TPE dolls and glue?

Nackers · Post by **Nackers** » Sat Jan 11, 2020 5:20 am

The nails and eyelashes have come off my WM Doll (the nails particularly didn't even last a week) and I was wanting to replace them. I'm wondering whether there are any gotchas when it comes to gluing on new nails and eyelashes. Is the standard nail glue and eyelash glue you'd use on a human harmful to TPE?

From what I can tell the nail glue is Cyanoacrylate, so basically superglue.

The eyelash glue appears to be a mix of rubber latex, cellulose gum and a bunch of long words that I think translate to preservatives and anti-bacterials.

If I'm going to do damage I'd rather just leave the nails and lashes off.

Arthur1960 · Post by **Arthur1960** » Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:33 am

Hi there, yes the finger nails are attached with superglue so can be reattached with it. In fact I use it for a few other things too when doing repairs with my tpe gals as it will glue tpe however it needs to be used sparingly and with great care as it forms a nasty hard crust if you get any on the surface of the tpe. So I always apply a tiny drop using a cocktail stick and have a piece of tissue at hand to quickly dab any glue that goes where you don't want it. Nails are pretty straight forward, just dab a tiny bit on the inside of the nail and hold on the finger tip for 10 seconds. Just be careful none squirts out the sides as it will be a pain to shift. As for eye lashes, I just use the standard eye lash glue as it's more forgiving if you make a mistake whereas superglue isn't! Again I apply the eye lash glue onto the eye lash with a cocktail stick and carefully reattach. It takes a steady hand and some patience but it's one of those things that becomes easier the more times you do it. Hope that helps.

dbenzguy · Post by **dbenzguy** » Sat Jan 11, 2020 6:40 am

I find that Loctite 401 works best for glueing nails and eyelashes to my dolls.

It only takes a very little bit and like typical "super glue" it likes to stick to you more than anything else

Unlike typical "super glue", it seems to hold up better, even after several showers and such.

I usually barely wet the tip of a toothpick in order to apply.

Nackers · Post by **Nackers** » Sat Jan 11, 2020 9:41 pm

Thanks for the suggestions. Very good to know that neither glue should be a problem and I'll definitely follow the less is more suggestion til I get used to it.

The loctite is cyanoacrylate as well, but maybe it's a slightly different formula. I've found there is a world of difference between different brands of "superglue" so it might be worth a try. Thanks.

Mitchell Hart · Post by **Mitchell Hart** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 11:27 am

Arthur1960 wrote:Hi there, yes the finger nails are attached with superglue so can be reattached with it. In fact I use it for a few other things too when doing repairs with my tpe gals as it will glue tpe however it needs to be used sparingly and with great care as it forms a nasty hard crust if you get any on the surface of the tpe. So I always apply a tiny drop using a cocktail stick and have a piece of tissue at hand to quickly dab any glue that goes where you don't want it. Nails are pretty straight forward, just dab a tiny bit on the inside of the nail and hold on the finger tip for 10 seconds. Just be careful none squirts out the sides as it will be a pain to shift. As for eye lashes, I just use the standard eye lash glue as it's more forgiving if you make a mistake whereas superglue isn't! Again I apply the eye lash glue onto the eye lash with a cocktail stick and carefully reattach. It takes a steady hand and some patience but it's one of those things that becomes easier the more times you do it. Hope that helps.

I need to do this on Jettie's lower eye lash.

Railgun · Post by **Railgun** » Fri Jun 18, 2021 12:28 pm

Is the eyelash adhesive tacky but non-permanent?

I'd like something that sticks, but a weak adhesive that can be removed easily, like a post-it note or blue tack. But also something that's not going to dissolve TPE or leave a nasty residue.

Mitchell Hart · Post by **Mitchell Hart** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 9:43 pm

Railgun wrote:Is the eyelash adhesive tacky but non-permanent?

I'd like something that sticks, but a weak adhesive that can be removed easily, like a post-it note or blue tack. But also something that's not going to dissolve TPE or leave a nasty residue.

I agree, trying to find something to attach none end of lower eyelash myself.

Arthur1960 · Post by **Arthur1960** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:09 pm

Railgun wrote:Is the eyelash adhesive tacky but non-permanent?

I'd like something that sticks, but a weak adhesive that can be removed easily, like a post-it note or blue tack. But also something that's not going to dissolve TPE or leave a nasty residue.

Yes standard eye lash glue is exactly like that. I apply tiny amounts to either the eye lash or more likely to the eye lid using a cocktail stick. I then wait a minute or two before attaching the eye lash one corner at a time, pressing it home onto the lid with another cocktail stick. The eye lash glue will come off easily if you accidentally get some on the face or whatever. Superglue will, of course, stick better and for longer but is less forgiving if you make a mistake.

BigJoeBuck · Post by **BigJoeBuck** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:11 pm

i use standard eyelash glue its a bit of pickle to apply but tooth pics and tweezers help

Mitchell Hart · Post by **Mitchell Hart** » Sat Jun 19, 2021 10:13 pm

dbenzguy wrote:I find that Loctite 401 works best for glueing nails and eyelashes to my dolls.

It only takes a very little bit and like typical "super glue" it likes to stick to you more than anything else

Unlike typical "super glue", it seems to hold up better, even after several showers and such.

I usually barely wet the tip of a toothpick in order to apply.

Ok interesting looking for something to attack lower eyebrow that half loose.

john1972 · Post by **john1972** » Fri Jul 02, 2021 12:38 am

I am glad I found this..
I have a new TPE girl that moved in with me that has
some loose nails and one half of one of her lashes come undone
so I will try it.
I did try some supper glue on a couple nails and did not stick.
I think oils have built up under the nails ..
Not sure how Ill manage to clean that off before trying again.