Has anyone ever tried to replace or fix the eyes? How would you go about getting to them? Are they glued in or what? One of my Himmies has a loose eyeball. It's not broken just loose. Help? Anyone? I thought I remembered some girls changing Marijuana's eyeballs so maybe it is doable? (is that a word?)
Sue

Oh my goodness, what a dilemma. Sorry I can't help but someone here will be able to. I sure hope you get it fixed.

Thanks, I hope so too. I really don't want to have to send her off to Germany. But if I have to then I guess I have to. I am really hoping someone here has some directions for me.
Sue

Hi Sue,

DebbiefromSanDiego has fixed eyes on her Annika if I recall correctly. I believe you have to remove the wig, remove the head plate and then get in there with the eyes. The tricky part, I imagine, would be adjusting the eyeball without affecting the eyelashes.

Good luck, Sue, with whatever you choose to do!

I think if it were my doll I would send it back to the factory it is not easy to set the eyes and even if you manage to do all the things necessary to get to the eye sockets it is not easy to align them - you really don't want to end up with a cross eyed doll. I am really sorry for you that this has happened but unless you are confident I would leave it to an expert. Deb xx

Hi Sue,

I have done several "eye transplants" on Himstedts. I find it easy to do, but I would not recommend it if you are not comforatble with the idea. And certainly not the first time on a very valuable Himmie.

If all you want to do is secure a loose eye, it's very simple. I can talk you through it, or even do it for you at no cost... just pay for shipping the doll back and forth.
Removing the wig without damge is critical, as well as re-gluing it. You have to use the right glue and be very careful not to have any "seep out". You don't want glue on the dolls face or in the hair.

Send me a PM, and I'll help all I can. I can also send pictures of some of the dolls who's eye's I changed out. And anyone who has one of the older Himmies with the Glastic-Resin eyes that have turned pink... I can help with those, too.

Cheers, Kathy

Here's a picture Of Moana with Divi. Moana's eyes were changed and I think they are spectacular!

I just pm'd you. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

KATHY, I WISH I HAD KNOWN YOU COULD DO THIS, I JUST SOLD MY FREEKE AND BIBI REALLY CHEAP ON EBAY AS I HATED THE FACT THEIR EYES HAD GONE THAT FUNNY COLOUR, YOU HAVE DONE A FABULOUS JOB ON THOSE EYES YOU HAVE CHANGED TOO,
HUGS
RACH

Hi--

Eye changes are fun, and fairly simple to do!

Kathy is right in that you want to be careful with the wig and the eyelashes.

The older Himstedts have a different way of setting the eyes than the newer ones. Still, it is the same basic method.

1. Remove the wig by warming the back of the nape of the neck with a warm washcloth. Work a spoon or butter knife around the edges toward the front.

2. Remove the cotton padding under the wig.

3. Remove the top plate of the head (called a pate). Again, you may need to warm the glue with a damp washcloth first.

4. Inside the head: Use a hair dryer (protect the face!) to warm the existing glue. Press the eye out from the front, leaving the lashes in place.

5. MEASURE the eyeball: the colored part is the size. Use a bending measuring tape, going by mm. US glass eyes are a different size than the German made ones.

6. REPLACE EYES: heat up the existing glue with the hair dryer, place the eyeballs.

7. POSITIONING: have a flashlight handy. Try to position the eyes to reflect the glow of the flashlight in the same place on the pupil.

8. Heat with a hair dryer inbetween to continue to move the eyes. ONce in position, use the cool setting.

9. PUT back the PATE: glue with Tacky Glue.

10. Put the cotton padding on the pate.

11. Replace the wig (Tacky Glue), holding it tightly in position with your hands for several minutes (that cotton will keep popping it back off). Watch the position of the placement of the wig on the forehead for different looks on your doll.

Kathy, I love your Moana. She was always a favorite sculpt for me, but her yellow schlera's made her look like she needed a liver transplant. Your girl is spectacular.
Mo

here are my Nia and Moana with their new eyes: (don't know if it's evident that they're eyes are changed. I got rid of the yellow sclera.)

Changing eyes is easy on the newer dolls and very hard on the older ones. I have changed two of my Bibi's eyes and it was very tough - not for the faint of heart. The reason they are harder is that the vinyl behind the eye is one solid piece. it has to be cut in the back. The only other option is to heat the dolls head and push them through the front, but the vinyl is very hard and this is not easily done. You can do that on the Berenguer dolls where the vinyl is much softer. In the newer dolls, (at least 2003 and up), it is very, very easy. Remove the wig very carefully as described in an earlier post. The eyes are glued in, but if you warm the inside of the head with a hair dryer (don't touch the hair dryer to the vinyl!), you will then easily be able to push the eyes into the head from the front. Be careful not to displace the eyelashes when you do this. If you do displace an eyelash, it can easily be reglued using a toothpick or pin to apply the glue. You can then pop the new eyes in and reglue them. I use Superglue gel glue. Allow two days for the glue to dry before replacing the pate and the wig. It is very, very easy to do as long as you are careful. I would not even hesitate, but I would not try it on a Freeke or Bibi - I would leave those to a professional. Mine eventually came out beautiful, but it was very tough and took me a long time to get it right.

I really think eye placement is an art. How they are focused can give the same doll an entirely different look, from pensive to inquisitive. You can even do flirty eyes (to the side). You may have to experiment by moving each eye slowly and carefully until you get them just right. I always leave a dolls head overnight and look at it several times from several different angles to make sure they are exactly right before I glue them in.

The look eye may be fixed without removing the eye by making sure it is placed right and just regluing it.

Hope this helps!

Claire

OK,now THAT sounds like fun!!!!!All I need is more time....where do the days go??