Tightening those pesky joints

As someone who bought a (very) used body, I've been going through all the different ways to tighten joints. Some of them have screws, some of them don't. Has anyone successfully fixed a floppy elbow?

 

What I'm trying for now is a clear plastic washer (like a kip, but it's much cheaper) with a slit cut to let the joint hook in. I taped it down with some scotch tape and it works like a dream. Seeing as it's working, I'm going to get some super glue and try it out!

I've tightened an elbow just using super glue, but clear nail polish should work as well. Basically take the joint apart and apply super glue or nail polish to the inner piece of the friction joint. Let things dry completely, then reassemble the joint. Basically you're making the joint thicker (just like you did with the washer) and rougher so it holds better. You should be able to make a thinner layer this way than using the washer, which will put less stress on the outer portion of the joint.

 

I did this on my Saber as she couldn't hold her sword when I first got her. But between this and lots of chocolate she's doing much better now.

 

I put kips on my MDD knees, but I don't really like how it pushes out the outer portion of the joint, I'm afraid that it might crack some day. I might try using super glue on them some day too, but I'm lazy and it's not a priority.

It does slightly push the joint out in some poses, so I might try your super glue method instead on one of her elbows!

I've tightened an elbow just using super glue, but clear nail polish should work as well. Basically take the joint apart and apply super glue or nail polish to the inner piece of the friction joint. Let things dry completely, then reassemble the joint. Basically you're making the joint thicker (just like you did with the washer) and rougher so it holds better. You should be able to make a thinner layer this way than using the washer, which will put less stress on the outer portion of the joint.

 

I did this on my Saber as she couldn't hold her sword when I first got her. But between this and lots of chocolate she's doing much better now.

 

I put kips on my MDD knees, but I don't really like how it pushes out the outer portion of the joint, I'm afraid that it might crack some day. I might try using super glue on them some day too, but I'm lazy and it's not a priority.

 

I kind of have the sample problem with my girl's left arm, the spot where the elbow connects. It is extremely loose and would fall off whenever I move it. I might give the nail polish thing a try since it works for figmas. XD

 

But the biggest problem with me is her arm, the joint that connected her wrist to her arm. My goodness, its way too tight and makes it impossible to move. Anyone have any idea as to how I can loosen it? I would move it by brute force but I am pretty sure that would break something, not to mention hurt her.

But the biggest problem with me is her arm, the joint that connected her wrist to her arm. My goodness, its way too tight and makes it impossible to move. Anyone have any idea as to how I can loosen it? I would move it by brute force but I am pretty sure that would break something, not to mention hurt her.

 

 

If you are talking about the post or shaft that goes into the arm itself and has the hand mounted to it then you can solve that problem easily. Just get some fine grit sandpaper and gradually smooth the finish on the rod/shaft/post. Sand it a little at a time and check the fit frequently. Once it starts to feel looser then stop. You don't want to sand too much off because then the hand piece wont ever be tight enuff again. I had to do this with the main shaft inside the body that goes from the lower half into the top half. It was super tight on my Ryomou ( it was actually glued! ) so I had to use a heatgun to loosen that up first. Then I sanded the shaft with 600 grit sandpaper a few times and now it moves freely.

 

Give that a try and see how it goes for you.

 

 

Billy

my kotone is having trouble with her right leg .. cant stand well now .. im doomed !! so freaking scared to do anything ! i even freak out when pulling her hand off !

my kotone is having trouble with her right leg .. cant stand well now .. im doomed !! so freaking scared to do anything ! i even freak out when pulling her hand off !

 

I was scared at 1st, but your gonna have to learn sometime. I've taken apart one of my girls a few times. Btw, whats the problem with the right leg?

its really loose .. if she sitting down, put her right leg up .. it goes down almost instantly .. cant support any weight

its really loose .. if she sitting down, put her right leg up .. it goes down almost instantly .. cant support any weight

Is it the knee part or the hip part that's loose? Either way, it seems like you need to try the superglue treatment. Using a hairdryer helps a lot when taking some of the vinyl parts off the skeleton.

its the knee part . superglue treatment ? skeleton ? owh my ....

its the knee part . superglue treatment ? skeleton ? owh my ....

 

You can typically fix the knee just by tightening the screw a very small amount. And you don't even need to remove anything. If you pull back the vinyl flaps that make the knee joint on the upper part of the leg you can access the screw to tighten it. Just don't over tighten.

owh .. ok .. will try it soon .. whoah .. so freaking nervous ..

its tighten now .. but how long usually it will last ?

its tighten now .. but how long usually it will last ?

 

I've found it generally holds for quite a while. Don't really recall much retightening on my girls. I would guess it's somewhat random and depends on how often you move the joint. But it's a simple fix so why worry about it. Just have fun and deal with it if it becomes a problem again.

never open her up.. just got her.. so kinda nervous .. now that i already know how to .. wont be a problem anymore

I actually just got done fixing Aoi a few days ago. her torso joint was loose so i had to take her almost all the way apart to reveal the screw. Was kinda nerve wrecking with all the pulling and what not but now knowing how to do it, makes future repairs much easier.

 

Wayne

I actually just got done fixing Aoi a few days ago. her torso joint was loose so i had to take her almost all the way apart to reveal the screw. Was kinda nerve wrecking with all the pulling and what not but now knowing how to do it, makes future repairs much easier.

 

Wayne

 

You should have taken pictures for reference

My MDD's right ankle joint is now loose, and I can't see anything to tighten. Her left one is fine, but the right one is to the point of being floppy and makes it difficult to make her stand. Does anyone have any experience with this?

My MDD's right ankle joint is now loose, and I can't see anything to tighten. Her left one is fine, but the right one is to the point of being floppy and makes it difficult to make her stand. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

Yeaaa I also have this problem - the one I got finally came in the mail and she's mint except for her left foot/leg being a little too loose... I'm too afraid to start pulling to see if there is a screw or something to tighten.

 

Though Jezrah - you might try to get a body suit that'd help at least make her a little stiffer and also would help protect from staining. Not sure how tight the coolcat body suits are but the Beachgirlnikita one from etsy is pretty tight and helped keep her foot from being so floppy.

My MDD's right ankle joint is now loose, and I can't see anything to tighten. Her left one is fine, but the right one is to the point of being floppy and makes it difficult to make her stand. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

Yeaaa I also have this problem - the one I got finally came in the mail and she's mint except for her left foot/leg being a little too loose... I'm too afraid to start pulling to see if there is a screw or something to tighten.

 

Though Jezrah - you might try to get a body suit that'd help at least make her a little stiffer and also would help protect from staining. Not sure how tight the coolcat body suits are but the Beachgirlnikita one from etsy is pretty tight and helped keep her foot from being so floppy.

Yes, well, I opened her foot up and found out that her ankle was broken. I fixed it in the method Billy suggested for repairing spines in this section. It's better now, but still a little loose so, yes, I keep a body stocking and socks on her.

My MDD's right ankle joint is now loose, and I can't see anything to tighten. Her left one is fine, but the right one is to the point of being floppy and makes it difficult to make her stand. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

Yeaaa I also have this problem - the one I got finally came in the mail and she's mint except for her left foot/leg being a little too loose... I'm too afraid to start pulling to see if there is a screw or something to tighten.

 

Though Jezrah - you might try to get a body suit that'd help at least make her a little stiffer and also would help protect from staining. Not sure how tight the coolcat body suits are but the Beachgirlnikita one from etsy is pretty tight and helped keep her foot from being so floppy.

Yes, well, I opened her foot up and found out that her ankle was broken. I fixed it in the method Billy suggested for repairing spines in this section. It's better now, but still a little loose so, yes, I keep a body stocking and socks on her.

 

Last week Sam came up with an extremely effective fix for the loose ankle joints. I have the photos he took I just need to organize the tutorial. With this fix along with some kips in the knees older MDD bodies have NO problem standing on their own. I've been lazy and busy so I haven't posted the fix up yet. ;_;

I've tightened an elbow just using super glue, but clear nail polish should work as well. Basically take the joint apart and apply super glue or nail polish to the inner piece of the friction joint. Let things dry completely, then reassemble the joint.

 

I so appreciate you posting this suggestion with the fingernail polish. I've used it on Tamayuki a few times now and it really does wonders. I'd suggest doing it in small sections because most of the time it needs very little to make the joint snug. Tama-chan moves around a lot so his joints have taken more wear than I'm sure most DD do. The first time I tried this his arm was so floppy that he couldn't hold Dolly (who is not very heavy), but after it was done Tama's elbows and wrists were like new and he could even stand on his head without any help.

 

Keeping some fine grit sandpaper on hand also helps if you accidently use too much polish and make the joint too tight. Make sure to let the joint dry long enough, maybe an hour or two before testing it in the joint. Don't ask me how I know.

 

~Sister Kyoya

I've tightened an elbow just using super glue, but clear nail polish should work as well. Basically take the joint apart and apply super glue or nail polish to the inner piece of the friction joint. Let things dry completely, then reassemble the joint.

 

I so appreciate you posting this suggestion with the fingernail polish. I've used it on Tamayuki a few times now and it really does wonders. I'd suggest doing it in small sections because most of the time it needs very little to make the joint snug. Tama-chan moves around a lot so his joints have taken more wear than I'm sure most DD do. The first time I tried this his arm was so floppy that he couldn't hold Dolly (who is not very heavy), but after it was done Tama's elbows and wrists were like new and he could even stand on his head without any help.

 

Keeping some fine grit sandpaper on hand also helps if you accidently use too much polish and make the joint too tight. Make sure to let the joint dry long enough, maybe an hour or two before testing it in the joint. Don't ask me how I know.

 

Good to hear it helped you out. Really made a big difference in Ilya's ankles for me. And yes, as you've learned there's a reason I said let it dry completely. Patience is hard sometimes though.

Good to hear it helped you out. Really made a big difference in Ilya's ankles for me. And yes, as you've learned there's a reason I said let it dry completely. Patience is hard sometimes though.

 

At least we discovered that if you DO re-insert it while still not quite dry, a tiny bit of alcohol will free it right back up.

I just got some info on how to fix the MDDI ankles from PlasticFantastic and I tried it out last night. The process isn't easy by any means but it IS an excellent fix and makes the MDD ankles just as tight as a regular DDII ankle. The difference afterwards was amazing.

 

I plan to take pics of me doing a fix on one in the next few days and after I do, I'll share them here so it can help others with the same problem.

 

 

Billy