Changing DD eyes

I just changed my Azumi doll's eyes today and it was a doozy. First the glue didn't come out easily, then it took forever to get the new eyes to stick with the putty I had. What do you guys recommend to keep the eyes in place? I don't want to buy putty from volks, their S&H is outrageous. I see that a lot of people use earplugs, but I'm not sure what kind they're talking about. Any advice would be appreciated.

I'm using white Tack It from Faber-Castell. Bought it at local craft store, it's inexpensive and works very good. Afaik there's green one too.

You can find similar reusable adhesives, they all should work (Blu-tack, UHU-Tack). Avoid oily ones and similar things like modeling clay (whatever used as putty shouldn't make oily marks on paper, for example).

Oils don't do good to vinyl or resin.

I used silicone earplugs to fix the eyes on one of my girls, and I can't recommend it highly enough! It's what swimmers use to keep the water out of their ears. It has the right amount of stickiness that really holds the eyes securely in place. You can find them at any store/pharmacy place like Rite Aid (where I got mine), Walgreens, etc. Just be sure to get the clear ones, any other color might stain. I hope that helps! ^_^

I can vouch for using White-Tack, it makes it easy to adjust the position of or change the eyes. The only downside is if my doll gets knocked, they can move out of position and need fixing!

I use the UHU tack I have bought 2 packages some time ago to put posters on the door and on the closet in my room. You have to use only the new one, not the one recycled from other activities, or the sticky effect will not be so powerful.

I tried to see if my local store had some. Those people don't even know what it is, I'll have to look for it myself.

I know this is really late but I thought I'd add information about a problem I had changing my Yukino's eyes.

 

I used enamel thinner to loosen and remove the hot glue used with the original eyes. It worked pretty well, you just have to be really careful not to get any on the face of course.

 

The problem I had is after it was removed I wiped the area down and tried putting the new eyes in with the Volks putty. The problem seemed to be that enamel thinner is very oily/greasy and left a slick coating on the inside of the head.

 

I didn't even think about this being an issue for the 30-40 minutes I kept redoing the eyes over and over.... After giving it a wipe with some tissue and alcohol it worked much better. Just an FYI for those using enamel thinners.

 

**James.

Thanks for the heads up. I was going to buy the thinner a few months ago, but I decided not to. I just used a hair dryer and popped the eyes out of my Neris.

I had trouble using the hair dryer to remove Neris's eyes. The glue didn't come off much, it just got more sticky and messy. So I took the opposite tact and put her head in the freezer for a few minutes! Flexing the head gently popped out the glue and eyes without any trouble.

I also use clear ear plugs to secure the eyes. Just don't use them with silicon (squishy) eyes, silicon bonds with itself and will ruin the eye's smooth finish.

That is great! I think I live in a freezer half the year. I think that is a good strategy to remove the glue.

Airy and Neris' eyes should come out very easily since their heads are made of softer vinyl and are squishier

 

I got my Airy's eyes out with little effort and the glue came out in one clean piece!

 

I'm using silicone ear plugs as eye putty right now and I like it much more than Volk's eye putty. It has more "tack" to it initially so it grabs onto the eye better (easier to position) and then you press it down to hold it in place and it stays put.

Backing up the silicon ear plugs. I used to use blu-tack to affix eyes and while it wasn't terrible, it doesn't stick nearly as well as the plugs. Volks' new formula eye putty isn't too bad either, but is way too sticky for my liking. Silicon plugs all the way.

For Canadians on the forum:

 

You can get white sticky tack for like $2.99 at Staples and Business Depots (I don't know how well it works yet, but I've got some here to try)

 

And all of Canada gets free shipping here on white silicone ear plugs - I ordered two packs of 6 pairs to see how they are - http://well.ca/products/macks-pillow-soft-earplugs-white_11265.html

 

I'm going to try them and see how it goes. If anyone wants one pair of the earplugs to give it a go let me know.

I will soon ( I hope so) receive finally my blue eyes for my DD custom.

I feel like a noob because I don't know how to fix them.

I have read the thread, but it is still quite difficult forme to understand the different things I can do.

Sorry

Has anyone a link to pictures please?

Thank you very much in advance!

I will soon ( I hope so) receive finally my blue eyes for my DD custom.

I feel like a noob because I don't know how to fix them.

I have read the thread, but it is still quite difficult forme to understand the different things I can do.

Sorry

Has anyone a link to pictures please?

Thank you very much in advance!

 

I have a tutorial well laid out here on the forums but it's a copy of what I have up on my site:

 

http://plasticfantastic.ca/2011/04/changing-dollfie-dreams-eyes/

 

Some DD's are easier to get the glue out of than others. ^_^

Thank you so much! I was really helpful!

It seems that I will need " putty".

Is it something else more easy to find please? I can only order from Volks international and I hate their customs fees

Thanks in advance!

It seems that I will need " putty".

Is it something else more easy to find please?

 

As we said earlier, there are many types of Tack-It/reusable adhesive products, at the craft store.

Something like this

 

 

I'm using the one from Faber-Castell

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=811#p12449

I am searching for some silicon earplugs for me, nto my for putty purposes... but looks like I can only find foam plugs!

I don't know how many of you this will help, but the Roundy's grocery store I work at marked silicon earplugs down to $1 yesterday! (originally about $5) So if you have a Pick 'N Save, Copps, Rainbow or Martino's Fresh Market near you, it's worth checking out, especially if you have business there already.

 

I totally forgot to pick up a pack on my way out yesterday! I'll try to snag some tomorrow.

For Canadians on the forum:

 

You can get white sticky tack for like $2.99 at Staples and Business Depots (I don't know how well it works yet, but I've got some here to try)

 

And all of Canada gets free shipping here on white silicone ear plugs - I ordered two packs of 6 pairs to see how they are - http://well.ca/products/macks-pillow-soft-earplugs-white_11265.html

 

I'm going to try them and see how it goes. If anyone wants one pair of the earplugs to give it a go let me know.

 

It looks like Amazon.com also carries these for $5.54, free shipping if you have Amazon Prime:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Macks-Pillow-Silicone-Earplugs-Value/dp/B000067NMJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315490864&sr=8-1

 

I just ordered a set of these to try out.

 

**James

It looks like Amazon.com also carries these for $5.54, free shipping if you have Amazon Prime:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Macks-Pillow-Silicone-Earplugs-Value/dp/B000067NMJ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1315490864&sr=8-1

 

I just ordered a set of these to try out.

 

**James

 

Oh nice! ^_^ They come with a nice case to keep the putty in! XD

For Canadians on the forum:

 

You can get white sticky tack for like $2.99 at Staples and Business Depots (I don't know how well it works yet, but I've got some here to try)

 

And all of Canada gets free shipping here on white silicone ear plugs - I ordered two packs of 6 pairs to see how they are - http://well.ca/products/macks-pillow-soft-earplugs-white_11265.html

 

I'm going to try them and see how it goes. If anyone wants one pair of the earplugs to give it a go let me know.

 

Shopper's Drug Mart has started carrying clear silicone earplugs as well. I think I first spotted them a month ago - they come in a pack of 6 pairs. They are Life Brand, so they are available at all Shopper's stores acroos Canada.

 

If you're in the UK, I've seen (and bought) pale pink ones from Boots.

 

I've been using silicone earplugs as eye putty since June and I'm never going back to Volk's horrible eye putty It's so much easier to work with, especially for DD heads that don't have eye wells moulded into their heads.

Hi PlasticFantastic, I am sorry for out of subject, but I don't want to seem impolite.

I can't reply to any private message for now, it seems that I don't have enough messages on the board.

Thank you thought

Bring back an old subject, how is Volks eye putty?

Is it good for holding in long term?

 

Or should I just use the earplug tactic?

Bring back an old subject, how is Volks eye putty?

Is it good for holding in long term?

 

Or should I just use the earplug tactic?

 

If you don't plan on changing eyes out all the time, Volks eye putty is fine. It won't ever stain the inside of your doll's head or cause any damage (discoloration or clouding) to your eyes no matter what material they are made of (glass, urethane, acrylic, etc.).

 

It's a bit tricky to get the eyes place perfectly at first since the putty doesn't have a lot of "stick" to it, but once the eyes are in place you can blob more putty in to hold everything in place.

 

My friend recently ordered a resin doll from Luts, and almost half the head was filled with putty to make sure the eyes didn't shift during shipment from Korea! That's a bit excessive, but it worked! LOL