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Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Kits from China?

sara zata · Guru

I have reborned 3 Cititoy babies and have sold all three, need to be colour corrected as they are a bit orange. XXXXX June.

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Cititoy dolls are adorable, I'm hunting down one in particular now :) But I'm talking about reborn kits from China, they come in neutral biege color, soft vinyl, phtalates-free, size 20-21". I've been seeing them for a few weeks now, but there aren't many pictures of finished dolls yet, mostly kits for now.

Ah, well, I guess I'll find out what they're like when they arrive :)

Buffington · Guru

Most of the kits out there that come from China are not made "non-toxic", so if you bake them you must use very good ventilation, and not put them in your "food" oven. The only "non-toxic" kits are from Secrist and also the German made kits from DD are non-toxic. No other company in the world is willing to put in black and white that their kits ARE non-toxic. You can ask the kit sellers but they don't know or say they are without being able to prove it or put it in writing. Just sayin...

Just aire on the side of caution hun.

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Thanks, Pat. I don't bake my dolls in my regular food oven, but in a small one for my clay projects. So far, so good, I didn't melt any of my kits (Berenguers, Peterkin, BB kits and a minidoll from Secrist), and didn't smell any unusual fumes...yet :)

Buffington · Guru

Thats kool hun. Long as you are ventilating your room you have your mini oven in. You are probably safe with the clay (sculpy, fimo, etc) as most of them should be made out of the same stuff (but still ventilate). But as far as the non-Secrist or DD German vinyl kits, even if you smell or don't smell fumes, you are not safe as they are most likely toxic. Just be aware hun. And according to Mr Secrist... most vinyl when heated will give off an odor, but he assured me that after over 20 years of making the vinyl dolls/kits in his factory, even they give off fumes but are not toxic. He's had all that checked and investigated many times over all those years. And he said no one hase ever suffered toxic fume effects. I know that kits made in Germany (ie: DD) are also not toxic as they have more stringent codes/rules than we do. Most European countries are extremely strict on that.
HUGS hun

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

A little update on my Chinese kits :)

They arrived today. The vinyl looks very soft and workable, and it smells gorgeous - like baby powder :)
Of course, I don't know if that's a good thing, so I'll keep ventilating my baking room once I start working on the dolls. All in all, very nice looking kits for more than great price.

I'll post some pics as soon as I start working on them :)

Liselle · Guru

Can't wait to see pix, Friki!

And this is why I just use my heat gun. Just seems so much easier.

Friki Fimo · Senior Member

Hi ladies!

So, I've done all the painting on one doll. And I'm more than happy with it :) The colour sticks nicely, and the feel of the vinyl is more natural than the ones I did before - very soft and silky! Also, it still smells gorgeous after numerous baking.

I recognized the doll as a sculpt from one GB firm. The retail price is thrice as expensive :) I guess I was lucky to get it at wholesale price :)

And another thing. I think I finally found the correct thinner for my paints. It is a form of artistic turpentine (made for oil paints) that drys very quickly and the paint doesn't come off except when you rub it gently (I'm talking of course, about the paint before baking). It makes it more easier to hold while still working some parts. Before I had to be extra careful because with the oily thinner the paint could rub off even on the baking surface.

Also, now I can use more thinner and less paint to get the same effect. So happy!

sage brush nursery · Guru

SO GLAD THEY ARE WORKING OUT FOR YOU, I'VE BEEN EYEING UP A COUPLE OF THOSE KITS MYSELF. MAYBE NOW I'LL JUMP IN ...........SAGE

Buffington · Guru

Awesome hun! I'm glad too that it's all coming together for you. :D