first.

[MermanOliver]

Thanks a lot for the info, Pearlie! Especially the tip for using oil to remove stickers. You are literally a treasure chest of knowledge!

[MermanOliver]

So, although not chronologically correct, here is a timelapse video of me cutting the basic form of my polycarbonate monofin. It has no sound, so no need to blame your speakers



And the finished fin in my tail. The only thing left to do is to shut the bottom end of the tail. Importatnt note: Leave channels or openings for the water to flow through! I tried to glue down the tail fabric with double-sided tape across the whole breadth of the fin, ignoring the channels, and the fluke started bulging and trapping water like a balloon. The video was taken with the tail not attached to the fin at all, and that's no solution either. I will close the fabric but leave openings at the three tips for the water to escape and keep you all updated how it worked.

[Mermaid Wesley]

It looks great! I can't tell how sharp the points are but you might want to think about rounding them to prevent snagging the material or hurting someone if you kick them.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MermanOliver]

The points are well blunted by now, the pictures for the timelapse are from the start of March, I only now had the time to render them into a video and put it up on YouTube.

I even had to blunt the edges so I don't rip the fabric there. If I would have left them as sharp as they have been when I cut them they would have indeed shredded my tail (and most probably the by-swimmers too) in no time.

Now they are rounded like a dime (circle with roughly half an inch diameter, guessed), which still is pointy enough.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Oh good


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MermanOliver]

So, after quite a while of swimming (if you can count splashing around in a quick-up pool), today I went to the local pool, and tried a fin slap... it resulted in a fin SNAP

Well, the good point is, now I know what to do during the winter season: Building a replacement for my fin...
Pictures will follow, as usual.
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk

[Mermaid Galene]

Oh, ouch! That's too bad, Oliver! Live and learn, eh?

[MermanOliver]

Yup, and I already have some ideas . So, that is just a minor setback and a chance for improvement. Luckily it's a fabric tail, so the fin is easily replaced. With a silicone tail it would've been quite another story...
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk

[mer_believer]

Hi MermanOliver! You have a nice blue tail. My first tail was also blue made from two fabrics as well (as you can see in my signature). I'm just curious what brand of superglue you used for your customized monofin. I have a plan to make my own. All this time, I've been using split swimming fins inserted in floormat monofin inside my tail.

Sent from my LG G2 using Tapatalk

[MermanOliver]

So, here is a picture of the broken fin. It snapped clean in two at the line taking the most stress.

The next time I guess I'll try some rubber enforcement strings for both stress distribution and flex control.
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk

[PearlieMae]

Move your footpockets down onto the broken part, adhere them (the whole shebang, not just the footpockets) and redefine the edges. Your lexan needs to be shorter and stubbier...you might even go narrower!

[MermanOliver]

Thanks, Pearlie! I'll try that
Sent from my phonebrick using Tapatalk