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Use this guide to repair a broken off ball joint in a Fashion Doll. The example used in this guide is a 2016 slim box Barbie, but the steps can be applied to other Fashion Dolls such as Monster High, Rainbow High, Disney Princess Dolls, and any other plastic dolls.
If you are a child, please ask a parent for help as this repair involves fire and needles.
The ball joint secures the doll leg to the torso and provides mobility. The joint is one solid piece of plastic with three important areas. First is the solid plastic that is affixed inside the doll. Second are two small pegs, which stick out on each side. Third are balls at the ends of the pegs, which pop into sockets inside the doll's legs. During play or when trying to remove a leg, the plastic pegs can snap, breaking the ball off. This guide walks you through making a "splint" out of a sewing pin and super glue to securely reconnect the broken peg.
In steps 3 and 5 of this guide, you will use a lighter to heat up a metal sewing pin. Please perform these steps away from anything flammable, and avoid touching the hot metal with your bare skin. In steps 4 and 6 you will stick the hot sewing pin into plastic. Please perform these steps in a well ventilated area, as melting plastic can produce fumes. Additionally, the sewing pin is sharp at the end, so handle it carefully even when it's cold.
Caution: this isn't a perfect solution and it may degrade over time. If the ball joint breaks again, a sharp needle will be exposed.
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Determine where your doll is broken: is it at the knee? Hip? Arm?
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If the ball is still inside the leg, remove it with pliers.
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Hold one of the sewing pins with the pliers and heat the sewing pin with a lighter.
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With the hot sewing needle, make a small hole in the center of the broken off ball. Make sure the needle is straight.
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Hold one of the sewing pins with the pliers and heat the sewing pin with a lighter. (This is a repeat of Step 3.)
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With the hot sewing needle, make a small hole in the peg of the hip. Make sure the needle is straight. Leave the pin inside.
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Remove the pin from the broken off ball joint with a pair of pliers.
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Using the pliers, cut the pin in the hip section to the appropriate length to fit into the hole made from Step 6.
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Test the needle length by fitting the ball joint pieces together. The needle should be completely covered.
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Optional: remove any excess burnt plastic from the ball joint.
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Remove the pin from the hip and apply super glue to the end.
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Insert the pin back into the hole.
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Push the ball onto the pin. Press together for 1 minute to set the glue.
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Apply glue around the seam for extra reinforcement.
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Now with the ball joint secured into the pelvis, carefully pop the leg back into the hip.
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The doll's leg should now move as normal!
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To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in order.
To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in order.
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UC Davis, Team 3-1, Andersen Winter 2023 crwdns2935289:0UC Davis, Team 3-1, Andersen Winter 2023crwdne2935289:0
UCD-ANDERSEN-W23S3G1
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