Replacing joints and pegs in Marvel Legend Figs

[Jaiman]

Hey guys,

One of things I really hate about taking figures apart to sand down the joints is putting them back together - specifically putting the pegs back into the elbows/knees etc. - it really kills my thumbs and burns my fingertips when heating the plastic with a hair-dryer to make it more flexible. Has anyone worked out an easier way of doing this? I always find it a bit of a race against time to fit the pegs back in whilst the plastic is still hot enough to stretch.

Any thoughts would be very much appreciated!

Cheers
Jaiman

[EDarthT]

Nope but if you're really having trouble with burning your hands try some gloves, it may give you a bit less mobility in your hands but it will stop the burning.

[Jaiman]

hahaha good idea although I think that would make it very difficult to get a grip on the edges of the holes to stretch them. I was really referring to another way of keeping the holes open ready to slot the pegs through more easily - a bit like the way a piercer does maybe (?)

[EDarthT]

I tried not to make that post seem sarcastic.....guess I failed, haha.

Anyhoo, I'm guessing you're burning your fingers whilst heating the part?? If so try using pliers or something similar to hold that part whilst heating it. If you're burning your fingers after heating the part I'd say you're probably heating too much, I dunno but I've never had that problem.

Once again. Not meant sarcastically

[Jaiman]

Don't worry dude - it wasn't taken that way at all :0)
Ahh I'm probably just fussing over nothing! Do you not find it tricky to do though? I think maybe my fingers are just too big - i'll just have to get smaller fingers lol!

[EDarthT]

cool

I too have sausage fingers so yeah, i tend to use the pliers if the part is too small to hold without burning them. I do struggle sometimes but if I can get the peg at least halfway I just reheat then carry on. You could also try leaving the peg partially in like instead of just pushing the peg out, pry it out on one side using a screwdriver then bend the actual leg part to pull that off. This can sometime cause a tear though so be careful

[ole jade jaw]

Pull the part from the water and stretch the hole out a bit with an awl or nailset, something tapered. That should lessen the struggle. Once seated, let it cool naturally. It should return to original size.

[Jaiman]

Brilliant! Cheers guys, that's ace!