Back Repair Seal Up

[Fantastic Plastic]

I had a dolls back joint mess up.
The spring washer disintegrated and the back joint went completely loose.
I was able to break the weld on the nut luckily and I replaced the entire bolt, nut and replaced the the washer with a stainless lock washer and Loctite on the nut.
Hope it holds, seems to be ok.
Didn’t take pictures, but I did photo log the sealing repair of the TPE.
Hope this helps someone out in some way.

1, Clean the TPE with mineral oil and a foam sponge. This gets all the powder and dirt off the most effectively in my experience. Avoid cleaning with any water, it can cause the TPE to bubble.


2, Cleaned area ready for surface reflow. This incision was previously sealed with TPE solvent and left to dry 24 hours. Try to keep the area as level as possible. Also make sure the area is in a completely relaxed state before heating it.


3, Set the reflow tool to the lowest setting on both heat and airflow.


4, Start by slowly heating up the entire work area. Don’t try to seal up the work immediately, get the entire area warmed, it will help smooth out the edges of the flow pool.


5, Gradually get closer while focusing the temperature in the area needing the repair. Pay attention not to over heat and cause a runaway pool flow!


6, Allow it to cool, and while still warm, apply repeated gentle pressure with a towel to break the shine. Sandpaper is used here as well.


7, Repeat until happy with the surface appearance.


8, Clean up the area with oil and foam again.


9, Powder the area.


10, Completed work.

[Phil]

Nice!  You were in a well ventilated space no doubt.  One reason I've been avoiding tpe is this issue, having to learn new techniques dealing with repair.  Looks like you have it down!

Phil

[Fantastic Plastic]

Yes, I guess so, I did it in my bedroom actually.
I didn’t use extreme heat and there was the residual odor of maybe a 3 year old’s birthday cake’s candles been blown out.
Gotta love TPE cause in 5 minutes I test drove her!

[Ray Rentell]

so thats how its done, amazing job.

so many people have posted of disasters of dissolving tpe, looks like you have got the knack 

[Phil]

Yes, I guess so, I did it in my bedroom actually.
I didn’t use extreme heat and there was the residual odor of maybe a 3 year old’s birthday cake’s candles been blown out.
Gotta love TPE cause in 5 minutes I test drove her!

I read about TPE's toxicity when heated. The smell of birthday candles might be laced with laced with stuff you shouldn't be breathing?

Phil

[Z-Dr]

I read about TPE's toxicity when heated. The smell of birthday candles might be laced with stuff you shouldn't be breathing?

I have been dissecting for years and breathing formaldehyde.  I'm still alive and kicking but my lung function is not what it used to be.  I figure I am already half embalmed so the final process (embalming) will probably shorter than normal.

The point I am making is that hazardous fumes like formaldehyde and, yes, TPE vapors, do their damage without us even knowing about it.  So you are right Phil, proper ventilation is necessary for self preservation.  The appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment) such as the proper respirator (filters specific to TPE Fumes/VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)) and good ventilation would be highly recommended.

Z-Dr envisions the ads on TV in the near future "If you or your loved ones died from inhalation of noxious TPE fumes while repairing sex dolls, you are entitlled to compensation..." 

[Fantastic Plastic]

Ok, so just to clear the air, (pun intended) if the job I did caused a hazardous situation, then the out gassing of a TPE doll will kill you just as well.
I do use a carbon filter respirator when doing very large or time consuming jobs like full on vulva reconstruction etc, but really, this was an in and out job.

OK, with that out of the way, Mr. Murphy paid me a visit, of course the other joint of the back, the side to side joint started spitting out fragments of its hardened steel washers as well, so I took some pictures of this little quagmire.
Not the juiciest nightmare I’ve ever encountered, but still not one you would want to eat over the carpet.

So here we go, going to continue on al a Chiltons manual style.

11, Yep, they really welded the nut on this one very well, so I had to drill out the head of the 10mm button head.
Freakin gory mess! This is the job right after I drilled and used a chisel to pop the head off.
Thankfully the head was facing backwards towards the opening.


12, Oh yippie! Just what I wanted to do right after a hard days work!


13, This is the new and old hardware. I went for flange head and flange nut to increase surface area. Also went to a finer pitch thread to allow higher torque.
Below is the old, in the middle is the two stainless washers, I used them over.


14, this is the completed assembly, note the new bolts flange fits perfectly on the frame!
In lieu of a weld I use Loctite retaining compound (green) on the nut.


15, I wrapped the new work in cloth tape to be cool.


OK, that’s all for today until another disaster happens! 

[Phil]

Very good!  I've heard of Locktite red and blue, green is new to me.  Is it between red and blue?

Phil

[Fantastic Plastic]

It’s called retaining compound, it’s for putting things together when you don’t want to ever take it apart.

[Ray Rentell]

At the risk of being that Mr. Murphy......

When you had the joint apart would it not of been wise perhaps to have replaced the other joints spring washer ?

Sincerely hope it never occurs but Murphy's law can be barsteward 

 

[Phil]

It’s called retaining compound, it’s for putting things together when you don’t want to ever take it apart.

At a passing glance, I would've figure that was loctite red which is used for something you don't want to come apart ever. A torch is required to loosen with the red.

So are there two types of Locktite red?

Phil

[Fantastic Plastic]

Yes Ray, of course it would have been the right thing to do, It’s just such a pain to get 10mm bolts out that have been welded in I possibly avoid it subconsciously.
Thankfully the rest of the skeleton is ball joints so hopefully this doesn’t happen again.
I’m just a bit worried about my other ones.
But I’ve got some practice in and know exactly what to do!
 
Yes Phil, red Loctite would also work here as well, but technically green retaining compound is even higher strength.
(I’m a tool and die maker by trade)

So finally, got her all sealed back up now.
Her scar isn’t that bad. Very good for undergoing double back surgery I would say!

16, Ok, had a fan in a window blowing air out while another window was open.
Didn’t make any smoke at all while doing this.


17, Repair worked out very well!
The joints feel like new now!

[Phil]

Gotta be the best ever tpe repair, good on you for the open windows!


Phil

[Fantastic Plastic]

Thanks Phil!
I would have to give some of the credit to the very high quality of the TPE that these Jarliet’s are made from.
It’s about the easiest workability I’ve ever experienced so far.

[Z-Dr]

16, Ok, had a fan in a window blowing air out while another window was open.
Didn’t make any smoke at all while doing this.