Head Cap techniques?

Hi!

I currently use a faceplate system that is very basic, but very solid and easy to create.

Here are some pics:

(these are the only pics i have, sorry,the project is a little more complete than that, 3





the puty in the second post is only the hold the eyes is :3

 

I just stumble along with experimentation to make my head caps. It would be cool to see how other people do it.

 

Ah, I just put Seil's head into silicone today without taking a picture of the mechanism... I'll take a couple once it's out.

 

I'd love to see this too. I can see the mechanisms in the dolls I have, but I wonder how to go about sculpting them so they fit together just so.

 

What I do is build up (or carve) and sand one side, for example the faceplate/front-head's back edge where I want it to meet the headcap... imagining where the cut line would be and sanding and shaping and filling until I have a clean line around the head — I like a line that undulates to indicate hairline, even though the wig will cover it — I like to angle the edge inwards into the head too, so that the headcap won't be able to slip around. When that half is finished and dry, I put clay on the headcap/headback around the edge and make sure it's well attached to the headcap, smoothing both on the inside and outside, even though I know I will need to carve off some excess later. Then I lubricate with vaseline so the clay won't stick where I don't want it to, maybe even protect the finished surface with saran wrap.. Finally I squish the headcap into place and keep smoothing the excess clay back onto the cap, away from the cut-line. When it's all dry, it will need more sanding and probably even some more touchup filling, but I think the trick to getting a clean line is definitely to manually make the line how you want it on one side, and then add clay to the second half to key to the already prepared half. Does that make sense?

 

Great description, I can picture it exactly. This is what I have done (aside from the angled cut which is brilliant) to get my head cap to fit exactly, but I still need a way to make it stay on. Do you use magnets then to hold it on? Each of the five dolls I own uses a combination magnets and a mechanism almost like a key in a mold but with a way to snap it into place. I wondered how to sculpt the mechanism to fit exactly. I suppose the same way right?

 

Yeah the same way. I guess, decide how you want to do it.. a key or catch at the back and a key at the front and a magnet either at the front or back.

 

Hello,
I would like to cast a bjd in porcelain, but would like to be able to change her eyes if I want to. I was wondering if anyone as tried making a porcelain removable head cap?
I was thinking of sculpting it like a resin head cap by using magnets, but I have some concerns: Would the magnets be strong enough to hold the cap on? After firing would the cap fit near seamless?
Please let me know if anyone has done this?
Also where can I find small magnets?

Thanks!

 

I don't know anything about porcelain unfortunately... But I do know where you can get magnets! I bought some just off ebay - you need to search for 'rare earth magnets'. They are very, very strong! Usually the sellers list the amount of force the magnets have/how much weight they can hold. I think I used an online calculator when buying mine, because I was going to put them behind fabric, and that effects their force. But with dolls you don't have to worry about that, because it's just magnet on magnet with nothing between them.

Hope this tidbit is useful, even if it's a bit rambling ^^;;;

 

Thank you so much!!!! I will check that out right away.