Tip for moving new joints

[BtVSFigs Admin]

This is something that I have learned from collecting action figures since I was 5 and having studied the parts closely by taking them apart.

If you feel a stiff joint, what you need to do is, if you don't want to freeze it, is grip the figure from both sides of the joint. Example, if it's a bicep twist, with one hand grip the upper half and with the other hand grip the lower half. Don't just twist. Use your strength and push the 2 pieces together at the seam of the articulation. As you are pushing the pieces together, twist the joint. If its still stuck, push them together even harder. If it still is stiff, push them together as hard as you can and just give it one, really hard twist. The quick jerking will not give the plastic time to gain friction, heat up, and be easier to rip. One quick turn will get the paint unstuck. Whatever you do to try and move it, do it very quickly. Do not do it slowly in an attempt to not break it because you'll actually be doing more damage.

So in short:

grip firmly, push together, twist quickly


Another tip is to try and pry the stuck part apart. Instead of twisting the joint as its intended, GENTLY pry the 2 pieces away from eachother (not enough to break it but enough to gently pull the 2 pieces away from eachother). Do it all the way around and eventually youll find the side with the stuck paint and it may undo. Like bend them away from eachother just a little bit to get a tiny gap in the joint, all the way around.

This has never failed me and I have not had a single broken figure whether it be in the deluxe line or any MAC/Diamond/ToyBiz/any figure

[punkrawkerspike]

Oh my god!! My Faith's tattooed arm was stuck all to hell up at the very top joint near the shoulder, and NOTHING would free it, not even freezing. So I tried this, and it wasn't even a few seconds before the joint actually turned!! THANK YOU! Wow, that was, like, incredible!

[Sanity Fair]

I bought a Graduation Day Buffy and Graduation Day Faith about a month ago but because of all the problems I read that people were having I decided to keep them in the package . . . until today lol.

Both of them had trouble with paint sticking the joints together but using these tips all the stuck joints became movable and I'm really pleased with them. Thanks so much for sharing these tips as Buffy and Faith are the first figures I've decided to open.

[MasterPizza]

The twist is good but sometimes the joint is melt with the plastic or the arm of wrist.

[FM]

That works quite well with some of the joints. Thanks!

[BtVSFigs Admin]

thering said:

The twist is good but sometimes the joint is melt with the plastic or the arm of wrist.

Not to start anything, but as I recall you were the one constantly voicing your opinion against these and how you were not going to buy them...

[MasterPizza]

What kind of answer is that, i was talking about all figures in general, it isn't only about deluxe figures, got it. If you twist the plastic sometimes it's melt and the figure will be destroy by the twist, and this isn't an exclusive thing of deluxe figures by the way, so my advice is be careful about the joints sometimes is better a useless joint than a glued joint.

[magick]

That is outstanding advice - thank you! I'm in the middle of opening my deluxe figures and am encountering a lot of stuck joints, and this is working great! My Waiting in the Wings Wesley basically arrived a big statue, and it's worked on some of his joints as well. He may spend some time in the freezer, though, since he has a few joints that are being very stubborn.
Is it all right to combine the two methods (freezer and grip/push/twist)?

[jmay25]

thering said:

What kind of answer is that, i was talking about all figures in general, it isn't only about deluxe figures, got it. If you twist the plastic sometimes it's melt and the figure will be destroy by the twist, and this isn't an exclusive thing of deluxe figures by the way, so my advice is be careful about the joints sometimes is better a useless joint than a glued joint.

Not to speak for Flobbster but I think he was just saying he was surprised you actually purchased a deluxe figure because you have repeatedly expressed a negative opinion of them on the boards. And your post seems to indicate that you have a deluxe BTVS figure that has melted joints.

So if you don't have a BTVS deluxe figure in your possession dont you think it is unfair to assume any of them have been produced with joints melted together?

[AngelAficionado]

thering said:

What kind of answer is that, i was talking about all figures in general, it isn't only about deluxe figures, got it.

Calm down, man!

I think he may have assumed it was about a Deluxe Fig because you posted it on the DELUXE FIGS SECTION.

...*rolls eyes* some people..

[MasterPizza]

i think the main point of this is, you can give a twist sometimes but others the plastic is already melt so you'll broke your figure. i have that horrible experience with one willow and a figure of sleepy hollow. Be careful.

[Digital Leonardo]

That happends with my Willow from my first Willow/Tara together set... I tried to move her left leg and it broke off... very sad...