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Dream of Child Restringing Tutorial (56 images)

Aug 19, 2006

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    1. I made this tutorial for someone on my LJ friend's list, but someone suggested I post it on DOA so here it is :) The DOC tutorial in the Tutorial List is down anyway, so I guess it won't hurt, right?

      The doll I used here is a DOC Mir. And here's the original LJ post: (click) If there's anything in here that's really bad advice, lemme know and I'll change it ;3

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      'Kay, so let's get started.

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      001. Materials needed: doll, stringing tool, 2 or 3 tupperware containers, thin but strong string (optional).
      *[I'm using unbent paper clips for a stringing tool, but I don't recommend it because it can scratch the inside of the doll and is hard to grip. Sturdy string or a shaped piece from a wire coat hanger might work better. I usually use ribbon.]*

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      002. Fill your tupperware containers with warm, soapy water.

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      003. Undress your doll completely (including wig) and pry open the headcap. It's gonna be hard. The DOTs have these awesome magnetic headcaps, but we aren't so lucky with the DOCs, which makes this a pain in the ass. Anyway, inside you'll see an S-shaped hook attached on one end to a peice of elastic and on the other end, to the top of the headcap.

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      004. Unhook the elastic from the S-hook by contorting your thumb into unnatural poses until it slips off (or by poking it through with a pointy object). Slip the S-hook out of the headcap and put it somewhere safe.

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      005. You should now be able to pull the lower body from the torso. Put the torso/arm peice aside for now.

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      006. Pull the foot piece off the the ankle peice and unhook the elastic from the foot-hook thing.

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      007. The ankle piece should slip off easily...

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      008. ... as well as the calf piece and the thigh.

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      009. Place all the parts from the right leg (or whichever one you started with) in one tupperware container. You'll put all the left leg & arm parts in the other container. Make sure you don't mix 'em.

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      010. Now you should have just a lower body part left, as shown.

      **(continued in next post)
       
      #1 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    2. [​IMG]

      011. Grab the knot on the elastic and pull on it. The elastic should slip easily out of the leg holes. Drop the lower body into whichever tupperware container you want (or in the 3rd one, if you have it) and put the elastic aside with the S-hook. Don't let it get wet, or it will dry-rot.

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      012. Now, grab your upper body part. The elastic that keeps the arms strung is completely seperate from the leg-head elastic.

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      013. Hold the arm and pull on the hand until the elastic comes out. (eww, my hands are dry.)

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      014. Slip a paper clip, chopstick, or other object into the elastic to hold it in place. Be sure it's a soft or bendable material so it won't chip the resin. You'll notice the hand is held to the elastic by a series of knots. If you have thin but sturdy string or tiny S-hooks to replace it with, feel free to cut this. Otherwise, have fun untying all the little knots =/ EDIT 4/13/07: Apparently some of the newer DOCs have S-hooks in their hands already, which is great news for you. Check and see which type you have before you go out and buy new S-hooks xD;;

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      015. Once you have the hand off, the two arm pieces should slip off easily.

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      016. Pull the slack through the other armpit...

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      017. ... the elbow...

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      018. ... and the wrist, to make this hand a lot easier ;3

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      019. Slip these arm parts off, and put them in the appropirate tupperware container.

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      020. Slip the elastic out of the torso and drop the piece in the water.

      **(contined in next post)
       
      #2 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    3. [​IMG]

      021. You should now have this creepy situation in front of you.

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      022. Wipe off each piece and place it on a paper towel to dry.

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      023. Place them on an angle so the water will run down and out of the pieces. You have to make sure they're all the way dry before you restring, or else the elastic will get wet.

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      024. Now they're dry. If you want to coat your doll, this is when you should do it. Use fishing wire to hang them like a body-piece mobile and spray them in a well-ventilated area in non-humid weather and leave them to dry for awhile (still hanging).

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      025. Now, back to restringing. If you want to adjust how tight or loose the stringing is, untie the knots and retie them until you're statisfied. You might have to string, test, unstring, adjust, string, test, unstring adjust... etc for awhile until you're satisfied.

      Anyway, divide the smaller piece of elastic as shown...

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      026. ... and put one end into the torso. Put the stringing tool into the armhole...

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      027. ... and hook it onto the elastic.

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      028. Pull the elastic through.

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      029. Do this on the other side as well, but make sure the elastic knot is inside the torso, as shown.

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      030. It should be pretty easy to push the elastic through the upper arm piece.

      **(continued in next post)
       
      #3 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    4. [​IMG]

      031. Do it on the other side as well, and you should have somethin' like this.

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      032. Now, stick your stringing tool through the lower arm piece with the hook through the elbow, like so.

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      033. Hook the stringing tool around the elastic poking from the upper arm piece,

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      034. and pull it through.

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      035. Slip your handy-dandy paper clip (or whatever) through the elastic.

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      036. Tie the hand back to the elastic (make sure it's not tied to the paper clip). Slip the paper clip out, repeat with the other side.

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      037. Tada! Now, onto the legs.

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      038. Arrange the long piece of elastic as shown. Basically, you divide it in half once, and then divide it again... if that make sense?
      This is what's gonna happen: the part above my thumb will be inside the headcap; the two loops below my thumb will go through each leg.

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      039. Slip the S-hook through the top of the elastic, as shown.

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      040. Put the other end of the elastic through the thinger in the headcap.

      **(continued in next post)
       
      #4 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    5. [​IMG]

      041. Now, slip the elastic through the neckhole...

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      042. ... and use the stringing tool to pull it through the torso. Make sure it isn't tangled in any way by the arm elastic.

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      043. Stick the elastic in through the top of the butt-piece. Stick the stringing tool up the thigh-hole, hook the elastic, and pull it through.

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      044. Do the same on the other side.

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      045. Hold the end of the elastic loops and slide the butt-piece up to the torso.

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      046. Push the elastic into the thigh part. Stick the stringing tool up there, hook the elastic, and pull it through.

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      047. Do the same with the other thigh part.

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      048. Use your stringing tool to put the thread and ankle piece in the same way you did the lower arm piece. Notice how the dot (or dots) of the ankle piece faces forward. Don't worry if your thread isn't nearly as slack as mine; it's not supposed to be.

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      049. Now, hook the foot piece onto the elastic. Use a pointy object (like a paper clip) to poke it onto the hook if you can't get it.

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      050. Time for the other leg~ again, do it like you did the lower arm piece -- stick the stringing tool through the calf and hook the elastic coming out of the thigh piece. (I dunno why her thigh looks so shiny here; I swear her resin isn't shiny like that. It musta just been how the light hit it.)

      [​IMG]

      **(continued in next post)
       
      #5 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    6. 051. Slip the ankle piece over the stringing tool; make sure the dots are facing upwards.

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      052. Pull hard on the elastic and slip a paper clip (or whatever) in there to hold it.

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      053. This part can be obnoxious because the elastic is pulled so tight. I tied my stringing tool to a table and held the doll back since I was doing this by myself, but you might wanna ask someone to help you. Anyway, slip the foot into the elastic.

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      054. Poke the elastic under the hook. (Again, weird marks on her resin! @_______@ I swear they aren't there in real life; only on the camera. wtf?)

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      055. Yay! Almost done! Carefully situate the foot so it will snap against the ankle part in the right place, then slip your stringing tool out from the elastic. Bend her around and pull on her limbs to get the elastic situated.

      [​IMG]

      056. Finished!
       
      #6 muffin573, Aug 19, 2006
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    7. wow that's really helpful <3 thanks for the taking the time to put this up!!!
       
      #7 molly381, Aug 19, 2006
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    8. Wow!!! This tutorial is wonderful! I have two stringing tutorials from doll magazines, ---but this one is definitely the best. A real keeper.

      Your photos are close up and easily read, and your description of each step is clear.

      Thank you for doing this. I will certainly bookmark it.
       
      #8 chopsart, Aug 19, 2006
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    9. ::twitch:: I soo could have used this a few hours ago.. I just.. just finished restringing my Bee-a for the first time... and she's WAY too tight.. ::twitch::
       
      #9 Psi, Aug 19, 2006
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    10. Thank You So Much for this Tutorial. I really appreciate it. You are very clear and detailed in your descriptions. This is the Best Tutorial i have seen so far. I believe i can restring now.
       
      #10 Knight-d, Aug 24, 2006
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    11. Thank you for putting up this tutorial! I'm sure it will help many people :)
       
      #11 Prysm, Aug 26, 2006
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    12. Thank you so much for this; Having these detailed descriptions and photos helped me get over my fear of the unstringing/restringing process. This should really be added to the "stringing" sticky if it hasn't already.
       
      #12 Masako87, Sep 7, 2006
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    13. Thanks so much for the stringing tutorial! Now I have an idea on how to string this.

      I just want to know, is the new body like that too?
       
      #13 keyblade master, Sep 9, 2006
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    14. I'm glad everyone has found this useful ;D

      keyblade master -- I assume you mean the new boy body, since I don't think the new girl body has been released yet (it IS still being made, right? It's been so long @___@; ). I'm not completely sure but I think the only difference between the new boy body and the old one are the leg lengths, so it should be applicable to all DOC dolls ;3
       
      #14 muffin573, Sep 9, 2006
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    15. okay i'll take your word for it!

      thanks once again! if i need to ask more questions i'll let you know!
       
      #15 keyblade master, Sep 10, 2006
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    16. That is so amazingly helpful. I have been wanting to change the hands on my first doll to the ones with black nails but was feeling inadequate to the task. Not anymore....thank you, thank you, thank you!
       
      #16 beadedgirl, Dec 27, 2006
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    17. Thank you so much for putting this up <3
      it seriously helped me alot.
       
      #17 LOVER., Feb 25, 2007
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    18. thank you! i was trying to remove rayne's head yesterday .. and i was like HELP!~~~~~ so i was afraid i couldn't put him back.. your tutorial is a godsend!~ thank you
       
      #18 fayerie, Feb 26, 2007
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    19. thank you very much!!it goes to me perfect
       
      #19 hachi, Feb 26, 2007
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    20. God!!
      More Thx For The Tutoriaaal!!!!!
       
      #20 Diego O'sullivan, Feb 27, 2007
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    21. Just wanted to add my thanks for the terrific stringing tutorial!
       
      #21 mlindaph, Mar 13, 2007
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    22. Wow...that is truly helpful for a BJD newbie like me. Though, at the same time, scares me if I'll ever be able to do this one my own... X__x;;;

      Thank you for the awesome tutorial! I'm sure it took you a while with taking the pictures at ever step... @__@;;
       
      #22 Nyu, Mar 13, 2007
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    23. Sorry to bother esp since this topic is so old, but I found it extremely helpful in terms of unstringing, but I'm having difficulty putting the elastic back through the upper arms > < it always seems to be too thick....

      edit: nvm.. I got it through :sweat it just took a lot of shoving and prodding..
       
      #23 intermission, Apr 10, 2007
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    24. Wow, thank you for such a great tutorial!
       
      #24 LizDuck, Apr 12, 2007
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    25. Wow!!! Thank you so much! I didn't want to unstring my boys to wash them because I was worried I wouldn't be able to figure out how to put them back together. :sweat
       
      #25 Palaise, Apr 12, 2007
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    26. Great tutorial. I definitely plan on referencing it when I take my dolls apart to spray and paint. One thing I have to mention though, is that I just got my first two dolls last weekend, and they had the S-hooks on their hands, not the red string you mentioned. I went back and bought S-hooks after reading your tutorial, not knowing that they would have them, and now I've got a bunch of extra hooks! :doh
       
      #26 Kymera, Apr 12, 2007
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    27. Wow, really? That must be a new thing DOD is doing with their dolls. About time, that red string is such a pain! I added a note on that step about the dolls possibly already having S-hooks ;D
       
      #27 muffin573, Apr 13, 2007
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    28. Just wanted to add my two cents about your tutorial...LOVED IT!!!!:sumomo:

      It was UBER helpful since I'm a newbie and my little Lady Caitlin is strung WAY to tight.:aheartbea
       
      #28 rikki_mew_chan, May 4, 2007
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    29. I have a DIM msd, whose bodys are incedibly similar to the DOC body type(except for the magnetic head cap :P) this by far is the best stringing tutorial in general I have seen. Thank you very much!
       
      #29 squeegeelicious, Jun 5, 2007
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    30. Thanks for the tutorial ! ^^
       
      #30 linciel, Jun 6, 2007
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    31. WOW, that was truly helpful!
       
      #31 soshi, Jun 6, 2007
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    32. Thank you so much for putting this up :aheartbea
      it seriously helped me alot. You gave such a nice detailed explanation on how to do it and very detailed photos!! It made re-stringing my girl a breeze.
       
      #32 NicoleLynn, Jul 10, 2007
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    33. yay for the restringing tutorial!!! i'm now having the new DoC body (the double-jointed one) and hopefully it's similar, except with extra pieces only... now i won't need to worry about restringing and unstringing him... :)
       
      #33 LadyKnight, Sep 18, 2007
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    34. thank you so much!
       
      #34 wildefae, Dec 1, 2007
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    35. Great tutorial! :D I've been waiting to restring my DOT but I wasn't too sure how to go about it! <3
       
      #35 StreppyPoo, Dec 5, 2007
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    36. *U* You are officially..MY HERO!! *flings flower heads everywhere*
      X3 Thank you, this is very (x482904) helpful.
       
      #36 Clare_LaPoo, Jan 7, 2008
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    37. Thanks for this tutorial-I'm waiting for my DOT Shall to arrive, and I was nervous about restringing her after taking her apart to paint. You make it seem easy, though. Thanks!!
       
      #37 Lady Nightengale, Jan 9, 2008
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    38. This tutorial is REALLY useful, and i'll be referring heavily to it when I (eventually) pluck up the courage to restring my DoC. However, I've noticed a few points which need updating:

      DoC's now have magnetic head caps!! Wahey! ^__^ (I'm so glad, the hook being on the elastic and headcap daunted me...)
      DoC's also have S-Hooks in their feet now!

      Other than those tiny (and not exactly life-changing) updates this is a perfect tutorial! Really detailed :D Thank you again!! ^__^
       
      #38 Ehryn, Jan 18, 2008
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    39. Thank you so much, you are an ANGEL! I have cried so much over not knowing how to restring my doll. I'm so happy that you posted this^^!

      I have a DOD-DOI doll do you/ anyone know if the restringing is the same as on the doc doll? I have never restringed my doll before and it is about time because he have gotten very loose! I just had to ask because I know nothing about restringing yet so don't mind my question!

      Once again thank you! Now I'm looking forward to get my doll back in shape^^
       
      #39 manabusama, Aug 6, 2008
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    40. As I don't have a DOI doll and have never seen one in person, I can't be entirely sure, but I'll do my best to answer using the pictures of the DOI body on the DOD website.

      It looks like the only structural difference between the DOC bodies and the DOI bodies (besides their size of course) is that the DOI bodies have extra pieces for their elbows, thighs, and possibly knees/elbows (hard to tell from the DOD photos, lol).

      SO, what this means is, you can use my guide as a general restringing guide, which will give you an idea of how to do go about the process. Then just modify it for your use. When you get to the arms, just remember that there are THREE pieces that go together in order instead of two pieces. Same with the legs. I'm also assuming that they have a better headcap and stringing system in their head (or at least I hope they do. The DOC one was awful). If you examine it closely you should be able to figure out how to get the string out of their head.

      Restringing is not hard. It can be intimidating when it's your first time doing it, but it's really very simple. Just do it slowly and think about what you're doing before you do it. Like when you're taking apart the legs, pay attention to how they go in order. And make sure you keep the left and right parts separated so you don't put the left foot on the right leg or whatever.

      Since it's your first time, it will probably be a lot easier to have one other person help you. When the elastic is pulled tight it can be hard to do it by yourself if you haven't practiced. However it is possible (I always restring my larger dolls by myself).

      Don't be afraid! You can do it! :)
       
      #40 muffin573, Aug 6, 2008
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    41. Tank you^^ I'll ask my little cousin who loves my doi dearly to assist me.
       
      #41 manabusama, Aug 7, 2008
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    42. I:) just took my boy apart and now he is lying in pieces on my table! It wasen't scary at all^^ I have just given him a much needed bath but he still have some stain spots from his black clothes and he need a bit of sanding. Got some scratches on him in different places. Now my poor boy have to lay on my table until my Pikatto Kirei Sponge Type and spongepapers get shipped! I'm looking forward to clean him properly, sand him and restring him last:)

      Thanks to you I got the courage to finally restring him!

      Arigatou, you're an angel!
       
      #42 manabusama, Aug 27, 2008
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    43. Aww, I'm glad you could do it! :) Thank you for your kind words <3
       
      #43 muffin573, Aug 28, 2008
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    44. Nice tutorial! (bookmarking this page) I just got my doll so it'll be a while before I work up the confidence to restring her :sweat
      Although I have a small question, how would you go about just removing the head if say, you were going to dress your doll with a shirt that has no buttons, velcro, etc.
      Thanks :)

      80th post! -does little happy dance-
       
      #44 canadian_otaku86, Sep 11, 2008
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    45. I've just used your tut as a basis for restringing my little DZ bunny. Thank you so much for this ~ it was brilliant and gave me the courage to try it out for myself. :thumbup

      I can't offer you much other than some interesting virtual chocolates to show my gratitude! :chocoberry :whitetruffle :chocoheart
       
      #45 Medieval, Oct 5, 2008
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    46. Thank you. It was a great help.
       
      #46 LeLou, Oct 31, 2008
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    47. :loveI love this tutorial! it's amzing. i really loved it. my bobobie didn't come with s hooks so not she has everything strung except her hands and feet ( must buy s hooks:sweat) again thanks you!!:aheartbea
       
      #47 Kyoko2012, Nov 26, 2008
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    48. my DOC has s hooks in the wrists and ankles and a magnetic head cap.
      though i just got mine and they're the type 2 body ^^
       
      #48 Mistress_Of_Burden, Dec 20, 2008
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    49. Thanks this is really useful. I figured out what I did wrong. I couldn't figure out why her head and torso were so loose, but I think that the doubled over bit that attatches in the head slipped so there was only one side of the elastic attatched. Unless Dob's are different... I imagine they are mostly the same.
       
      #49 EALC, Jan 5, 2009
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    50. Nope. I was wrong. I think I'm just going to tie the elastic tighter.
       
      #50 EALC, Jan 7, 2009
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    51. Thank you!!!
       
      #51 repulsive333, Jan 18, 2009
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    52. I've been looking for something like this! Very thorough! Thank you!! :)
       
      #52 gwenithcoy, Mar 1, 2009
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    53. thanks a lot for the tutorial!
       
      #53 kovalevatn, Jul 6, 2009
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    54. This is a really wonderful tutorial, thank you so much for it! I don't have a DOC, but I was able to use this to help my restring my Everpurple Ryun. ^__^
      <3
       
      #54 RainbowsHaven, Jul 6, 2009
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    55. Thanks so much for the tutorial ! it helped me a lot <33333
       
      #55 Ziane, Aug 3, 2009
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    56. In my DOC boy's body he has little dots on the insides of his joints (one dot for left side and two dots for right side). unfortunately once i have him apart i always forget which side is which... ><

      so if you forget to separate the parts... (or like me need to relocate your restringing because dad thinks its super wierd that you're restringing a doll on the dining room table)
      remember: 1=left 2=right

      *thinks... then checks Toshi again* yeah... thats right XP
       
      #56 Random_An, Aug 3, 2009
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    57. Thanks for the tutorial!!! It made me less scared/anxious to restring Ez today even though he has the new DOC boy body. :)

      Now he's nice and tight-- although he's got crazy arms now, it's much better than when it seemed like he had narcolepsy. :sweat I suppose practice makes perfect-- it was my first time restringing and I'll most likely have to restring him or my Twingkey sometime in the future anyways. :)
       
      #57 OmitIdentity, Nov 24, 2009
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    58. I just restrung my Si and it went smoothly thanks to this tutorial! :)
       
      #58 chaos_zebra, Dec 14, 2009
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    59. Thank you so much for this tutorial.
      It made me feel confident about restringing my boy.
      I just wish the DOT feet were like the DOC!! The DOT's feet have a small s hook that is impossible to get the elastic in and then onto the foot.
      I spent 30 minutes trying to do it!!! I had to have someone else hold the doll. It was so hard Dx;
       
      #59 Rioko571, Jan 5, 2010
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    60. thanks so much for this tut! It helps with stringing and the cleaning in general...but then does anyone rec. What kinda soap I should use?
       
      #60 little_rika, Jan 10, 2010
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