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karensbabies · Veteran Member

Reborning Old Dolls

LovesDolls · Guru

You can use stuffing behind the eyes to use that extra space!

karensbabies · Veteran Member

would the eyes not wobble about with stuffing?

LovesDolls · Guru

I've not done it myself, but that is my understanding.

precious_lullabies · Guru

sculpey is the answer--

make sure your eyes are ones that can be "cooked" which the secrist ones can. if the eye socket is too big, fill it in behind the eye with super sculpey and then cook it (same temp as for the genesis paints) to harden the sculpey - your eyes will stay in place indefinetly, no glue needed.

however doing this, unless your using mohair or human hair eyelashes you'll need to attached these after cooking the sculpey into place. Acrylic eyelashed shrivel in the oven.

I've used this method a number of times myself and its a sure fix.

karensbabies · Veteran Member

great ideas thanks!!! biggrin

sara zata · Guru

In the Berenguer dolls they have the larger eyes with the back in, so does the kit Brian, you can cut a x in the back and put full eyes in or cut the back out as with Porcelain, hold them in position with a little wax and then use roof and gutter sealant to hold them in. If your in a hurry ,you could then put a bit of filling over the sealant, before you weight the head, make sure not to move the eyes. The eyes are in the right position if ,when you look at them the shine from the light is in the same place in both eyes. weirdface

June M from Oz.

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi,
I am just starting on a bought vinyl doll and was just wondering whether you had completed yours yet and how successful was it? I hope you dont mind me asking but I too didnt want to ruin my kit and want to start on a shop bought one. Do you have any tips/ advise for me before I get started.
Thanks
Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

I'm learning a lot. Thanks, Everyone, for the common sense but slightly unconventional ways of affixing the doll eyes.

mkhammy1 · Senior Member

Thanks all for the timely post! I have a Berenguer I am waiting for eyes to arrive. Now I know what to expect and how to fix it! This is such a great forum! Hugs, Melinda

Buffington · Guru

When you go to put new eyes in your reborns be sure to measure the eye from inside corner to outside corner. The eye measurements must be taken in mm's (milimeters) to be correct.
With the Berenguers, you usually have to use the full round eye not the half round. If you use a half round it will be too small for the socket (something like June said).

smiley · Veteran Member

Hi Guys,
Could you tell me which eyes are best to use and where to source them? I have put eyes in my baby but the pupils seem small any ideas? Also my baby will be 20" when completed could you tell me how much weight I need to put in the head as Im not sure?
Looking forward to your advice
Hugs
Cathy

Play Days Dolls · Guru

Cathy, there are all kinds of eyes that people use in their dolls, and they vary in price.

Of course, the eyes with which I am the most familiar are the Secrist eyes. Secrist has some eyes that are actually called "Newborn Brand." They also carry "Real Eyes Brand" doll eyes. These are polymer eyes that are made at the Secrist factory in Michigan. They are oven safe to 270 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can also purchase eyes made of glass. Some of the best eyes are made in Germany and cost many times more than the polymer eyes. Just remember to make sure the eyes that you purchase are oven safe if you are using paints that need to be heat set.