How to repair a fallen-off puppet arm

[BobThePizzaBoy]

I was just practicing with one of my puppets when suddenly it's right arm fell off! Does anybody know how to get the arm back into the puppet's foam? It doesn't seem that damaged.

 

[Teenager's]

What's the arm/shoulder made of? Is it also made of foam or is it fabric?

 

[BobThePizzaBoy]

What's the arm/shoulder made of? Is it also made of foam or is it fabric?

It's a puppet from Arms-Length Productions. From what I can tell the arms go into a hole in the foam in the puppet's body. The arm itself is held in by some kind of plastic holding connected to the foam arm.

 

[Teenager's]

Oh ok. The plastic is a doll joint. It comes in three pieces. If you can find all three you'll be good. Or you might have to order more.

But the three pieces are a Part with a stick sticking out, a little circle with a hole in the middle and a larger circle that have teeth to hold the stick in. Do you have all those pieces?......if you do...it'll be easy.-----------if not....also easy....but you'll have to order offline.

 

[wes]

Hobby Lobby has them. Doll joints that is! All else fells sew it back on really good!

 

[Jinx]

When I build puppets like these I reinforce the foam using "plastic canvas". I found some 3" circles at the local JoAnn's store. I glue them to the inside of the body centered where the "stud" of the doll joint will go through the foam. I cut a hole to accommodate the stud, and attach as usual.

The 3" circle disperses the stress on the joint making it less prone to tearing out the foam. So far I have not had a single failure.

 

[Teenager's]

That's a really great technique/idea!

 

[BobThePizzaBoy]

Well, I just tested the puppet after not touching it for a while. The arm seems to stay in while I perform it, albiet it still slowly falls out in the process, but thanks for the advice guys! I'll certainly try that stuff!

 

[staceyrebecca]

Going into any hobby store and asking if they have joints is fun. Just fun.