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UKHello everyone sorry if this has already been covered i wanted opinions on this topic ! :P
i read it's a good idea to trim away the fur (especially in dense thick fur) trim around where the joint are, so that you can get your limbs closer to the body therefor it helps prevent the joints going loose when the fur flattens
I do this with my bears does anyone find it makes any difference or is it a waste of time ???
Interesting question, Pipa. I've never done this before, but today am working on a very thick (wonderful, luxurious) alpaca fur in a long pile length and it occurred to me to do this very thing.
Hope somebody who's done this will reply soon! I'm almost ready to joint!
UKi have a teddy bear book on tips etc and they say it's great to help keep the joints tight, because once the fur flattens it makes them looser apparently 
so when i read it i started doing it on my bears with thick cloth, and it shows you a pic of them snipping down the fur around where the joints will be
gotta be careful not to trim too much off tho dont want it showing once it's jointed or cut the backing, 
I do this on all my bears..otherwise the joints may slacken over time as the pile flattens. Just trim back to the exact size of the disc. I stuff the limbs before I assemble the bear...this way it's easy to see where to trim.
Upstate New YorkI trim pretty close to the fabric in the joint area. Helps prevent exactly what Pipa described (loosening once fur is matted down).
Bears-a-Bruin!I imagine the density of the fur is important when it comes to trimming joints - the more dense the fur, the more necessary it is. When I've used sparse mohair I haven't bothered to trim. And no matter what fur I used I always turn that cotter key until I'm blue in the face!
Matilda Huggington-beareWOW Pipa I posed this very question yesterday to myself. I had been told when I first started making bears that it was a Good idea to trim when necessary. I trimmed the pile of the synthetic I have been working on, but only around the hole. I didnt want to get too carried away. I play too cautiously these days.
Let us know what you did and if you think it made any difference.
I went to a work shop at one time where the artist placed that clear plastic stuff between the fabrics at each limb. It gives a smooth glide to the limb. Has anyone else come across this.?
Bine-TeddiesDo you trim only on the legs or also on the body?
Sabine
UKi trim the arms, the legs and on the body where the limbs will be attatched!
i dont bother doing it on short mohair, but any thick dense fur i trim it down short, just be careful not to get too carried away and dont trim more than the size of your disc! :)
Helena - those cotter keys sure do caue stress on my wrist joint, stuffing & cotter turning is the worst part of bear making lol
I wouldn't bother too much on sparse mohair.. but on the medium and denser piles I always do. As far as 'glide' goes on the joints I do the opposite of making a smoother surface..I put the rough surface of the disc next to the fur. That way it holds the joint firmer...I can't remember who told me to do that but it works for me.
Jenny
DoodlebearsI trim around the joints on all of my bears. I've done this since my very first bear and have never had a loose joint.
Jane
UKJenny i put the rough side of the disc to the fur aswell
I'm glad I'm not the only one...I was told a while ago, (ah I remembered who told me ...it was Bill from BearBits...)that it stops the joint going loose and it made perfect sense!
I'm a joint trimmer too! 
I'm a joint trimmer too!
Hey, that sounds kinda funny, in an illegal-substances kind of way... 
Flying Fur StudiosOnly you Shelli, only you.................. :lol:
Heather
All Bear wrote:I'm a joint trimmer too!
Hey, that sounds kinda funny, in an illegal-substances kind of way...
What can I say????
Kiprie BearsI'm joint trimmer too !
I trim exact size on hard board for arms,legs,body and
even under the heard , I love doing it be cause
joints fit better. ( for mine 
)
Good luck Shelli ! :rose:
Marie
Matilda Huggington-beareWhat happens if the disks you are using dont have a rough side? Matilda
Er...I don't know about those Matilda..I always seem to end up with ones with a rough side...are they hard-board?
Jenny
Probably fiberboard. I've ordered both. I think the hardboard ones look like particleboard and have one rough side. They're brown, where I buy them (Intercal.) And the fiberboard ones look more like smooth, thick cardboard or paper; they're gray.
Am I right????
The gray ones have two smooth sides.
Shelli...I have no idea...the only ones I've ever seen here are the brown hardboard ones which have a rough side and a smooth side...I 've seen card-board looking pinkish ones for miniature bears...but I've never used them..
Posts: 8,574Marilada said:
I went to a work shop at one time where the artist placed that clear plastic stuff between the fabrics at each limb. It gives a smooth glide to the limb. Has anyone else come across this.?
What clear plastic stuff?
I have never heard of it. Is this something special you guys have in Australia?
I am intrigued- need more info Miss Matilda
Matilda Huggington-beare
These are some disks that I have. The dark brown ones I've never used. I only have a few, not enough to joint a bear. I was given them years ago. I think these ones are what you all are talking about. The blonde ones are craft wood. These are the ones that are available in Australia. They're the ones that I use. The little red ones are for the minis. Large hole for bolts and lillte hole for cotter pin. They are wood I think. They are'nt cardboard. The clear plastic is what I was meaning .Persplex.I went to a workshop by 'Mark Rodrigues.He uses these disks between the fur pile at the joints.On the outside that is.
I guess that just about explains it.
Matilda
