The basic theory you need to understand is that
you need HEAT to soften the hands
and cold to set them into the new shape.
Same theory for both Regular dolls and Poser Dolls but
a slightly different process.
(to skip to the Poser Doll section click here)
REGULAR DOLLS
supplies:
-
Your Victim/volunteer
-
An x-acto knife (or other preferred method of cutting)
-
Something to shape with - I use a cuticle stick.
Basically you don't want to use your fingers because - IT'S HOT! -
A bowl of cold water - notice the ice
-
AND of course a pan of boiling water.
I use a large shallow pan. Gives me more room to work with.
Step One:
While
your pan of water is coming to a boil you will make your cuts (if
any).
Follow the grooves for separating fingers. It doesn't matter what
side you cut from. Whatever you find easier.
Just be careful to go straight through along the
lines,
so that you don't end up in an odd spot (like the middle of a
finger) on the other side.
Step Two:
Now to
soften the vinyl. Dunk into the boiling water.
Making sure to not let the vinyl rest on the pan itself.
Hands only
need a minute - but if you are also going to bend an elbow - they
need a little longer (the thicker areas need more time for the heat to
soak through).
Step Three:
Take it back
out of the boiling water and use a tool to shape.
(it just came out of boiling water - You DON'T want to touch it with
your fingers!)
If the vinyl
cools and becomes stiff again before you have it in a position you
like... just stick it back in the water.
Step FOUR:
The vinyl
will tend to "relax" into it's original molded shape,
So you want to shape it while it is still soft and then Dunk it in
the cold water to set the new shape.
Here I have gently pushed the
fingers apart and then dunked it in the cold.
Final:
So after a
few sessions for both hands and an elbow here is my new doll.
I curled the center fingers on one hand and spread the fingers on the other as well as Slightly bending the elbow.
I was a little messy with the cutting as you can see in the left pic - I'll need to clean it up with some light sanding.
supplies:
Almost the same as above, changes are shown in Blue
-
Your Victim/volunteer
-
An x-acto knife (or other preferred method of cutting)
-
Something to shape with - I use a cuticle stick.
Basically you don't want to use your fingers because - IT'S HOT!
AND it will leave fingerprints. -
A Heat Gun replaces the pan of boiling water
-
and instead of using a bowl of water I use cold running water at the sink.
Step One:
Make your
cuts (if any). If you are using an x-acto
(like me), this will be a LOT more difficult - push firmly and make
SEVERAL cuts. Time consuming, so be patient.
Follow the grooves for separating fingers. It doesn't matter what
side you cut from. Whatever you find easier.
Just be careful to go straight through along the
lines,
so that you don't end up in an odd spot (like the middle of a
finger) on the other side. Occasionally
I will work down from the tips of the fingers to the base helping to
open the cut a little.
Step Two:
Time to heat up the plastic. I do this at my bathroom or kitchen sink, the heat gun won't damage the counter and the running water is close.
My heat gun has a stand on it so that I can work
"hands free".
Keeping the hand a good distance away from the gun itself.
slowly move the hand around in the line of heat. Do not leave anything directly in the line of heat for too long.
This image below shows the doll too close to the heat.
Things to note:
-
The plastic will get shiny as it softens.
-
If it gets too hot it will "blister".
-
The soft plastic marks EASILY so be careful with your shaping tool.
Here is an image of the "Blistering". (a broken poser body was used for both the too close and this picture - may she rest in pieces)
Step Three:
If you have hands free you can test the softness of the plastic as you work and begin shaping as soon as it is flexible.
Because we are using the heat gun our heat is from a directional area so it is possible to set one portion of the hand and then continue with another later so long as you don't reheat that area.
Step FOUR:
Remember to set the new shape with cold water. Or it will "relax" back to its original form.
I tend to like the running water for this because it is easier for me than dunking
it in a bowl and the water stays colder.
Final:
Don't worry if you melt your first hands -
this is a learning process -
once you've done it once you probably
wont do it again.
Here is our girl with one hand done so you can se it compared to the original shape.
Here are some samples of the completed hands for Poser Dolls that I
have done.
Ignore the fingernails (that's another project) just focus on the
position of the fingers.
I tend to like a soft curve at the tips of the fingers and one or two
fingers separated from the rest. it lends to a much more natural
pose than the original "salute/karate" position.