Tutorial for Inserting Eyes Using Silicone Ear Plugs

What's the best way for putting in flatback acrylic eyes with silicone ear plugs? I have it in my girl's head, but it's so hard to get them even because they're flat and I can't get the putty all the way around without not being able to put the eye in.

 

Kikuka, I use the silicone eye putty with flat backed eyes by making sort of a ball with the putty, inserting the eye and placing it into the head. You may have to re-insert if you have to play around with correct placement. I have no problem using the putty with flat backed eyes.

 

with flat backs i usually place the eye in the socket and then squish a larger disc of putty around the eye. only push down on the edges of the eye if your acrylics are hollow because its a pain getting it out of the crevice.

 

with all eye placements, i usually get something small and lay it on the edges of the eye socket, then push the actual eyeball into it... if problems like, putty-overflow happen, i just take the eye out and mash the putty down. (regarding the flat backed question) as almost all my dolls use/used flat backs

 

Silicone plugs are sooo much better than eye putty!!

I've found that turning the doll upside down helps me with eye placement.

 

I agree wholeheartedly that the silicone ear plugs are a much better alternative than putty, which I've found dries out and gets crumbly much more quickly than the silicone does. Great tutorial!

 

Same way I put my eyes in anyhow. Only I use poster tack, not ear plugs.

 

Most amazing! Thank you for including the tip about how to make them look more natural. I think my first girl has that "wide eye" look, so I am going to readjust her Thanks again!

 

Thanks for the helpful tutorial.

I was using Silicone putty in the beginning and now alternaning between the silicone putty and sticky tac.

Here are my view...
Pros
1) does not stain resin
2) does not stain the eyes.
3) works very well for acrylic eyes

Cons
1) can leave residue after long periods of time on the eyes and resin. have to rub the eyes and resin to remove the residue
2) Might not hold in heavier glass eyes very well. It was hard to move the glass eyes in place and make it stay in place

 

A word of warning - do not use silicone ear plugs on silicone eyes! Quoted from this thread:

 

Thanks Praesagium. Good to know. Now I'm glad I decided to go with solid glass eyes from "Captured in Glass"!
I wouldn't have known about this at all so more knowledge is always useful. Thanks again!

 

No problem - it certainly surprised me when I found out! I was one of the ones who didn't have any adverse effects of using silicone on silicone. They've both had their eyes in for a while, but I haven't seen any sudden changes in them; though like MadameMauMau said, I don't want to risk it nor cause anyone else to risk theirs.

 

Thanks! This is a cool idea. I had misplaced my box of eyes and sticky-tak and was looking for something else to use instead.

Is the silicone okay to use on urethane eyes?

 

I found silicone ear plugs at Boots in the UK . They carry 2 types that are tinted pale pink and pale blue, but when you roll them out it's almost transparent.

I saw clear coloured silicone ear plugs at Shopper's Drug Mart in Toronto, Canada today. They are Life brand, so I presume that they'd be available at all Shopper's stores across Canada!

Yay!

 

Silicone on silicone doesn't work, eh?

...i don't even know if the eyes i have are glass or what.
They just came with my pukipuki is all.

 

I didn't know about the silicone-on-silicone thing! I had a minor heart attack and went and checked the site for what they were made of.

The Eyeco soft glass are made of silicone. If any of you buy your eyes from Safrin Doll, they have a comparison of brands which tells you what they're made of HERE.

Thankfully, I used the acrylics. xD

 

I have a question. Will coloured silicone ear plugs stain resin? I could only find coloured ones in my country:/ But they are almost transparent when you pull them.