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Post by allurose on Sept 24, 2014 8:31:39 GMT -8
Especially for those of you with several porcelain dolls, how do you feel about the different methods of tension for porcelain dolls? Which is better, steel springs or elastic?
When I first heard about porcelain bjds, I was strongly in favor of steel springs, but since then I have handled some dolls sprung with steel that I didn't think posed very well, and some sprung with elastic that pose excellently. I think getting the tension correctly aligned with springs must be very difficult compared to elastic. And perhaps, like resin dolls, the construction and snugness of individual joints plays a big role in holding poses.
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Post by eiko82 on Sept 24, 2014 8:43:43 GMT -8
I had no idea that some porcelain dolls were strung with elastic. I thought they all had metal springs.
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Post by allurose on Sept 24, 2014 10:08:08 GMT -8
eiko, I think it is more common for some Russian artists to string with elastic. I believe Anna Linberger, Sofia Mityaeva, and Maryna Skubenko all use elastic, although I would need Nessa to confirm (it's her dolls I have handled). I think Anna Linberger uses many little elastics, and some artists use a combination from what I have heard!
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Post by lilithskyblue on Sept 24, 2014 12:51:07 GMT -8
Bjtales uses elastic. I use elastic but I very much would like to use springs in the future, I think springs done well is a preferred method, though this is only my opinion. Elastic can work well with small porcelain dolls but I think it gets harder when you try to with larger porcelain dolls.
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Post by bibarina on Sept 25, 2014 6:02:44 GMT -8
My two dolls by SisterFox are strung with elastic and pose beautifully and smoothly- particularly in the hand/arm/head area. They are small dolls- approximately 29cm tall to this may be a factor. I have had 15" resin dolls that are strung with elastic, and they have been very 'kicky'!
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Post by kellys on Sept 26, 2014 16:33:01 GMT -8
Getting tension correct with springs is difficukt. Too loose and the joints are floppy, too tight and the spring can break or the porcelain can break during assembly. My issue with elastic is that it loses its stretch and the doll falls apart after some years- maybe decades but it happens. My mom has dolls from the 60's that she's restrung a few times. I wouldn't be afraid to restring a doll but some people might.
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Post by nenethomas on Sept 26, 2014 17:26:10 GMT -8
EEK! No wonder Marina and other porcelain bjd artists have such strong admonitions about NOT un-stringing (or is that 'un-springing')/disassembling their dolls!
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Post by allurose on Sept 26, 2014 17:40:19 GMT -8
It sounds like it takes a lot of care to get right. Some of the dolls I have handled were just so floppy with their springs! If I had to choose imprecisely tuned springs or elastic I would choose elastic, even if I did have to restring it eventually.
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Post by fitz on Sept 30, 2014 14:23:03 GMT -8
I think also the spring ones get floppy over time, which makes sense since metal will fatigue and lose its temper. I know that my ED has become looser over time. So I think that elastic is more user friendly, since no way am I adjusting those myself.
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Post by belldandy on Sept 30, 2014 14:53:45 GMT -8
springs could be user friendly, if it was designed with that in mind. The way wood land earth studio does their stringing is much more user friendly. porcelain is brittle so whether it is elastic or springs, caution needs to be taken. I guess if the springs were to snap back without any support it could possibly damage the porcelain and in that way elastic would be safer. If you see marmite sue's dolls with the no slit design, they are normally done in elastic, the ones with slits she designs with springs. I think Marmite likes both but she said something on her site that springs can be more precise with posing, however I think if you string elastic individually like springs, it would act the same way. it's all dependent on the tension I believe.
now the question is, which one would last longer over time? unless stainless steel springs are used, springs do rust. and rubber does break down.
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Post by allurose on Sept 30, 2014 18:03:09 GMT -8
Yes, the no slit hip is only possible with elastic as far as I know.
Elastic stringing in my experience with resin BJDs lasts about 1 year before it needs to be tightened a little to achieve the same poses. Then it has settled and lasts for 5-10 years, depending on the type/thickness of the elastic.
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Post by ivdolls on Oct 3, 2014 18:18:30 GMT -8
Personally, i would prefer spring system to elastic, because it should be everlasting ( with a proper care of course ) , but if the doll that i really like has an elastic, well... i will be very careful with her and try not stretch her too much.
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