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Babz1986 May 15, 2013

Hi everyone!

I really need some help and am fed up of searching google!!

I'm sure this type of question has been asked loads of times, but I can't seem to find any answers.

Basically for the past couple of months, I've been experimenting with making bears, just using a simple pattern for A jointed bear.

At first I secured the joints with a dolls needle and thread, but found that the thread became loose quite quickly, no matter how tight I threaded it, pulled it and made sure it was secure. Hence why my first bear has its arms hanging down by the base of its feet lol

I then moved onto the plastic safety joints.. And found that they always seemed too loose. I wanted a nice fixed joint, with very little or hardly any movement.

I researched the different joints available and decided to try the nuts and bolts. And to be honest, I don't think I have the exact strength to make them tight enough in order for them to become un-moveable.

Sooo.. About the 8th bear in, and I've decided to try the safety joints again, and just really am not happy with the looseness of them and the flimsiness.

Please help!!! Where am I going wrong?? Any suggestions on how's best to get joints that don't have much move ability in them?

dangerbears May 15, 2013

What kind of nuts and bolts are you using, and what kind of tools? (I use socket drivers (aka nut drivers) with locknuts and bolts, and it's pretty easy to get them too tight--no movement at all. That's when I loosen them up a bit. )

Becky

Tatty Bears May 16, 2013

Hi,
    How big are your bears?, I have been make bears 18 months now & I have only recently used nuts & bolts, I prefer cotter pins, I've used cotter pins on bears up to 12 inches with no problems, but let me ask you are your bears going to be played with? If so maybe nuts & bolts are the way to go.
Also I glue the washer, disk and bolt together first otherwise you could be turning the nut on the other end until the cows come home 

Love to see you bears