Esthetics BJD joints padding without leather

"Sueding" is what you want to search for

Dolls cast in more textured/"grippy" resin have more friction in the joints and don't always need sueding to hold poses very well - but of course it also has to do with joint engineering, how they are strung and how tightly, if they are wired etc. Friction isn't the only thing that contributes to holding poses well and sometimes dolls need a combination of interventions.

Hot glue is the most popular option and I'd say it's also the thinnest thing you're going to get into the joints. Silicone washers/kips are another popular choice but not suitable for all dolls.

Is it a specific doll you are having trouble with?

 

I recently bought a small bjd cat and was suaded with a thin layer of what seems to a silicone, maybe a dried layer of silicon glue?

 

Seconding the silicone suggestions if the doll will suit it.

Some people also use a wire armature alongside the elastic

 

From your description of hot glue, I'm not sure it you're using it in the expected way? Generally you would put down a bead of glue then use a card, silicone thimble, silicone tool, etc. to spread the glue around the joint. Depending on the size of the doll you'd do 1/2-1/4 of the joint at a time. I usually take an index card and keep folding it up to get a clean edge. You can put the glue towards the inside and then spread it out over the outer edge of the joint, then once it's cooled off, you can easily peel the excess off over the edge. You can also smooth any edges down with the nozzle of the glue gun. You can get the glue layer very thin with this method.

Other than that, I have heard of artists (I can't remember if it was Pasha Pasha or Popovy?) using E6000 or Uhu glue for sueding. It makes sense to me because it adheres very strongly and has a rubbery texture, but it is acetone-based (and has very toxic fumes!) and hard to remove so I don't think I would try it on a doll that has thin/fragile joints or that I might ever want to sell.

 

I'm curious about numbers 1 on your list. Not so etho give heard of before but the description sounds a lot like how the joints on my Nobility doll were from the factory. Sadly I sent his arms & torso out for new body blushing & in cleaning him up lost that great sueding what ever it was.

Most of my dolls have low melt hot glue sueding with varying degrees of success.

 

I like to use moleskin to suede. You don’t have to glue it down, like leather and it works really well to keep the ball joints in place. I also use it to keep wigs in place.

 

Silicone washers work well but I suggest glueing them inside the socket because they tend to move outside the joint or get sucked into the channels, and it's a bit annoying.

 

I know this is an old thread, but out of curiosity I tried some self adhering elastic bandage. It's a stretchy, rubbery material that can be cut to any length or shape you need, comes in many colours and can be as thin as paper. It doesn't have any glue on it, it's just a rubbery texture - and can be found easily in many stores near the pharmacy section.

It works really well. I didn't glue it in place, I just stuck a small piece in each socket and it helped give those joints some staying power. Best of all it can be removed without staining or stickiness and is practically invisible.

HOWEVER: I would not use this product with longevity in mind. Over time, with repeated use, it looses it's shape and stickiness. But this is kind of a positive thing if you need to dismantle a doll in future for cleaning, restoration or shipping.