Before Disassembly
If you are working with a brand new doll, make sure not to remove the hair net that it comes with.
This will make working with the head alot easier. The hair can easily get caught on the cloths velcro strips, so be careful not to get it tangled.
Removing the head
The head is held in place by a piece of string tied around the neck. You can loosen the string by wedging a tweezer between the knot and carfully pushing the tweezer through until the knot becomes loose.
Untying arm cords
You can skip this step if only need to modify the legs.
The arms are held in place by a knot on an elastic cord. Use a pair of flat pliers to grip and pull the string until you can see the knot. Use the same technique with the tweezers and wedge them between the knot until you can unfasten the cord.
Prepping for leg removal
Modifying the legs requires making room in the body cavity so we can get to the legs elastic cords.
Stuffing
We recommend using a bag to store the stuffing while working as it will puff up quite a bit once you remove it from the doll. Remove a enough stuffing until you can easily reach the legs elastic cord.
Socket parts
We'll need longer elastic cords to hold the printed prosthetics to the body. You can cut a new piece of cord or you can use a piece of NinjaFlex.
The new cord length needs to be at least 17.5cm long.
The inner sockets that hold the limbs together can't be removed from the original arms and legs.
Use NinjaFlex or any TPU material to print the socket.stl part. Assemble the cord and inner socket part as shown.
You can actually use brass ferrules to secure the elastic string in place. A number of collectors swear by that, and it's what AG used prior to just knotting them as a cost-cutting measure.
Make sure the knot on the new cord is as close to the end as it can be.
Thread the cord through the inner socket.
If the hole on the socket is tight, use flat pliers to poke through one end of the
socket hole, grab the cord from the other side and pull the cord through the hole.
Align socket
The inner socket inside the body needs to be aligned so the cord can thread through the two holes.
Thread string
Push the cord through the socket and inner socket.
Attach leg
Make a loose knot so it can be pushed down towards the inner socket.
Tie string
Push the knot toward the inner socket and move the limb around until the knot is taut enough to allow the limb's position to stay in place.
If you leave the knots loose the doll won't be able to keep a pose.
Don't re stuff the doll until the knots can completely hold the limbs in a pose. Limbs should be able to hold a pose without flopping over.
Re stuffing
Once the limbs can hold a pose without flopping over, your ready to add the suffing back.
Make sure to evenly add the stuffing by packing it all around the body.
And that's it! You are ready to repackage and gift a uniquine, one of a kind doll!
Page last edited July 09, 2016
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