1. Den of Angels is closing in August 2026. New account registrations are closed. Please see this thread in Den of Angels news for important information: /threads/the-future-of-den-of-angels.893314/
    Dismiss Notice

Maintenance Stringing- too tight or too loose?

Oct 17, 2022

Watch Thread
    1. Hello all-
      Sorry I saw a thread like this existed but it was nearly a decade of inactivity so I hope it's okay to make my own
      Anyways- i got my first doll!!
      A souldoll kid Willow
      Coming out of the box she was very "kicky" and her legs would go up. If i tip her both go to a "sitting" type position.
      I heard being kicky meant theyre too tight so i tried to restring her to make her looser
      A tutorial video said using a single circle of elastic, it should be able to go from neck to knees twice. The company only sent me extra enough to go about mid thigh by that method. I tried anyways and it was really too hard to work with so i put back in the elastic she came with- two seperate loops
      Last night she was able to stand- not great but at least some
      Today she is all over. If i hold her legs she fold in half, her thighs popping out of her hips. And one of her legs will bend back like kneeling
      My friend said that the just folding in half could mean shes actually too loose
      I have no idea whats going on
      Please help :frownyblush::(
       
      #1 Iceymelody, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    2. I feel it's best to go loose and then by clapping where knot can go to test how body is. If it needs to a bit tighter pull elastic and clamp a little farther down. Once you feel you have it, mark it and unstring as you want knot inside chest not head. Lots of videos on YouTube but also plenty of photos on Flickr. If you have no luck let me know and I will do set of photos for you. You need forceps and elastic.
       
      #2 animemom, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 3
    3. I like my dolls pretty tightly strung as most of mine are SD size, yet even then a particularly heavy doll may want to bend at the hips. My quick fix for that issue is thin magic eraser sheets cut in a circle like a kip and placed between the joints. Gives just enough grip!
       
      #3 Valdemagra, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 2
    4. I've read that Souldoll strings their dolls very tightly, so I suspect that's the case. If restringing her didn't help, perhaps consider sueding her joints! Sueding helps a lot with some other kicky dolls.
       
      #4 overlordu, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    5. That's a great idea, thank you so much! I was trying it with the knot in the chest so it wasn't really an option before
       
      #5 Iceymelody, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    6. Is this like sueding them?
       
      #6 Iceymelody, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
    7. @Iceymelody .
      It works better than hot glue sueding, in my opinion. But it's only a quick fix. If you pose your doll a lot, the magic eraser breaks down and needs to be replaced. I have yet to experiment with actual suede in the joints. I'll be restringing some dolls soon. Maybe it's time to try it. Some wire in the channels and through the joints ends kickiness, too.
       
      #7 Valdemagra, Oct 17, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 2
    8. My girl was pretty good out of the box, but I got her string wet and didn't disassemble her to dry so it loosened. This I took as an opportunity to experiment and decided I liked everything just about as tight as I could make it. I've also hot glue sueded her neck and ankles and will probably end up trying more. I haven't tried wiring yet but would like to.
       
      #8 Errantry, Oct 18, 2022
      Tools
      + Quote Reply
      • x 1
Draft saved Draft deleted
Toggle Width
Styler
Styler
Color Options
Color Options