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I'm not even sure if I'm gonna' get my doll if at all, but I'm fretting over it anyway. I want to fully know what I'm doing when that box shows up on my steps! I want NO HARM TO BEFALL my doll, especially not at my hands, so I want to know everything there is to know about basic care for the little beauty. Answers can be in text or paint picture tutorials or even real photo-tutorials (I would prefer not, but DoA LINKS could most likely be useful)! Anything, please. I'll take the best answers I get and quote them in this first post for reference for any other newbie needing the same help I need.

Q1: How do I assemble/disassemble the body? It's held together by strings/elastic, correct? How do I string my doll as well as disassemble it?

Q2: How do I insert eyes? What do I need? Can I use any substitutes?

Tahiel

To change the eyes you need: Eye putty (non-greasy tack, or the like, it usually comes with the doll to hold the default eyes) and new eyes. You remove the doll's wig, remove the headcap, and remove the eye putty. Then you replace the eyes, secure them with the putty, and put the headcap and wig on again. smile

Q3: What do I do if my doll has a manufacturing defect?

Tahiel

You mail the company with pictures of it, they will instruct you further. (If it's broken they may allow a replacement, for instance).

Q4: Will the official LUTS faceup rub off? What do I use to repair and preserve faceups? To remove a faceup?

Tahiel

Eventually, but trust me, you'd have to touch the face a lot for it to happen quickly. I've had my first doll for a year and it hasn't rubbed off any yet.
To repair: MSC (also to preserve), water pastels, water pencils, nothing oily.
To remove: Alcohol works well for me. Just keep oily stuff away from your doll.

Q5: Sanding - what is it? Why would I sand? What do I use to sand?

Q6a: How does the resin stain/become altered? Sun exposure can yellow it, I've heard, and there are protective coatings against that. What is that coating called? Where do you get it? Are LUTS dolls pre-coated?

Tahiel

It can stain if you use oily substances on it (like oil pastels).
The protective coating is called MSC UV Flat.

When buying MSC; make sure it's FLAT, otherwise you'll get a shiny doll. XD

You get it from hardware shops in some countries, abroad in doll or hobby craft sites.

Yes, all Luts dolls that come with a face up are pre-coated.

Q6b: Can the oils on people's hands also damage/stain resin? What other things can stain the resin? Is it true that wigs can stain the doll? Why?

Tahiel

Yes, dark wigs can stain resin. Why? Because of the tint they use I suppose. It goes away if you wipe it off with magic sponge.

Q7: How do you attach/put on a wig?

Q8: (Optional) What do I NOT do to/with my potential Dollfie?

Tahiel

Do not:
- Leave it standing unattended for long periods unless you know for sure it stands rock solid (it could fall, someone could bump on it, etc).
- scratch it's face
- get any oily substance near it
- use nailpolish remover

Thank you in advance for your help!~
And thank Tahiel for this really useful guide!!

But DoA can be your friend! razz




Yes, it's held together by elastic. Most dolls come with metal hooks that hold extremities to the elastic (and thus keep the tension). You unhook from the elastic and thus are able to remove the parts. To reassemble, you slip the elastic through the holes of the different parts, and finally hook the metal hook once more to the elastic.
As clear as I can put it without pictures. sweatdrop



To change the eyes you need: Eye putty (non-greasy tack, or the like, it usually comes with the doll to hold the default eyes) and new eyes. You remove the doll's wig, remove the headcap, and remove the eye putty. Then you replace the eyes, secure them with the putty, and put the headcap and wig on again. smile



You mail the company with pictures of it, they will instruct you further. (If it's broken they may allow a replacement, for instance).



Eventually, but trust me, you'd have to touch the face a lot for it to happen quickly. I've had my first doll for a year and it hasn't rubbed off any yet.
To repair: MSC (also to preserve), water pastels, water pencils, nothing oily.
To remove: Alcohol works well for me. Just keep oily stuff away from your doll.



To sand you should use very fine grain sandpaper.
It is not needed, but here are different reasons people sand for:
- modifications to the mold head or body
- to remove seam lines (the lines where the mold joined)



It can stain if you use oily substances on it (like oil pastels).
The protective coating is called MSC UV Flat.

When buying MSC; make sure it's FLAT, otherwise you'll get a shiny doll. XD

You get it from hardware shops in some countries, abroad in doll or hobby craft sites.

Yes, all Luts dolls that come with a face up are pre-coated.



I suppose, but that doesn't mean you have to handle them with gloves. XD

Yes, dark wigs can stain resin. Why? Because of the tint they use I suppose. It goes away if you wipe it off with magic sponge.



You just slide it on! Optional, you may put some velcro, post tac, or something to keep the wig from sliding.



Do not:

- Leave it standing unattended for long periods unless you know for sure it stands rock solid (it could fall, someone could bump on it, etc).
- scratch it's face
- get any oily substance near it
- use nailpolish remover

Thank you, BTW, Tahiel.

I didn't post all your answers because I feel that a. Others need to contribute too and b. Your answer could've been more descriptive/detailed.

...But how do you adjust the tension, then? :0

Any specific placement of the knots?

Is there a method to the madness?