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Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 4:46 pm
by Anderson'sAllPurpose
Here's something I've been meaning to ask:

My pullip body has squeaky joints - would starch work for that?

Google tells me baby powder or starch can be used for squeaky shoes. I remember using baby powder for the moving parts of a wooden extension table, but I think that contains petroleum products which may be a bad idea around plastic doll parts (possibly around food as well, come to think of it). But starch should be safe, right?

I haven't got any at home so I can't try it right now, but has anyone else heard of it? Would it work?

[ETA: just realized maybe this belongs in Care and maintenance?]

Re: Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:37 pm
by Greyhaunt
I don't know the answer to your questions, but I will toss in that squeaky joints are not a bad thing. It means they are tight and will hold poses! Some of my big obitsu girls squeak everytime I pose them, but I just figure that means they won't fall over on me LOL.

Re: Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Fri Dec 14, 2012 2:37 pm
by Anderson'sAllPurpose
Greyhaunt wrote:I don't know the answer to your questions, but I will toss in that squeaky joints are not a bad thing. It means they are tight and will hold poses! Some of my big obitsu girls squeak everytime I pose them, but I just figure that means they won't fall over on me LOL.


The squeaking doesn't bother me that much, and I definitely prefer it to floppy joints! :) I was mostly thinking it could cause stress on the material, and if you can reduce that it's probably a good thing. It seems to be a common complaint, but I've never seen anyone suggest a solution (apart from "Don't use oil!"), so I was mostly wondering if anyone had tried it at all.

Re: Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:01 am
by MelodyT
I know this is an old post, but may I ask - what's wrong with using oil?

Re: Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 1:18 pm
by K2!
MelodyT wrote:what's wrong with using oil?

Aside from being messy and staining clothes and exterior vinyls, oil can soften or dissolve some plastics.

Re: Starch for squeaky plastic joints?

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 3:16 pm
by MelodyT
Oh dear! :o That's not good. Thanks for telling me :)