Are you bothered by seams????

even as a new collector seams never bothered me one bit. my Yosd kuuta has some seams that are less obvious than others but he is a doll, that is cast from a mold and therefore he is going to have some marks on him its not like he has a "stem" sticking out from his head where they poured the resin in.
my pukipuki's seams are a little more obvious but they dont really bother me at all.

 

Really? My friend has 12 of them (lucky gal!) and hers are flawless. Maybe she was just lucky, but the ones I've seen have all had very smooth to the touch seams. I was just using them as an example from my personal experience of dolls I'd handled.

I think I don't like seams that stick up because I dress my own dolls, often in antique fabrics and delicate laces (often over a hundred years old and irreplacable,) If those were to snag on an unfinished seamline on my doll, it could cause damages, and that would make me very, very sad.

 

Another factor to consider: Sometimes an LE doll will get more pampered treatments than a standard doll from the same company, so maybe that's why there's some confusion about this. "Company X does sanding for free!" "No they don't, mine has seams!" = They could both be right, if one person is talking about their LE and the other's talking about their Basic edition.

I've handled & seen a Bobobie body next to a Soom body, and yes, even at a glance, there was a world of difference in the level of detail. The Super Gem male body has visible skin-folds on his navel & little puckers around his nipples; and his joints fit together well with many flush edges. The other body lacked both. The Soom body didn't have hideous big seams, either... unsanded, but minimal seams... So if it came down to choosing more nuance vs. more seamless casting, I would personally go for the nuances. Personal preference varies, of course.

And since someone just mentioned someone's Iplehouse Jessica being smooth-- Iplehouse specifically have some kinda magic casting-method that minimizes seams, even on colored resin. I don't know what their secret is, but it's great! I own many unsanded tan dolls from them, and their seams are so smooth & minimal you'd think they'd been sanded. (But again, they are LEs, so perhaps they got more careful attention during casting in the first place.)

 

I don't really understand all the fuss about seam lines. They're an unavoidable side effect of the casting process, and removing them is not only time consuming and possibly hazardous, but creates the possibility of uneven yellowing over time. I can appreciate that some people find seam lines ugly or undesirable, but I don't think it's fair to accuse companies of "price gouging" or "poor finishing" (both quotes from above posts) simply because they don't cater to a certain group of people's aesthetics. If you don't like a doll in its default state, customize it to your liking! That's what the hobby is all about, after all

 

Actually, I totally buy this argument, and I buy it because of something I remember armeleia saying the last time this kerfuffle came up -- it has to do with the sort of mold used. She details it very nicely here. So I wouldn't be so utterly dismissive of the argument so quickly; there's a valid reasoning behind stating that a less-detailed body could conceivably be free of seams BECAUSE it's less detailed.

My Delfs both have seams. My DoC has seams. I don't care. I don't expect companies to go through the rigmarole of sanding for me; if it happens it's nice, but I don't consider it a 'cop-out' if it doesn't happen. They're seams. They're not flaws. They're not signs of poor finishing. They are what they are, and I rather like them.

 

That's exactly the same as it is now, the only difference is which side uses a drop down menu. It's still priced: basic doll at a set price, seam sanding at an extra fee. Someone would have to select "no seam sanding" and a fee would be removed from the price rather than the current "add seam sanding" and a fee is added.

Why do Chinese companies do anything cheaper? Lower cost of living, possibly hiring unskilled labor like others have said, etc...Companies like BBB add extras such a low price, free seam sanding and various colored resins to attract more customers. It's a marketing strategy, and it's one companies like Soom don't need. Free seam sanding has never been standard or even common practice, it only really started with cheaper new companies. I think it's silly to expect established sucessful companies to change their working practices just because some new company is willing to work for an extremely low wage.

 

Seams bother me to an extent, but unless they're really big/sharp ones I can live with them fine. A friend's doll had seams so rough and big that when I grabbed her doll around the waist one of the seams literally cut me.

If one of my dolls had seams like that I would have to sand them, I couldn't live with a doll like that. For one, I'd be worried it'd snag expensive clothing at one point or another and two, I don't want to be put in physical danger when handling my dolls.

 

I'm not sure how having seams should be considered a sign of poor finishing when bjds are supposed to be finished by their owners anyway.

I think part of the reason I feel the way that I do about this kind of discussion, is that customization is a huuuuge part of the hobby, and bjds are supposed to be finished by their owners. That doesn't mean that all owners have to be into customizing (and like it or not, sanding seams really has been considered a form of customization)--that's why faceup artists and modders exist, but it's still going to be important to the hobby and influence how dolls are manufactured and sold. And honestly, I like it this way. I like the fact that I'm not getting finished shelf pieces right out of the box--it's one of the things that make this hobby unique. It's very DIY hands on, and collecting things in general is often not like that. The idea that everything should be finished and perfect right out of the box takes away from that for me. I have nothing against people who are uninterested in customizing--there are other ways to enjoy dolls, but I don't want to see this hobby as a whole move away from what it's been. Every so often topics pop up where people complain about seams, or not having faceups included, or not having dolls strung perfectly out of the box (perfect being in the eye of the beholder anyway) and it makes me cringe a little to be honest.

 

Well, all my dolls have hardly noticeable seams, and they are not bother me at all, all of them are hidden by the clothes. therefore I will remove them, if I really would like to))

 

^This. I think we sometimes forget how low the prices of these dolls really are, all things considering. Try sculpting your own doll: it's hard and takes months, even years. Together with the mold-making, the casting and the material costs of both, I'm surpised these dolls are as cheap as they are. They don't cover the hourly wages of the artists by far. Expecting them to do all the sanding for free is ridiculous to me. This still is a customizing hobby, the artists don't have to do everything themselves.

 

I know some owners will sand them but what is confusing to me is that ....these dolls are expensive and not exactly "pick one from the shelf of a shop doll" so how come these companies send their dolls like this or even charge for sanding ??
What I'm trying to say is that if you are paying that much , don't you want some better finish for the price ?

Well... The first dolls were sold as kits that were totally customizable--all unpainted and in pieces and sanding was just a part of putting your doll together the way you wanted. Now, of course, that is no longer common (although the idea of customizing them is still around and very strong). Many more people buy a completed doll, now. So the idea has changed from people who expected to sand their dolls to people who don't want to customize--they want a finished, completed doll. But some of the early expectations are still around.

Also--seams are part of the process... it is how the doll is made. Better crafting will make the seams less. Sometimes they don't need much sanding, but sometimes they do.

Sometimes, with certain types of resins--liked colored resins that are just coatings and not all through the resin, sanding doesn't look good and sometimes can't be done. Beware of that if you are a person who is very sensitive about seams!

"ARE YOU BOTHERED BY THE SEAMS ????? "

Not really. I understand that it is part of the process of how the doll is made. It is a part of the doll, like seeing joints, I think. HOWEVER--yes, I hope the quality of the casting is what I am paying money for and hope seams are not horribly obvious! With most of my dolls, I haven't sanded and I can barely see the seams and they do not bother me at all.

One or two dolls have bad seams and I try to sand a little to make them less.

But because I do not get too bent out of shape about seams, I haven't paid for company to sand. And I will buy color resins where it is a bad idea to do any sanding and one must live with the seams as they are.

 

I was bothered by seams when I first joined the hobby a few years ago - I'm still pretty much a noob though However, the only reason for this is because my first doll had a few seam lines which didn't bother me until I took him out with other doll people for the first time and someone said to me "urgh! what ugly seam lines! you should get those sanded, DoD suck for seams" so I panicked and thought that seamlines were some kind of social faux pas. It wasn't until much, much later that I realised - I still haven't gotten this doll sanded. I don't especially care to get him sanded. I don't really want to pay more to get him sanded when I already appreciate him with the seams. I actually... don't... care >.>

Since then I've had more than a few dolls come through my posession - some stuck around, some didn't but seamlines haven't played any part in these decisions. I do usually order seam sanding when I order a doll from a company, but purely because I can't sand them (my artistic ability is negative and I would most likely just damage the poor thing) and usually I'll do this in conjunction with body blushing as well - I do like body blushing on my dolls and although I know I can actually just about manage that, I figure if I can pay a bit extra to get the doll pretty much complete then so much the better

I don't think it's fair to just expect companies to sand seams, and I think in a way it's a shame that some do because it instils in people an exaggerated sense of entitlement - this company does and they only charged $100 for a doll, why can't that company when they're charging $1000? In the end, even though I'm not someone who can or will customise my dolls myself, I don't feel that it's fair to expect someone to do something hazardous for free. Even bin men aren't expected to collect a bin with the lid open - it's a hazard to their health. Non-clinical staff are not expected to clean up hazardous waste (i.e. bodily fluids) in hospitals. Why should the doll hobby be any different? Sure if you pay them a bit extra they might be willing to put themselves at risk, but there's absolutely no reason why we should expect them to do it as standard. It's one thing to expect a doll you're paying $400 for to be unbroken, it's another thing to expect it to be perfect. This isn't a perfect hobby, and the flaws in these dolls are what make them so wonderful and unique. Whether it's seams or uneven yellowing from sanding. These quirks are what make them different. Acting like brats expecting a service that you don't want to do yourself but don't want to pay for is... well... very silly :3 It's like expecting them to do face-ups for free because you can't or won't do them yourself. Or how about sending you the whole doll for free if you can't or won't make one yourself? Once you begin expecting outrageous things it's a downward spiral that descends into madness.

I'm not saying we shouldn't object when a seam is so huge it could cut you or if it's in the middle of the doll's face completely ruining the whole point of choosing a specific mould. Nor am I trying to suggest that it's acceptable to send out defective merchandise - we are paying a small fortune for these dolls after all. I'm just saying that we're already pretty spoiled in this hobby as it is, don't let's start demanding more than necessary

 

Ok so some do... some don't... and some are angry
I think everyone of course is entitled to their own opinion.
Some expect sanding. Some don't. But either way, there is no need to be angry, or to try to change someone's mind, OR to even make comments to demean others OR make them sound stupid for having a preference.
I don't have a doll yet. I THINK I might prefer no seams, but I don't know from experience yet.
I would be willing to pay to have a doll sanded, as a noob, BUT would welcome being taught how to do it myself properly, or at least being supervised by someone that knows what they are doing, at least the first time Let's face it, for the money I spent on this doll, I really don't want to mess it up, which is why I ordered her with faceup already done. At least I'll be able to see what she looks like "properly" painted before I venture into learning how to strip her stock faceup and try to make a mess on my own

I just think that there is no need to be angry. It's a a simple question, and everyone has an opinion and their own reasons for preferring things one way or the other. Trying to "convert" other people doesn't work with the majority anyway

Oh. Forgot to ask. Does Iplehouse sand their stuff at all? There was no choice for extra fee for sanding, so maybe they don't do it at all. Just wondering, so I know what to expect

 

I'm not bothered by seams, but, budget and time allowing, I do prefer the resin be seamless.

 

Yes, seams bother me - a lot. My DOD Tender Shall had the most obvious seams I'd ever seen, on her legs and her torso. I had them sanded off. My Souldoll MSD has seams but they're not rigid and his character is a little boy that doesn't need to get naked for photoshoots. I know my incoming Iplehouse real-skin Tedros will have seams and that may become one of the factors that will lead me to re-sell him.

 

No, seamlines don't bother me. I think thats because when I look at a BJD I really focus on its face and then the body as a whole, so to be honest I don't really notice them! Its nice if they come from the company sanded but I don't see them as a fault by any means.

 

I am not kind of bothered by "seams" at all. Since the beginning I take them as something normal, like joints are, in this kind of dolls (Even despite their high prices), always they are not too showy (Dangerous). For me it becomes a problem only when the resin tone shown outside is not the one within (Some tan kinds, for example) and you want to sand. In that case sanding is not an option to solve it unless you may get that same color in a proper material. However, I have sanded one of my BJD only, although many of them arrived with some, because soft or even more visible, but not damaging, "seams" are ok by me. What really bothers me is when a company which sells these dolls does not mention their BJD have, and will arrive with, "seams" or some sanding services at really expensive costs.

 

So that answers my previous question then. Iplehouse dolls do have seams, and they don't offer sanding? At least I never saw that offered anywhere on the site. I'll have my sponges and mask ready and hope I don't damage her!

 

I'd like to add that I have bought three dolls from Dollmore where a sanding service could be "bought" at the same time. I've considered it, as I prefer my dolls without seam lines, but each time I got the doll without the sanding service. It just made more sense to me to use the money for something else, because I have lots of sanding paper and a decent respiratory mask at home. I've also removed seam lines before.
Ironically those three dolls still have their seam lines.

If a company doesn't offer a sanding service (for an extra fee), there are customizers who will sand seam lines. Just like you can send your doll to a customizer for a face-up, you can have seam lines removed by someone else if you can't (or don't want to) do it yourself. Keep in mind that removing seam lines is manual labour and expect to pay for that one way or the other.

 

I really don't like them. I know that Jin is stuck with seams, because I'm not going to try sanding dark tan resin, and they aren't too prominent - but I wish they weren't there. They spoil the smoothness of the side of her neck, in particular. I'm dreading what my Custom House babies might come with, but I guess at least they're sandable.