How can I fix this..?

[CeceliaQueeen]

My male doll has got what looks to be some micro-cracks on his neck. Don’t know how he got them, but I’m guessing it’s from either friction or dry skin.

The cracks don’t appear to be deep-
They open up when i tilt the neck to the left, and close up when i tilt it to the right- (making it look almost like he has no neck damage at all.)
Please let me know what is the safest method of repair for this, whether it be tpe paste, 3M tape primer, or heat gun..?
I’ve attached a photo of the damage

[CaptKirk]

Is this a TPE doll? If so, check out: https://youtu.be/aZxzfN4NXH4?si=D-TXXpMsrgPYO8wJ

Done a lot of repair work based on this excellent video.

[CaptKirk]

This one is excellent too for minor repairs like you have there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqaFB9pfMyI&t=8s

BUT - only if that's a TPE doll.

[CeceliaQueeen]

This one is excellent too for minor repairs like you have there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqaFB9pfMyI&t=8s

BUT - only if that's a TPE doll.

Yup its a TPE doll!

[CeceliaQueeen]

This one is excellent too for minor repairs like you have there: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqaFB9pfMyI&t=8s

BUT - only if that's a TPE doll.

Yes! This is a TPE doll, and I have watched these videos! Thanks for the suggestions! I just wanted to make sure that using heat wasn’t too risky as i’m quite afraid it will burn the holes open even bigger if i’m not careful. Perhaps the same with TPE paste or glue I’m guessing?

[CaptKirk]

It definitely will, if you're not careful! I've not had great luck with glue or paste personally. I've made my own paste with 3M94 and TPE but in my experience two things can happen - the solvent in the paste can sometimes actually make the problem WAY worse by eating into the "healthy skin" and creating holes, or it will cover the problem, but you probably won't get it to be as smooth as you hoped. I suggest trying the hot spoon method on that area (coated well with baby oil). But - get yourself some test TPE - like a cheap vagina insert off Amazon and practice on it before you make your valuable doll into your first test dummy. There is really a technique to it. And with a hot spoon you can do a lot of damage to a TPE surface EXTREMELY fast if you don't have a little experience under your belt. Just a suggestion. Bottom line - definitely - that damage can be repaired by you!

With a hot spoon, the technique I use is to tap and drag quickly, as the TPE melts very fast.

[CeceliaQueeen]

I've not had great luck with glue or paste personally. I've made my own paste and two things can happen - the solvent in the paste can sometimes actually make the problem WAY worse by eating into the "healthy skin" and creating holes, or it will cover the problem, but you probably won't get it to be as smooth as you hoped. I'm suggest trying the hot spoon method on that area (coated well with baby oil). But - get yourself some test TPE - like a cheap vagina insert off Amazon and practice on it before you make your valuable doll into your first test dummy. There is really a technique to it. And with a hot spoon you can do a lot of damage to a TPE surface EXTREMELY fast if you don't have a little experience under your belt. Just a suggestion. Bottom line - definitely - that damage can be repaired by you!

With a hot spoon, the technique I use is to tap and drag quickly, as the TPE melts very fast.

Ok, Will take that into consideration! Have you ever used a heat gun for repair? Im wondering if that would be safer and better heat distribution?

[CaptKirk]

Not a hot air gun, but I have a hot air rework station I use now to make my repair work easier: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4GPM66?re ... title&th=1 You really have to monitor surface temperatures and a hot airgun can easily get away from you and likely start to burn the material.

But I still use the spoon method at some point in the repair almost every time. I can't urge you enough to just get a cheap insert or something TPE and try that spoon method out before you either 1. work on your doll, or 2. invest in more expensive repair equipment. I don't think you will find that practice insert a bad investment the first time you make a mistake and realize that could have been your doll's neck you just destroyed. I spent $20 not long agofor this, just for practice before I work on my doll: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2CYYFW5?re ... title&th=1

Even though I've done it before, I like to "warm up" and get the feel and hang of it again right before I do work on my TPE doll, just so I feel more confident.

[CeceliaQueeen]

Not a hot air gun, but I have a hot air rework station I use now to make my repair work easier: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07S4GPM66?re ... title&th=1 You really have to monitor surface temperatures and a hot airgun can easily get away from you and likely start to burn the material.

But I still use the spoon method at some point in the repair almost every time. I can't urge you enough to just get a cheap insert or something TPE and try that spoon method out before you either 1. work on your doll, or 2. invest in more expensive repair equipment. I don't think you will find that practice insert a bad investment the first time you make a mistake and realize that could have been your doll's neck you just destroyed. I spent $20 not long agofor this, just for practice before I work on my doll: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2CYYFW5?re ... title&th=1

Even though I've done it before, I like to "warm up" and get the feel and hang of it again right before I do work on my TPE doll, just so I feel more confident.

Okay thanks! I’ll give it a try, though i am nervouse because I’ve tried repairing tpe dolls before with soldering iron, and it would sometimes burn right through the tpe! But so far it looks like heat and careful technique might be the best option, so thanks!

[CaptKirk]

Practice, practice, practice.... Spoon then sandpaper to texture is my definitely suggestion - others may disagree. May be good to wait a bit and maybe others may respond with their ideas. But that's not even close to major damage in my opinion that requires special skills or equipment to fix to nearly back to new.

[DarkDollFan]

My male doll has got what looks to be some micro-cracks on his neck. Don’t know how he got them, but I’m guessing it’s from either friction or dry skin.

The cracks don’t appear to be deep-
They open up when i tilt the neck to the left, and close up when i tilt it to the right- (making it look almost like he has no neck damage at all.)
Please let me know what is the safest method of repair for this, whether it be tpe paste, 3M tape primer, or heat gun..?
I’ve attached a photo of the damage

Are you using a silicone head with this body by chance?

[Bunnyboybob]

I would take a step back, and certainly practice on some scrap tpe first. If you got a repair piece of the exact same tpe with the doll then use that to practice. Maybe the manufacturer of the doll could send you some on request. Just explain the problem with that photo.
As you say. You can't see it with neck pushed forward so, avoid stressing the area too much for now until you're ready to repair it.
Think of it like a battle scar we humans get, only it needs human help to repair unlike our own skin.
Rushing will get you nowhere but regretting not waiting longer.
I have two WM tpe dolls which have had similar things happen on the neck area. It's gravity from the torso I reckon. Both my dolls are 4 years old. The splitting hasn't got any worse since a year ago. I use neck scarves to cover the damage. Just check on it occasionally. Always relax the neck forward after play.
I suppose a shirt collar or a thin roll neck t-shirt would hide his slight imperfection.
I have a mentality that reminds me things don't look so bad in the morning. For example a scratch on your new car always looks huge when you first find it. Next day it has shrank. Week later you hardly notice it against the rest of the fine paintwork.
Just don't make it worse!