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Must Have BJD Supplies

Oct 23, 2015

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    1. I didn't see a thread on this topic, so I'm starting one. Feel free to let me know if it's a duplicate.

      What are your must have supplies/tools for maintaining your dolls? Do you prefer a certain company's version of a tool? If so, why? Are there any tools you've found to be more helpful or useless than you thought when buying?

      Share away!
       
      #1 SamanthaMcKenny, Oct 23, 2015
      Last edited: Oct 23, 2015
    2. I've saved myself many bloodied fingers and blisters by investing in proper stringing tools. Forceps/hemostats and string puller are an absolute must for me before anything else. I suffered too long without them :evil:
      My dolls also never go anywhere without a Mr. Clean Magic eraser.

      A proper wig brush or comb is also extremely handy, they are a lot gentler than a normal hair brush would be so you're not yanking out strands of hair out of your wig.
       
      #2 Arekushia, Oct 23, 2015
    3. Mr. Clean Magic Eraser or kneaded eraser.
      A clean but cheap toothbrush for the wigs (fur wigs).
      Cotton or latex gloves (when doing face-ups; a must for me).
      And, restringing tools. They will help a lot.
       
      #3 angelie23, Oct 23, 2015
      • x 1
    4. ^THIS.

      I remember when I hesitated to buy the string puller, forceps and even the head puller (another must!) because I was like "$10-$15 for that? so expensive! I can manage with sticks and shoe laces" WRONG. :eusa_naug

      They make our lives easier so don't hesitate to add them to your shopping cart. The forceps are so helpful because they keep the string in place and of course the string puller is like the #1 tool we need when we have to restring our dolls. The head puller is an every day use for me, it's my favorite tool.

      Other 'must-have' supplies (for me at least^^) are gloves, eye putty, white boxers (or panties) and socks. My dolls avoided getting nasty stains thanks to the boxers and socks (blue/black jeans and black boots are my nemesis).
       
      #4 yumi~, Oct 23, 2015
      • x 1
    5. Can I ask what a head puller is? I've never heard of those before :0
       
      #5 sheildmaiden, Oct 23, 2015
    6. #6 Arekushia, Oct 23, 2015
    7. I hadn't heard of a head puller either. It certainly would make things easier, but what I do is keep a loop of ribbon attached to the s hooks inside all my dolls' heads. Even with ribbon, sometimes I get pinched fingers trying to turn the s hook, so I might invest in a head puller.
       
      #7 ParlourGoddess, Oct 23, 2015
    8. A length of ribbon's fine for smaller dolls as a head-puller, but for the bigger dolls I use a metal hook I found in my garden LOL - it's from a nursery fireguard - about 6 inches long - I'd struggle without it!

      I hate restringing with a passion, so avoid it if at all possible - I might find it easier with hemostats but I don't have any. The main thing I was surprised to find you can't have too many of is eyes, in all colours and sizes, plus white eye putty rather than the blue stuff. I am always amazed at the difference a simple eye and wig change can do to a doll - it's really like getting a new doll! So I have a stack of wigs in stock too ^_^ I've never really needed anything else regarding maintenance of the dolls, just elastic on the rare occasions I'm forced to restring one - in which case I buy bungee shock cord from ebay as it's quick delivery from local suppliers - thickness varies, and quality varies though - some is more stretchy than others. I don't tend to dress my dolls in dark colours, although I do display them dressed all the time rather than boxed - I wash my hands before handling them so they don't get oil or dirt on them.
       
      #8 elve, Oct 23, 2015
    9. My must haves are: magic sponge for removing stains on my dolls, face masks (always lose them for some reason), wig caps, metal brush for my wigs... and a proper storage place for my doll clothes...for stringing tools, sometimes I just use some clips to pull on the hooks and stuff.. maybe I will try some proper tools someday..
       
      #9 Honeyrainamrita, Oct 23, 2015
    10. Definitely magic eraser! I keep a few pieces in my "doll essentials" bag and make sure to replace it if it starts getting dirty.
      Also a toothbrush, dryer sheet, and VOLKS wig oil spray for wigs. A little hand towel for the dolls to sit on, eye putty, spare elastic, wig cap, a random crochet chain that I use for restringing *really needs to invest in proper stringing tools*
       
      #10 Chibi_Rat, Oct 24, 2015
    11. 1. Eye putty (I prefer white poster-tack from any stationery store)
      2. String (to loop around elastic so it won't disappear up into the body where I'd have to dig it out)
      3. MSC or similar (I prefer MSC still, but the Volks stuff or testors will do in a pinch) --I don't regularly do faceups, but sometimes blush. It's just good to have.
      4. Hemostat (I don't re-string at all, but these are still useful)
      5. Hook thing for stringing (again, don't string, but useful if fiddling around and need to pull elastic)
      6. Art supplies (pastels, brushes, some acrylics--for repairs and minor blushing, some faceups)
      7. Zip-loc bags (for dolls stuff: eyes, outfits, accessories, etc.)
      8. Digital camera (phones are ok, but prefer something a little bit more...)
      9. Photo/file manip/edit program (to edit photos. I have photoshop)
      10. Magic-eraser
       
      #11 april, Oct 24, 2015
      • x 1
    12. For me it's
      - magic eraser
      - eye putty
      - extra elastic string of various size
      - extra hooks of various sizes (you never know when you're gonna have a hand hook that breaks. It's happened to me a a few times)

      Stringing tools are kind of "meh" on the list of priorities for me. They do make things a lot easier, but I've gone the first half of my time in thr hobby with just strings and it was fine.
       
      #12 sahoma, Oct 24, 2015
    13. paint thinner, good brushes and a respirator make me much happier than I'd ever be without them.
       
      #13 Temishi, Oct 24, 2015
    14. Oh, respirator, for those spraying msc/testors/etc. Or sanding. That's necessary.
       
      #14 april, Oct 25, 2015
    15. oh zip lock bags is a great idea for storing clothes april - mine are all in a jumble in a big plastic storage box - and a pain to iron something so small!
       
      #15 elve, Oct 25, 2015
    16. Hemostats will change your life, man! I just use those and some thin, strong cord (I used some I had leftover from a Uni-Frame and it's perfect!) to restring and it's always a breeze! Well... except for those dolls with really wonky channels in the legs. *coughGlorydollcough*

      One other thing I didn't see mentioned is a soft, fluffy brush for getting dust and schmutz off your doll's face! Of course you don't want to wipe them with your finger, and if you blow in their face you risk spitting on them. XD So I use a soft brush that has never been used for anything else, to remove any lint before photographing them. :3
       
      #16 overlordu, Oct 25, 2015
    17. check out this youtube line by tuber Heather's Dream

      She lists tools, etc, very useful.
       
      #17 Devineg, Oct 25, 2015
      • x 2
    18. I always like to keep eye putty, re-stringing tools (for me, just a strong string to pull the elastic with), magic eraser, rubber bands to hold larger wigs in place, and extra s-hooks.
       
      #18 AmberLeigh, Oct 25, 2015
    19. - eye putty
      - replacement strings for when I have to restring (different strengths, from 2mm to 5mm or thicker, depending on the dolls you have)
      - replacement s-hooks
      - superglue (for re-gluing magnets - you need that more often than you'd think)
      - stringing tools (whatever works best for you)
      - wig caps in different sizes (according to your dolls' heads)

      The rest, for me, is optional since I don't take pics or do my own face-ups. It's nice to have a selection of wigs and eyes in different sizes for when a new doll comes in so that it doesn't have to sit around bald and eye-less. Also, a selection of clothes in different sizes for those dolls that don't come as full-sets. That's not an absolute must-have for me, though. I have no problems with leaving a doll in the box until I got eyes, wig and an outfit.
       
      #19 Khell, Oct 26, 2015
      • x 1
    20. Must have essentials-

      Pliers
      Magic Eraser
      eye putty
      elastic
      stringing tools
      S-hooks
      superglue

      Can't even recall how many times a hanger has served for a stringing tool for my soom boys. XD Or superglue has saved me from a fantasy horn disaster when magnets decide to fall out....
       
      #20 P.Tsuki, Oct 26, 2015
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