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missfit1023 β my tail tutorial
Published: 2011-05-19 05:20:02 +0000 UTC; Views: 108649; Favourites: 762; Downloads: 1508
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Description
i have been asked by many people, and here it is! this is the exact method i used for my tail.**PLEASE READ COMMENTS BEFORE YOU ASK QUESTIONS!**
I did forget to mention the Spray Silicone in the first picture, which is $9 on Amazon.com. It is used for divers, and should be applied to the finished tail to prevent stickiness!
This tutorial was a collaboration from many of the mer community on Mer.Yuku.com
**DISCLAIMER**
Do not swim in a mermaid tail without supervision - This particular tail-tutorial makes a tail that is easily 40-50bls when finished. It will be weightless in the water, but will double in weight after being wet on land.
I suggest practice swimming with a monofin while in the process of making your tail - it will help you learn how to move with the fin and build the necessary muscles to swim with it.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN COMMISSIONING A TAIL:
read this first: [link]
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Comments: 289
Could this same method apply with food grade/aquarium silicone or skin safe latex? I really like the idea of using latex and neoprene together but am not sure if this would work.
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Thanks for the tutorial, my friend and I have been looking for something like this. We originally tried to save up for a tail but combined we only came to about $1,000 and most of it went to better computers, and our swim team and school. We are hoping to make 2 with our families. Again Thank you for this tutorial and btw your tails are awesome!
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Can you post a link to where you got the different supply on amazon?
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Question: I'm curious how it was sewn together. I've read some other comments asking the same question, but the answer you gave wasn't very descriptive, so I'm still very confused. There's also the question of how to get it on. I'm still confused about that too.
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were did you get the Alex plus from? I cant find it any where.. :<Β
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This is an old tailmaking method. Alex Plus is dangerous to use and it will not hold up long. Most tailmakers use Dragonskin Silicone to make their tails. A cheaper alternative that is safe would be aquarium silicone/food grade silicone. One tailmaker, Tigg's Tails, in Australia uses this type of silicone and puts it on neoprene to create her tails.
For tailmaking tutorials using fabric, neoprene, sequins, silicone, etc look here: mernetwork.com/index/showthreaβ¦!
This tutorial still has helpful information, but as I said no one uses Alex Plus to make tails anymore because it can literally make you sick.
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This is a very well made tutorial, but aren't you worried about the health effects of using alex plus?
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Alex Plus is dangerous to use for tails. One mermaid had dangerous things show up in her bloodwork tests fromΒ her AlexΒ Plus tail.Β Most mers now use Dragonskin silicone (the professional tailmakers use this material). You can also use food grade silicone/aquarium silicone.
The best thing is to just save up for the good quality materials if you decide to make your own tail. Or save up for a tail made by a tailmaker who uses quality material.
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Can you send a link about the health effects? Β I can't find anything definitive.
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This link goes into all the details of the health effects of using this in tails:
mernetwork.com/index/showthreaβ¦
One danger is that you can get kidney or liver damage among other things...
In 2011, when this tutorial was posted, was when many were experimenting with using Alex plus to make mermaid tails. No one uses it anymore because of the harmful health effects on not only the wearer but on the environment. Now most people use Dragon Skin Silicone for making their own silicone tail or food grade/aquarium grade silicone in a bottle.
Of course mermaid tails don't have to be super expensive. You can make them out of spandex, neoprene, neoprene & sequins, etc. Also there are many companies that make custom silicone mermaid tails if you decide making your own is too much to tackle. Merbellas, Finfolk, Tails of Art, etc are a few examples of tailmaking companies.
This tutorial was great for when it was posted in 2011, but now we all know that it isn't worth the risk to be cheap and use Alex plus for a tail. It is better to save up for quality material because it will last you longer and be safer for you and the environment you are swimming in. This tutorial can still be useful if you decide to use latex or aquarium/food grade silicone in a tube to make your tail. I am sure many of these steps in the tutorial could be applied to that.
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Or has Alex plus gotten safer in recent times?
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I can't be sure if Alex Plus is safer now than it used to be. All I know is it is not meant to get wet and it is not meant to come into contact with skin.
I understand that Alex Plus is alluring because it is cheap, but it isn't healthy. No one I know in the mer community uses it anymore so no one is really testing it to see if it is safer now. With the side effects it can have I see why no one bothers re-trying it.
If you are really going for a realistic looking mermaid tail, sequin tails or sequin silicone hybrid tails are very beautiful like what Mermaid Hannah Fraser makes and wears. An alternative that mers use today in place of Alex Plus is the food grade/aquarium grade silicone in tubes. First you make your tail base out of neoprene and then you squirt the silicone onto it. Some people work with latex too but it isn't used so much anymore because it can degrade quicker than silicone and it can be harder to work with.
The top material though that IS safe is Dragon Skin Silicone which can be ordered from the Smooth-On company. Many people who decide to make their own silicone tail choose to save up for this silicone because it is of good, safe quality and it is what the pros use. Mertailor, Mernation, Merbella Studios, Finfolk Productions, etc all use Dragon Skin Silicone for their tails.
I have started off small. Right now I have a tail made of spandex with a Finis rapid monofin. Eventually I would like to make a neoprene tail and realistically paint it. Then I want to make a sequin tail, and eventually I want to purchase a tail from a tailmaker. Maybe someday I will make my own silicone tail, but there is so much work involved it can be easier just to save up the money to have one made for you rather than to try and figure out how to do it which can be frustrating.
The best advise I can give you is to join Mernetwork: mernetwork.com/index/forum.php
Tons of the members document their progress in making tails from simple fabric tails all the way to complex silicone tails with fine details. The community is a huge knowledge base for things like this.
Also, here is a silicone tail tutorial on Instructables: www.instructables.com/id/Silicβ¦
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I am already there. Β I am Chatfish.
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Ooooh okay lol I recognize your username! Hi!
Have you checked out Momo's silicone/neoprene hybrid tail topic? I don't think she is done with hers yet but that is a good example of what you can do with the safe silicone. I believe it is the same stuff Tigg's Tails uses.
Mermaid Raina has dealt with owning an Alex plus tail first hand if you want to ask her about them.
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What if I coat the alex plus with a outer layer of safe silicone? Β It is pretty cheep.
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Β Very nice tutorial, but I can read very well, is so little for me, can su send me your tutorial in other way more easy to me please.
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If you download it (hit the download button) then it opens in a new window in a much larger size
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This is really cool, I always thought about making my first mermaid tail but with me having limited money its really hard to even spend a lot in one day. If i had the money i would go and buy me some of the materials. I can i just can't buy them all at once. Cause everything is so expensive now these days. But i would love to make my own. 
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I apologize if you answered this before but what monofin did you use? Was it a Finis and if so what style?
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how much would you say all the supplies cost?
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Can you maby send me you tutorial on PN too becaus i cant red it. I am sorry but it is to little for me
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Thank you so much for that. It looks so wonderfull you tail
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Hello! This is beautiful. How many millimeters thick was your neoprene? A full 4 mm? Thanks!
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So I'm on a budget (Like all of us) and I was wondering if using Acrylic or Fabric paint may be wise because sadly I cannot find the same deal on the airbrush and compressor 
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I would do a swatch test with acrylics/fabric paints. More than likely, that paint can and will scratch off while swimming, but maybe you can mix the paint in the latex? Try some small experiments before testing it on a tail.Β
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Thank you so much for sharing this tutorial! It is extremely helpful. But how did you make the fluke "scales". Like the lines on it.Β
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Oh so that makes the lines. Thank you!
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Expanded metal grating (listed in the image)
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You are so creative!!! Thank you so much for sharing this with me! How much did everything cost all together for all the materials? (For the tail, not the bra).
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Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with all of us. I have been all over the internet looking for a grate quality tail that I can make myself at home. I would also love to make a( Dragon skin 10 ) silicone/fiberglass fabric in place of the neoprene ? and if so were can i go to get the directions.
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Hello, Β I love your costume it's very beautiful and realistic. I will be very happy if you could tell me more about how to make the tail. I don't unterstad very much how put the latex to the tail to look realistic.
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ok, read through the comments- sorry! Question answered! Thanks!
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If I wanted to create a tail for decorative/costume purposes only, would I need to use neoprene, or could some other stretchy fabric be used, like lycra or spandex? AndΒ instead of purchasing a mono-fin, I'm considering making my own fin attatchement (again, just a costume, doesn't need to be functional) with latex and a flexible wire frame. I have done this once before with (many) layers of liquid latex. Any advice there? The metal grating technique is perfect for creating an authentic fish scale look! Thanks for sharing.
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I'm still really confused on HOW exactly you sew it. Do you turn it inside out? Do you sew it before you add all the latex and paint or after? I'm just really confused on how that will work. Thanks for everything!
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Latex, then paint, then sewing/gluing the sides.
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I loved this, it was so helpful. I 've never used the latex on my tails before (I have two), so I'll have a try me thinks
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This was most instructive!! I can't wait to try this method on my first tail!!
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THANK. YOU. SO. MUCH. for this tutorial...... i recently bought a nice fabric tail (magictail) but i really really want to upgrade to a latex/neoprene tail but since theyre really expensive...... I GET TO MAKE MY OWN NOW!! THANKS SO MUCH!!! <3
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for your sewing, did you simply lay the two layers one on top of the other and overlock stitch? did the sewing give your machine trouble?Β
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What monofin did you use, and how can you make it a tad bit lighter in the weight department. ^^'' I'm interested in making one, but I have never owned or even tried to make one until now. @.@Β
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How did you get in and out of your monofin without damaging the tail? Monofins come with straps and I can't find anything that explains how to get in and out of them with latex/silicone tails.
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There really isn't a way - but I promise it won't ruin anything!Β
My method has been to use lotion on my legs, as it helps to slide into the tail easier, and stretch the tail as much as you can to reach the foot pockets.
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alright
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i already own a fabric tail and you are my inspiration to make a partial silicone/latex tail just 2 questions do you think it would be possible to mix in the paint with the latex? and how long did it take you to make this?Β thankyou so much for posting this tutorial it has helped me so much
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Do you know if the 100% silicone caulk will work for this?
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are you able to substitute neoprene for swim suit fabric or is that too light and not durable enough?
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You cannot use swim suit fabric with this method.
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