Setting Eyes: tips on removing and replacing eyes

I still want the eyes, so I was hoping I could send them back for the 16. I think then the iris will be a bit smaller which will make fitting easier. If not... I'll sell them and give up.

 

i have never had any problem fitting the Soom eyes the sizes are quite standard.... i think 18mm is way to big for most dolls, except those with very large eye sockets.... also, i never get high domed, or double domed eyes.... they are more difficult to fit as to the height of the iris part.

 

Seconding what most others have stated.
From my experience compared to most glass eyes the Soom silicone eyes are even slightly smaller . Have you actually ever tried measuring the eyes? Are her default glass eyes really 18mm in diameter? I've often had it happen that a company advertises it's doll with a certain eye size, but then sends a completely different one, because it just fits the doll better and they never cared to update the info on the order page .

 

I'm surprised nobody has said anything about your use of sculpey to hold the eyes in

Sculpey has been a problematic eye putty for many people, you should probably use something else Alot of people use the soft silicone earplugs like these.

Though, now that I think of it.. I don't know how well the ear plugs would cooperate with Soom eyes

 

Is it just me, or do the single dome versions of the same double dome eye look... different? They look darker/duller.... this would be so much easier if they looked the same!!! @.@

I have no idea, maybe AS hasn't updated it. Because these are deff bigger. lol I measured the iris, it wasn't in mm, but just to see. They are. I also just found that the glass eyes are the same as my Ducans 16mm eyes. So... I guess that settles it. :p

The only problem with sculpey, is that it makes my fingers feel sticky-like. That and it sticks like that in her head. But it hasn't been doing any harm. I had to use it cause when I first got her, her eyes weren't put into her head and they didn't give me any clay. ^^;

 

There's also the matter of the fact that the eye wells of some sculpts just don't fit with double domed eyes, or ever high domes. I have a bit of a variety of sculpts and some fit domed eyes better than others. Buying eyes is really a hit or miss adventure...

 

Is the double dome the problem? Cause they look like they would be the same, either way. The extra bump fits through her eye socket, just not the bottom bump.

 

You need a single dome eye, I think. With the double dome eyes you have now your girl looks cross eyed. I've come to find that eyes that are completely centered never really look as good as eyes that people take time to position differently. They just look lifeless and spacey.

 

It really isn't the way I'm setting them that isn't making them fit. I can't move the eyes over any farther, because the whites won't allow me to. I'm not meaning to do it. With the glass ones, I just moved them so that she looked like she was looking at me, I never thought it was that bad... I've seen much worse...

I really don't think the double dome is a problem so much as the width of the first dome. They appear to be the same in that diagram. So I'm not understanding why they would be the issue.

Really? @.@ Then why did someone tell me sculpey was okay.... this whole matter is so confusing...

Can somebody just explain to me why it's the second dome and why I should get double dome eyes? Because from what I'm seeing, it isn't a problem. So I don't understand...

 

Sculpey really destroys acrylic eyes, there are all sorts of threads and pics with it actually melting them and cracking them. It may or may not hurt resin or silicone, but I personally wouldn't chance it when silicone earplugs and white stickytack are mega-cheap and easy to get in any store. I think some companies use sculpey actually, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily a good idea.

I think the dome on double-dome eyes is probably a bit wider than it would be on single dome to accommodate the second level, so that's probably where part of the problem is. I'd try a smaller size and/or a single dome (I like the look of single better, personally, but that's just my preference). Silicone eyes are a little harder to position than harder eyes, in my experience, but I'm sure you can make them work!

 

SOOM recently told me they can swap eyes for a different kind within 30 days of the order. Good luck!

 

Thank you very much, AmyAngel. I don't know where to get silicone earplugs without ordering them. But sticky tack works fine? I just like to avoid ordering things if I can get something else around here.

That's great to hear, Gantaeno!! They haven't answered me yet, but I just saw that their hours are Mon-Fri. So tonight, probably...

 

I personally use white stickytack like you'd use to hold posters on the wall. It's all I use, and I've had no problems with it at all. Lots of people prefer the earplugs, but I have texture issues and can't stand the consistency of them and the residue they leave. They're easy to find in any drugstore or store with a health/beauty section though! There'll be a section with various earplugs, you want the clear silicone ones (Macks are good, I hear).

 

I had a similar problem with the double dome ones because I usually like my boy to look to the side. The size isn't super off from some glass ones i have, but they do take a lot of cursing to get to set just right depending on what you use to set them ><

 

Just bend them in to place, Soom eye are so flexable, you can bend and push into shape, jsut dont cut them!

 

I have a very small doll and i'm having the hardest time putting here eyes in it's like the eye putty will not stick to her head but it will stick to the eye. The eyes are hers they came with her when i bought her but OMG for the life of me i cant get her eyes to stay in. Please help what can i do?

 

What are you using for putty? It sounds like you might need just a stronger or more putty. I tend to use 2x as much volume of putty than the eyes take up. I also had the putty that came with my Fairyland girl eventually dry out and crumble, but I've never had that problem with Blu-Tac.

 

Blu-Tac is your friend, seriously, it's amazing. Though I use the white kind, I think it's by the same company. I can't confirm whether or not the blue coloured one will stain the headcap of your doll or not.

Good luck!

 

I can vouch for the eye-watering sky-blue Blu-Tac having never stained either of mine. It does, however, leave pieces behind some days, I've always been able to rub them off and nothing has ever been left behind after having a face-up wiped.

 

Have you ever tried just covering the back of the eyes in putty and pushing them in, then spreading out the putty to touch along the resin? Putty is your friend. There is never too much if it's making the eyes stay in

I don't like Blue-Tac, but that's only my personal taste. It was irritating to get off, plus I am worried over it staining somehow, lol. Silicone ear plugs work nicely, too, if you're not a fan of the tac!

 

Maybe you could try with other thing, or more putty,or just being exesively careful when you try to put the doll's eyes in.. I'm sorry that I can't really help you... Good Luck with that

 

Yes i do have the putty that came with her she is less then two months old so the putty should still be good right.? I will try and add more putty to the eyes. Hopefully it will work it just seams that the putty wont stick to the head cap it self. But i will let you know what happens i'm going to do it know.

 

i use poster tack for my eyes. Same as the 'blu-tac', but mine is a cheap yellow tack that I picked up at HobbyLobby. I actually might need a new pack soon, as It takes almost half a stick for one pair of eyes. I use a lot because I use it to aim and hold the eyes in place.

 

it really depends on what company you got your doll from, but I believe MOST companies send the dolls with what is essentially sculpey.
DOD is the except i'm thinking of where they just send their dolls with some kind of green something that smells strongly of oil (though I had a friend with a petcha that is a shelf doll she never touches. She's never changed the putty and everything about the doll seems fine)

I use just plain generic white poster tack from wherever I can get it (usually the end caps of hobby lobby. I just get the cheapo generic brand)
I also use kneaded erasers, which you can find by the pencils in any craft store. Those are grey (or sometimes mint colored??) however.

Both work fine for me with no problems. Warming them up by playing with them for a little bit will help it adhere to the inside of the head for the initial sticking most of the time

 

I use wax earplugs (the clear ones that mold to your ear to keep water out). There's no risk of staining with them, and it's very easy to work with. Plus, you can find it all over.

With tinies, I start with a small ball under the socket, push the eye in enough to hold it, and then add some more over the top. Then you can position the eyes, and smoosh the wax in more to secure them.

 

I have had this trouble with bigger dolls and for some reason it seems to help when I can use something hard like a wire or chopstick to really mash the putty/poster tac to the resin. I don't know why.

 

I did not know you could use the wax ear plug things. I did add extra putty to the eyes and it worked great but now i have a boy that the eyes were hot glued in and OMG i wanted to cry trying to take them out of the head i was so mad. But i was able to get them out and now have to find something to stick them back in the right way.

 

I have a hard time setting eyes - it's actually my least favorite thing about BJDs - so when it gets too frustrating, I resort to drafting tape (low tack masking tape). Then I come back to it in a few weeks when I'm feeling more patient.

 

Hey, I have a couple Volks dolls that, unfortunately, have their eyes glued in. I used enamel thinner but I seem to being having no luck taking them out. Can anyone help me out? Maybe tell me your methods when taking out hot-glued eyes out?
Thanks,
Kaiti

 

I use a hair-dryer aimed at the inside of the head on a low setting for a minute or so to soften the hot-glue. Then I use a hemostat (or any other type of needle-nosed locking pliers) to grab the glue and peel it out. Usually it will come out in one or two big chunks. Don't use too hot of a setting on the hair-dryer if you've already removed the eyes but still have the glue stuck in there. I learned that the hard way and ended up with shriveled eyelashes!