Maintenance Restringing elastic: where and what to buy

Anyways, I was looking for the default Cerberus Project string, which I heard to be different from the Volks one....(sigh!)

Then, I read in that link you so kindly gave me that there's a kind of Volks string already cut to the right length for Super Dollfies, but what about SD13/C P boys??
Their arms and legs are longer than those of the regular Super Dollfie dolls...
How can I understand what the right elastic length for them is?
Thanks again!

Best Wishes,

Barbara

 

Barbara, in all honesty (and after stringing MANY Volks/CP dolls), I can tell you that the quality of the elastic Volks uses is *far* superior to that which the CP dolls come with.

I say take Lia's advise and buy the Volks. They sell both cut and uncut packages of elastic, so no need to worry about that

 

Hi Anika

Thanks for your very kind message!

You and Lia are perfectly right: Volks' string is absolutely the best quality string for BJDs.

Anyways, I still don't know how many millimetres of Volks string are right for CP legs and how many of them are right for CP arms...

As I already said, the cut packages of elastic are for regular SDs, not for SD13 boys, whose limbs are longer.

Could you please tell me the right string measures (in millimetres, since inches are too approximative) for CP boys? That would truly be very kind of you!

Have a great day!

Barbara

PS: you have an Elf Shiwoo: which kind of string has he got?
If he has Volks string, could you please tell me its exact measures? (measures for the string in each one of the legs and measure for the string in the arms)
Many many thanks!!

 

Ok, Because Arien won't sit up, and his back is always artched and head down, I take it his Elastic is too tight...

Where can I get elastic for him? I checked at fabric/craft stores and places like Home Depot, can't find what I'm looking for, should I just order from volks?

 

Almost every doll website has it, but have you tried untying the knots and making the elastic looser that way? Sometimes that little bit can go a long way... If your knots have any extra elastic at the top try making the knot higher up instead before you bother getting new string ^_^

 

Can I use regular thick elastic from a sewing store or do I have to buy the REEEEEALLY fat stuff from Luts or something...? I really want to re-string Pele, 'cause she's still too springy, but I don't want to spend $15 for a couple feet of elastic :P

Thank you any help is very much appreciated

 

No, you don't have to buy special elastic from Volks or CP or somesuch. Your local craft/hobby/fabric/habedashery store should sell either "doll elastic" or some kind of round elastic which is often used in sports/all-weather jackets. It's not expensive... I think I suggest you use round elastic rather than the flat stuff, though.

- Therese

 

I've used thin round elastic for my MSD and he ended too loose because the tension of the thin elastic wasn't er...tight enough. Like Therese had said, you can get the elastic from some place else, but look for something similar to the thickness of the elastic your doll is using right now. Check the tension as well, so that you can tell if it'll be able to hold your doll together. ^_^

From experience, different elastics from different places tend to have different tensions. Just remember that when you're cutting the lengths you need. You might find you'll need a longer/shorter length than the original.


~ seph

 

hello everyone,
I notice there is an SD version and an MSD version of the elastic cord that Volks sells, and both are 2m long... so my question is, what is the difference between them? would I be able to use the MSD version to string my SD13 boy? thanks!

 

I'm not absolutely sure about Volks' strings, but the difference between them is probably the width. SD's are thicker, I'd imagine.

 

The SD cord is much thicker and has a lot more tention on it to hold the larger peices of the larger volks kids together. I think this is also to account for the distance between hooked points (i.e. from the head to the ankles) Although you could try to string your sd13 boy with the thinner MSD cord, the tension may not be enough to give your doll that posable but held together feel.

If you feel like trying it, by all means, go for it; you will be physically able to string the doll, although the tension may not be enough. And let us know how it works, because I've brused more fingers on big dolls because of the tension! The MSD cord is so much easier to handle and if it works well, my big dolls are getting the little string.

 

I bought elastic at Hancock Fabrics. I had brought a piece of the Volks elastic from my msd to see if I could find the same size. Luckily, I found the same size and it was only $1 (maybe less). I bought 3 yards so I'd have enough on hand.

 

I've read that some people for large BJD use thick elastic from fabric stores like JoAnn's, the kind that goes in sweatshirts, like around the bottom so that you can cinch the fabric tight--not like the flat elastic, but the round cord kind. I picked some up the other day to play with and have on hand if/when my large BJD ever comes home. It was maybe 20 cents a yard.

 

That's exactly what I bought at the fabric store!

 

Would someone please tell me what size stringing elastic I should use? I ordered some from an online doll supply store and it is way too thick. Now, I'll need to send it back. I measured what is inside the doll and it measures 3/16". Is that correct? This is for a 58cm doll.

Thanks in advance!

 

Tallina's Doll Supply has elastic. And it's sold in varying widths depending on the height of your doll. Too narrow of elastic won't work well enough and too thick of elastic puts undue pressure on the parts. So size does matter!

Jay

 

www.audreysdolls.com carries elastic... but their sizing is weird and i'm not sure what size you'd need. o_o;

 

Actually, I've found that some JoAnn fabric stores sell a very nice tension of round elastic cord/string. It's sold both by the yard and in packages ^.^

 

Someone on another list passed a little trick on to me. First of all you don't really need to re-string. Since the elastic in the legs is looped around a hook. Basically you can go out and get some regular elastic and make loops and use these loops to extend the elastic. Now how much you need you'll probably have to play with, but I found it to be a great solution and a nice way to avoid having to restring. If you want photos, I can take some later incase this didn't explain what I did.

Also look in your area for a doll supply or doll making supply for porceline dolls and they'll have string. Which isn't too bad to have on hand, but I guarantee you don't have to restring if you just want to loosen the tension.

Christal

 

I'm ordering an eye beveler from miniworlddolls but I need at least $10 so I figure I'd buy some elastic since my girl needs to be restrung....problem is I don't know what size to buy since I through out the original string ops: I know the length and everything just not the size. They have 1/16", 5/32", 1/4", 1/8", and 3/16" which one would be best for a SD New makeup version? Also I need to run some kind of string through her feet and hands, the person before me used twine but is it ok to use elastic or should I use something else?

Thank you
BoogiePop

 

I think 1/8" is what I got to restring my DOD, it works well and isn't too big for the hollow resin, even with wiring in place. Something slightly thicker might work well on a larger doll, but I can't say for sure, sorry if my advice isn't very valuable ops:

 

I got mine on eBay for like five bucks I needed to re-string the legs in my DollMore body so I measured the width and went hunting on eBay and found some elastic that was 3.00 mm when I knew my DollMore came with 3.5 but I bought it anyway and I am glad I did get it smaller. It works really well if I would have bought 3.5 it would of not fit right in his legs it was hard enough putting the 3.0mm in him. He stands just fine now so I was not disappointed.

 

This may be a silly question, but I'd like to know if MSD and SD/SD13 dolls use the same elastic.

I'm going to be placing an order with DOD when they have their paypal account set-up, and I have a friend who needs new elastic for her larger size doll (from Souldoll). Will the DOD elastic work for her?

Thanks for any help. ^^

 

I think the DoD elastic ought to work, so long as you get elastic for the DoT sized dolls, and not the smaller DoCs.

The DoTs are quite tall & probably moderately heavy, so their elastic should be strong enough.

Ann in CT

 

Yup, each size doll uses different thicknesses of elastic. I really don't see the MSD elastic working well for a SD sized doll. The MSD elastic is a lot thinner, and I don't see it having the tension necessary for a larger doll. If DoD offers a DoT elastic, then great! ^_^ If not, nearly every other company that offers 60cm dolls will carry the right elastic. Maybe your friend could get in on a Luts order, CP elastic is only $1!

 

The elastic I got with my bluefairy doll wasn't really anything special as far as I could tell; it was just round elastic. I imagine if you went to a craft store and bought some sturdy round elastic in the same/similar size to what's already in the doll it'd be fine.

That said, as far as I know restringing your doll doesn't mean you need new elastic unless there's something wrong with the elastic in the doll now. I had to redo the stringing on my doll three times to get the tension right (she came unassembled), and it didn't hurt anything.

 

My boy is INCREDIBLY loosely strung, and I don't know whether I need to buy new elastic, or somehow modify the elastic I currently own. I didn't know hw was so loose until I went to BJD meet-up, and theirs were all nice and tight.

Does the stringing affect they way their head can move? My BJD can't move his head very well, and it normally shifts to the left >.<

Please help me!

 

If you feel he's too loose, it's not hard to use the elastic you have to test and see what stringing works best, as you have plenty to work with. It would be harder if he was too tightly strung.

I've found with restringing my girl that yes, changing the tension of the elastics can make the head hard to stay posed. with the tension I have in my doll at the moment, though, a little bit of sueding on her neck worked wonders. ^_^

 

Some dolls work better with different elastic tension. My DoC U for example is TIGHT, trying to pull his hand out is like wrestling a bear. My Kid Delf, on the other hand, I can pull his hand out 6 inches without too much trouble. They both pose about the same.

 

Ok, I know some of you bought the AR kits eariler this year. I bought a Jade. Everything came with him, including a piece which the intructions don't mention. It goes inbetween the upper and lower torso. I don't know if the side with the ridge goes up pointing at the head or if that side goes down, pointing to the toes. Can someone tell me please? EDIT: I figured it out, I had to shave down some resin inside the lower torso to get the piece to fit! now he isn't floppy.

And elastic...how long should you leave it stretched out? When I strung my Jade, the leg tension is fine. But the arms is/were way too tight. So today I unstrung him and I have it stretched between 2 knobs on the dresser. How long should I leave it? Thanks.

I would have searched, but not even sure what to look for on the first question.

 

It should really only go in one way O_o;;

 

It goes either on mine, actually. He still flops either way. I assume the ridge goes towards the head, but it doesn't exactly fit in the lower torso. It seems to float on the strings. So that's why I don't know.

 

on a related question, is that piece that goes between the torso and hip useful? mine sorta just floats between the strings. i read before someone glued their's.

btw, anyone can suggest whats the best method to unstring ar dolls?

thankies

 

Kemper has it. http://kemperdolls.com/elastic-cord-2921.html Prices from $4 something and up, depends on what width you need. You get 10 yards so even if it costs $10 that's only $1 a yard.

 

I have searched high and low, and I just cant find the measurements!
I have a fresh long piece of elastic, and I want to put my girls legs on. (she doesnt have arms yet! lol )
Sorry if it's already posted! I promise to delete this once I find the info, if it's already somewhere. I swear I searched! I really suck at using the searcher.

Thanks!
*Jen

 

Double your elastic up, and lay/hold it from the top of the neck, to the knee-joint without stretching it, then add 4 inches for the knot. Similar for the arms: hold the elastic from elbow to elbow across the chest, and add 4 inches for the knot.

 

Has anyone ever ordered elastic from Luts? How long a piece do you get? It says on the site the length is 2mm but I think they mean across! 2mm length is TINY! I want to restring some type 2 dolls, and one person at the last meetup I attended said 11 inches was perfect for her Harang. My Elf Chiwoo has shorter elastic so one leg is perfect, the other is tightly strung. It keeps popping at the knee. So can anyone help?

 

The elastic I got that are "Delf sized" is enough to string a full doll, plus a bit extra that's enough to maybe make another loop for the arms or for one leg.

I've used old elastics (the ones that came with the doll) too to restring...you just untie the knot and tie it a little looser (usually about 1/2-3/4 inch depending on the tightness).

 

Luts elastic comes in one long length, you have to cut it how you want.

Another thing you can do if there is not enough extra elastic to loosen the knot is to remove the elastic and stretch it out overnight on something like a chair. If it ends up being too loose at that point, you can always shorten it a bit.

 

Get proper doll stinging elastic. Any good doll making place should carry it, but if there's not one near you, this place has very good prices.

 

The Joann where I work sells one size of round elastic cord, in the 3mm size. It was perfect for a msd-size doll, exactly the same stuff you buy from Volks for a heckof a lot less. It is probably too small for a SD, but could be passable for emergency repairs.

Elastic thread is what appears to be used in the smallest tinies, and can be found about anywhere.

Good luck!

~Anrui

 

I got elastic at the fabric store..a thicker one of the body and a thinner one for her arms...I was having a hard time fitting all that elastic in her thats why I tried a thinner one in her arms. It worked nicely.

 

SD string is 1/2 inches in circumference. MSD string is 7/16 inches in circumference. The number sizes listed on Kemper is the diameter of the elastic. Multiply the Kemper numbers by pi and you will get the circumference of the elastic.

You will want to buy 3/16" size for SD and 9/64" size for MSD.

hope this helps

 

I am about to purchase a eluts elastic string, but the size is kid delf. Okay pretend that I am completely stupid and need things fed to me.

Okay the problem is that I'm getting it for my DoC Wi. MSD size. Would it be okay to use it for him? Or am I just stupid because MSD and Kid Delf are basicly the same size so it wouldn't matter?

Would it be okay to get for him, or should I find a bigger one?

I'm sorry if that was confusing.

 

Honestly, i think the sizes would be similar enough that it wouldnt make a difference, since they're both 43 or so cm tall and their proportions are similar....but someone who actually has these dolls can probably answer better than i can ^^; DOD doesnt offer string on their site the way Luts does?

 

I string all my dolls with the same elastic. I haven't had a problem ^^;

 

My Dollshe's arms need restrung..very loose. And unfortunately I cut the old string because the knot was way too tight. {He needed cleaned anyway}. Does anyone know where I can get string to restring him with??? I checked Michael's, AC Moore, and Joann Fabrics. Nothing at either of those stores that looks even remotely close to the string that he was strung with.

 

I got elastic the same as the elastic in my iplehouse body at Hancock Facbric and at Joann Fabric. If they don't have it you may have to ask them to order it for you.

 

check out you local dollmakers. Porcelain dolls are strung with the same elastic, just remember that it comes in different sizes.

 

Depending on the size of your doll, you might be able to use elastic laundry cording. I happened to find some at Big Lots for only $1.99. Through it may not fit since it's a bit thick.
I had to use it on my DM Model boy's left leg because it was too thick to fit on his hand hook.

 

Okay. Thanks. I looked on the Volks site..I don't know if there's a difference between the SD and the SD16. But the SD16 looks like the size that I need for my dollshe. Is that the same size as the SD?

 

I have an Angel Region Fair Boy, he is a foot tall. Right now he has thick elastic string in him. He has the 'crazy legs' going on, and he has absolutly no stability! He can't even keep his arms up =_=

So, what kind of string/wire/whatever do I need to use? What size? How long? I have looked through similer threads and haven't found anything to help me... So any help will be appreciated!

 

I usually use yarn for the strings. I use a loop turner to pull the strings through the body.

like..loop the yarn through the elastic, stick the loop turner through said limb, grab onto the yarn with it, pull it through, than take it by hand and pull the elastic through.


Wire wise.. it believe i use... 14 gauge? I really can't say ^^; it's coated though. make sure you get white coated, the others may stain.

Elastic wise, i use...whatever looks closest to what's in your doll. just bring him to the shop with you and try to match it. That's what i do. It's also easier to buy the entire spool than guess how many times you're going to mess up XD

How long? it varies. I generally like my wire from the near end of the wrist to the inside of the torso. So however long that is, otherwise you can just do it so it's alittle longer than a single joint so no matter where it goes it stays by that joint.

If you want pliver sueding or hot glue sueding, that will help alot with posing. I've found wire mainly only helps when bending objects are involved to hold the position. but it can only do so well. Again, wire wise, just take your doll to the store with you and see what probably will fit. as most doll channels are different from one another it's hard to say an exact size will fit all.

Sueding is love to me. Which there are tutorials all over for so that shouldn't be hard to find ^^

or you could just hire someone to fix him up for you XD

I hope i could help!

 

hehe.. I thought you meant you used yarn instead of elastic Hellsing365(I'm so dumb sometimes). When you say take the doll to the shop what do you mean? What shop sells elastic which can be used to string a BJD?

 

louiselle~ well the shop i get my wire from is Ace hardware. I got my elastic at Hancock fabrics-which has closed down since than. But i'm pretty sure you can find it at joanne fabrics ^^

and you could also just hire someone. I sell elastic for a buck a foot XD It's worked on all my MSD's and my SD's just fine.

 

kazezakura*I bought some from souldoll when I ordered a head but I do not know about string for other dolls. I've never been to a doll shop.

Hellsing365*Did it say it was for dolls or is it just regular elastic?

 

I re-strung a older Ryung body using the same elastic (cutting it just so slighly and a plastic coated hanger bent in half to measure about 9to12 inches on each side) and then sueding her should last awhile till I get to Luts..
~gjc~

 

Yeah, so I got a GORGEOUS Dollinian 43 cm body in today for my Dollmore Aidan head. The resin match is PERFECT! Unfortunately, it has this weird little hook thing that the Dollinian heads use that's attatched directly to the elastic string, which sucks.

The elastic has NO give to it. It really does suck.

So here's my question ^^ Where can I buy some GOOD elastic string, without having to order it online?

 

What you are looking for is round elastic in a heavyweight size. Sadly you are not likely to find it locally unless you live in or near a very large city. Look in upholstery supplies or see if there is an upholstery shop near you that has some and will sell you a couple yards.

Other than that, for by-the-yard....


http://cgi.ebay.com/ELASTIC-CORD-5-...oryZ2415QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/ELASTIC-CORDING...oryZ2415QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Doll-Stringing-...oryZ2415QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

I just happened to luck into a full bolt of the stuff incredibly cheap at cheaptrims.com years ago and snatched it up.