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kbonsall Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

bear_original Question – what kind of joints do you gals prefer?  How about head joints?  I am using cotter pins but after turning them for the joints, my fingers go numb!  AHHH!!!

Laura Lynn Teddy Bear Academy
Nicholasville, KY
Posts: 3,653
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Hi Kim!

I'm supposed to stay off the computer in the afternoons bear_grin so I'll be real quick here...

For my small bears, I like cotterpins.  For my bears 8" and larger I like bolt and locknuts.  I'll often even then use cotterpins in my neck joints so I can pose the head easier... but sometimes I'll use a bolt.  I've started supergluing the bolt and washer to the discs so I can close up the limbs and still use the locknuts. 

For cotterpins, I do find it easier to make a "crown joint" instead of curling it - and I do this with my needlenosed pliers.  Here's a GREAT webpage about teddy bear joints:

http://www.teddybearshug.com/tips_stuffing.html

kbonsall Kim-Bee Bears
Pennsylvania
Posts: 5,645

THANKS!!! bear_laugh:D:D

SueAnn Past Time Bears
Double Oak, Texas
Posts: 21,684

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I use stop-nuts/bolts type joints, mostly.  The ONLY time I don't use them is when I make a wobble head bear.  Then, of course, I will do the cotter pin thingy with the head joint.  For a nut/bolt head joint, I sew all the seams for the head except the neck area, then sew a running stitch around the neck edge.  To make sure the bolt won't turn in the disk of the head, I glue it in with a really STRONG glue and let it dry thoroughly.  Then you can draw the thread up around the bolted disk and you're ready to attach the head to the body!  I have a bolt gluing sessions where I make up a bunch of different sized disks with the bolts . . . then when I make a bear, I already have the head disk ready to go.  I don't do cotter pins because I never could get them tight enough and it was REALLY hard on my arthritic hands.  bear_sad

Laure Fool's Gold Bears
San Luis Obispo, CA
Posts: 351

Laura, thanks for the 'tips' page.  I esp. liked the advice on adding ultrasuede reinforcements to your joints, and their method of ensuring even placement of limbs. bear_original

Delartful Bears Delartful Bears
Australia
Posts: 3,518

I echo what everyone says.  I usually make bears about 6" and unfortunatly the bolts meet in a bear that size. 

I have learnt to get my cotterpins nice and tight. Infact, the man at the bear shop who I sold some bears to, actually thought they were nut and bolt jointed because they were nice and tight - yay!

Danni

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