Hot Glue: Fast, Easy, and Cheap Sueding Alternative

I've glue gun sueded a bunch of 60cm dolls now (Dolkot Kiss, several CPs, and a Volks) with the drop method used by the Volks doll doctor, with great effect and no damage.

I used a low temp glue gun and didn't smooth out the glue, just left it in little drops. It was quick, easy, and had great results.

It will usually say on the gun which kind it is. They're really cheap though, so if you can't tell, you might be better off going to a craft store and buying one that you're sure is low temp and get the low temp glue sticks.

 

vze2rxts You should definitley try this! It worked WONDERS on my Sharmin (who is the oooooold type body!). She could stand, hold out her arms, even stand on one leg! *pets hot glue gun* I loooooove hot glue!

 

Here's another idea:

Get two small pieces of glass, or any solid flat cool hard surface. Place a glob of hot glue on one of them, then take the other piece of glass and squish the glue flat. this will make a flat disc. Peel it off the glass, then take a hole puncher and puch a hole out of the middle. You can also trim the disc to whatever size you need. If your doll is apart, place them in the joints and thread your elastic through it . If your doll is already strung, just make a snip from the out side edge to the center hole and wrap it around your elastic in the joint.

 

Has anyone tried the glue disks?

 

For those of you that might be looking for a place to buy a low temp glue gun, I know Hobby Lobby here in the states carries both temps and the gun are clearly marked as "hot" or "cool" or "low" temps. And the hot glue guns will burn you, sister had a project and she accidently got it on herself and well she got a nasty blister as a result. When I get my dolls I'm definatly trying this.

 

I hot glued my Sascha but now his every joint is creaking.
Heeeelp

 

New here! HI! Wanted to chime in that I used the low temp glue method on my Sooah and it works perfectly. She stands and sits like a dream now.

 

hi guys. i have a question/problem.
i cant seem to get the glue to "smear" over the joints. it just kinda gets clumpy in spots....kinda like it dry faster than i can work with it i guess. any tips

also i was working with elmers glue resently and i notices that it drys pretty thick. can i substitute that for the hot glue. i realise that if it is possible to work i would have to take my doll apart, but she really needs this sueding thing ^_^;;

 

Not Elmer's. It won't work. Use the hot tip of your (low temp) glue gun to go back and melt any "clumpy" spots.

 

ok il try. but i think my glue gun has one setting: " OMFG THATS HOTT!!"

 

It's ok, your gun should only have one setting, VinylFaerie was just pointing out your glue gun should be a low temp one. ^^

What kind of glue gun are you using?

 

I just tried using the disk method (a drop between glass--only I used a ceramic tile and a shot glass) and made little disks for my tiny Elf. I tried this because I couldn't get the tip of the glue gun in her tiny joints. So I tried the disk and with the help of a larger serger tweezer, I got the little disk in the right spot and it has helped her jumpy leg syndrome and now she can stand!
I have an SD10 body that just wants to be cranky, I think I will try the hot glue on her next. I have a low temp gun with dual temp sticks.

 

I just got a glue gun, and its dual temp-I couldn't find a low temp gun.

SO, if I use the dual temp gun on the low setting, would that work without causing damage? I realize its probably a silly question, but I want to make sure before I go and start using the glue gun on my girls, I don't want to damage them!

 

I'm pretty sure that would be fine, as long as it is on the low temp setting and you use low or dual temp glue sticks.

 

I use the tip of the glue gun to smear it around. You don't burn yourself and the glue stays liquid longer so you can move it better. Elmers will flake out fairly quickly, LOW temp hot glue (or tacky glue) is the way to go I've hot glue sueded at least 12 dolls now and I don't take them apart, just pull the limbs away from each other.

 

How long should hot glue sueding last? I've done my boy twice now in the space of a month. His head is fine, it was the first thing I did, and I haven't redone it, but last go it was falling out of his wrists within a week. I love the stability it's giving him, but I can't get some of the joints without unstringing, and I need help to restring (my feet can't hold the body stable enough to pull the elastic through his feet).

I have a dual-temp gun set on low, dual-temp sticks, and am smearing it around with the tip of the gun. This is all being used on a Domuya Flexi boy, the only joint I haven't sueded is his toes.

 

I'd restring him. He sounds loose. The D1-60 Flexi body needs to be really tight for the joints to work right and not just be a twisty pain in the butt. If the sueding is still falling out after you tighten him, try a better quality glue stick.

 

I've got a question.
I have a dual temp glue gun and dual temp sticks..

The hot glue sueding i do, doesn't come off all to easily :/ it gets lint in it from the clothing and wont peel off easily. IS there something i'm doing wrong? and how can i get this stubborn glue off?

 

I peel the glue. It's good that it sticks so well, that helps! If you are really wanting to get it out, I suggest reheating the glue with the tip of the glue gun and using a stick or something to get out most of it. The rest you should be able to peel. Is there some reason that you want it out; or is it not working? If it's worn out, you can use the hot glue gun to heat up the glue and maybe add a little bit of new. You can do that without removing the old.

 

I've also tightened his strings each time I've sueded him, every time I take him apart I add another knot in the elastics. That's why I had to get my roommate's help restringing him Saturday, I could no longer pull them through on my own (my hands are slightly weak from loose stringing ). So I guess I'll see if it stays this time. He does seem to have pretty much quit twisting his legs.

 

I have a pretty easy method for this if you don't mind restringing. Put a lot of hot water in a bowl (I wouldn't suggest boiling it, but if you let your sink tap run as hot as it goes for a minute that should be good) and let the joints that you can't remove the glue from sit in the water for a couple minutes. Then it should be soft, just use a small screwdriver, a metal nail file or a skewer to pry at it. This should get it right off. ^_^

 

It can also gouge the resin pretty easily.

 

VinylFaerie ~ its dirty, >,> and nasty, and sometimes i put to much on and i need to get it off so the joint can rest properly....and it refuses to come out no matter what ><

squeekiekitty ~ did that to sage >,> he has cuts now because of it.

 

you can use the glue gun to remove it too. just use the tip. Much easier than peeling it all out.

 

wont that hurt the resin? >,>

 

If you do what I described in post #94, you should be fine, as long as you are using a low temp gun. You are reheating the glue, not heating the resin.

 

Sorry I didn't mention that you have to BE CAREFUL! Yes, gouging can happen if you use a larger object or push too hard against the resin. Though after you remove a certain amount you can much more easily use your nails to pry it up. And again, make sure you do not have VERY hot water, as you only want to soften the glue and not melt the resin. ^_^

 

I thought I would mention I have done something simular with tacy glue. It seems to wear down quicker than hot glue does, but it's nice for paranoid people like me afraid to use hot glue on resin.
It was also handy since when I heard about hot glue sueding, I did not have a glue gun so I thought I would give the tacky glue a chance.

 

I totally just did this tonight with KeyofTwilight on the phone for triage purposes, ROFL.

My Volks doll has INCREDIBLY smooth joints, so this was a challenge, and my very first time too, lol. I ended up not smoothing the glue, but literally roughing it up as I spread it around. I didn't have anything to hand and my fingers were too big (she is an MSD) so I ended up using the metal tip of the gun itself, and it worked fairly well. But when I tried doing a smooth layer, it was as if I hadn't done a thing. It had to be rough. But it DOES work! She stands! I didn't think she had it in her!

Hot glue is totally the way to go!

 

I just tacky glue sueded my Catsy! Before I had to fight to get her to stand, now she can stand on one foot!!

 

Ohhh I hope this isn't a stupid question, but can I use the hot glue sueding method on French Resin as well?

 

Yes you can

 

Great tips! I just finished hot glue sueding all my crew and oh boy! What a huge difference it makes in posability.
It took me awhile to actually build up the guts to do this, because I was afraid to damage them, but it is really super easy. I got my lo temp glue gun at Micheal's in the floral dept. and I think it was only $1.99

 

picturesm of the sueding would be nice...

 

Here are some of after it's been done.

 

So I hot glued my El, he was so jumpy, his legs kicked, and arms fell. He couldn't really stand.
Well now, it's better. A little. He can hold his arms up, only in a certain area, if I put them one place they fall slowly.
His legs still kick, and fight me a little. I think I definately glued him a bit wrong. It was pretty hard, the glue had strings everywhere. >.< my gun was ooold I had to keep turning it on and off because it'd get so damn hot.

Soo..any suggestions?

 

Alright! Updated info on this technique:
If you live anyplace HOT (Ie, I live in Arizona, where summer's pretty much guarenteed to hit 115 degrees), you may have to 'crack' your doll's joints every once in a while during the hot months. This doesn't have anything to do with damaging the resin, it's just that the hotglue can reset itself a bit, causing the joints to stick as if you actually glued them together. Luckily, if you just force the joint (Not hard, just move it normally and pull a little), the glue will reseparate with a soft cracking noise, much like cracking your knuckles. My hound has to crack his neck all the time now.. it's actually kind of cute if you as me.

 

Well in the last 3 weeks I got brave enough to hot glue suede... I've done it to two of my delf boys and my fiance's delf boy as well. We're happy that we have standers now. I mean I can leave my boys just standing there for days and the don't move and fall over floppy or anything like that. I think next i shall try it on my mnf... after that maybe my dz minis and see if that doesn't stop their knees from turning around backwards all the time.

 

I did both my boys last night and it has worked wonders. Tristian's arms no longer snap in to crazy gang symbols every time I try to pose him and his feet don't twist around backwards as much.

 

I worked up the courage to do this and i like the results, Lilith now stands much better. She still has a few issues of balance but thats probably because she has flat feet in heeled shoes. At least now she doesnt have to stand looking like shes just filled her pants! (umm...now im being glared at....was it something i said?).

I even cheated and didnt unstring her, i got enough slack in the strings by taking her head off (dam im being glared at again, i dont think she appreciated being headless).

 

I tried the hot glue method on my boy a week ago or so. Some parts it's helped, but he still doesn't stand well on his own and his torso still pops out. Did I not do it correctly?
He's a Dollmore Model boy if that helps.

 

Inspired by this thread I'm gonna give this a go tonight on my boy..! will edit later if all goes well/horribly wrong!

.... hurray it went well! The glue gun seemed to stop after two knees and one hip socket, put poking another glue stick against the other got it going again. Now he stands and he seems really stable - even posing him while he's standing doesn't make his knees buckle like it used to! Thanks eveyone for your tips in this thread.

Now if only i could get the wiring in his arms right!!!

 

Probably a stupid question but did you glue his torso as well? One of my kids has that kind of torso and although it's glued it'll still pop sometimes. The Hounds I've glued were the same way. If he's still not standing well he might need to be restrung.

 

So everyone who hot glued their dolls turned out fine with no damage to dolls, right? I have to do it with my hound. His arms are horrid. </3

 

Actually, there's really no way to screw it up. I unstrung and sueded one of my dolls, and ended up doing my other doll, and one of my boyfriend's dolls too! The good thing about using low-temp hot glue is that if you mess it up, you can just peel it off and try again.

 

I decided to try hot glue sueding on my I-ra. It turned out pretty good. She can hold her arms out straight just like she did when I first got her. And she can stand up by herself on the kitchen table barefoot, and that's with her high heeled feet.
I'll to see what else she can do now after being sueded.

 

Here you go - here's a photo of a just-sueded doll. She stands on her own, and she's very poseable. She didn't sit up before either.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14083142@N04/1432463215/in/set-72157602143573169/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14083142@N04/1432463209/in/set-72157602143573169/

 

oh wow, my Domuya male flexi body is behaving itself a lot more now, and finally got around to glueing in those floating elbow joints shame that the low temperature version was rare and expensive (here in the UK) the hot temp ones can be picked up for &#163;1 but my low temp was &#163;10 will be tackling my Domuya female flexi body tonight ^^

thanks so much for this thread, it really does inspire you to have a go ^^

 

The traditional way of sueding is time consuming, this sounds much simpler.

 

How do I know if my glue gun is a high temp or a low temp one? Mine says a 150 degrees Celcius on the side - does that mean high temp, and should I be using a low temp one?

Any info will be appreciated, thanks!

 

Would I have to take apart and restring my doll to hot glue suede him? I have a MNF and his posing abilities are bleagh! Some joints are way to tight and some are pretty loose.

 

No, not at all. It's that simple. Just pull the joints apart, and glue.In fact it's so quick and easy that you wonder why you got all worried about doing it in the first place.

 

i have a hot glue gun that only says 120V 10W on the side. Is this a low temp gun?

 

I used this method on my TF because her arms would only stay in either the locked position or folded over her waist at a 45 degree angle. My girl's arms can now position wonderfully! This really works.

 

Just used this method to suede my bobobie Sprite! She stands better now, though she's still kicky. Definitely needs restringing, but it'll for sure do for now.

 

beccory- did it fix the bellypop?

 

Jumping into the discussion.

I learned how to restring yesterday. That went surprisingly easily. Progressed to wiring the arms. Today I plunged and decided to try the hotglue sueding.

I knew that this worked from others who attested to success with this method. But, still...deep breath time....

I didn't want to burn fingers, so I started off using a plastic spoon to smooth the glue. Meh...ok. Then I got a bowl of ice water, wet my second finger, applied hot glue to the inner jointing...waiting about 4-5 seconds for the glue to cool, and then ran my finger over it to smooth it nicely.

I did all the jointing.

Then I did a bit of seam sanding.

Then I dressed him up. He is a Dollshe, and while the Flippy flop upper torso I initially found endearing and cuddly, it wasn't working for his new attire.

He holds poses, now amazingly well. No more springy arms, no more snappy torso, and he can even stand on carpet.

When I went to dress him, though? Oh my. He almost felt human. It was eerily uncanny how the arms reached out to go through sleeves.

Thanks for the help everyone, the support, and just plain listening

The ice trick stops burned fingers.

Good luck everyone.

-Seeker

 

Sorry if I missed it, but I can't find if anyone has addressed the issue of low-temp glue guns. As in, does it just say "low temperature" on the package, or is there a range of degrees that constitutes low temp?

I'm at work right now, so I don't have access to my own glue gun (a cheapo I bought at a dollar store), but it'd be useful to know what to look for when I get home. Again, sorry if this has already been answered.

 

No problem, the thread's gotten large enough that it's hard to find things now

Here's a low-temp one from Dick Blick [I own this and have used it on more than a dozen dolls without a problem] which notes this about temperature: This glue gun heats to 150° cooler than regular glue guns (230°F), so it won't burn your skin. ...You can use this glue gun for projects that won't be exposed to temperatures over 130°F. ... 120V. 60 Hz. UL listed.

 

For those worried about hot glue getting soft in heat or anything it WON'T. I use hot glue on certain parts on my costumes and it does NOT go soft or anything in heat.