Some ball joints, due to the way they are mounted (I'm not sure how exactly, this is just my guess) cannot be tightened by the normal Future Floor Polish method, or by the nail polish method. I hesitate to use the superglue method because this is a very precious figure to me.

The problem is that after applying Future polish, certain orientations of the joint become tight, but when the limb in question is angled at a certain direction, it becomes as loose as ever. I'm not sure if I can explain it well, but it seems that applying Future makes it tight in only certain angles but not others. I myself do not understand the cause of this. For example, my BW Stampy's beast leg becomes tremendously floppy when pointing down but not when pointing to the sides or upwards.

Please do ask if there's any clarification needed, and thanks!

 

Could be a weight issue. The future/c. nail polish/superglue methods are good for tightening loose balljoints, but they won't help if the parts weigh too much.

 

Thanks. I doubt it's a weight issue because the leg part itself is fairly light, and if it were a weight issue, it would drop when pointed to the side, but it is only loose when pointed downwards.

 

Which figure is it? Can you post a pic?

 

It's a Beast Wars Neo Stampy figure and this is the joint in question.

 

If it's only loose in one area of the leg movement, it sounds like it could be an issue with either the ball itself or the inside of the joint that isn't rounded perfectly. Honestly, your best bet is to do light coats of Future or super glue on the ball itself, let it dry, then test. You may need to lightly (and I mean lightly) sand the ball joint to be more rounded or check the inside of the ball joint that the ball snaps into. It may need sanding somehow or lightly shaved with the tip of a hobby knife to allow the ball to fit better and stay tight at all angles.

In easier terms, the ball may not be perfectly round. Either that or the piece that the ball snaps into may not be perfectly round inside to accept the ball and allow it to stay tight all around during every movement.

Good luck, man--hope you can get it fixed.

 

Thanks. It worked for a while, but his leg got loose again. Luckily it's not so integral a joint. This is the second time this has happened to me in a month. I'm getting rather worried and disappointed.

 

Sorry for the double post, but can a ball joint's plastic get warped by excessive force? I have a feeling mine is.

 

The plastic in the socket can be thin in places, and can be bent. So yes, that is a possibility.

 

...don't have this figure, so excuse my ignorance on this...

Is it possible to extend the depth of the ball joint socket by extending the socket to cover more of the ball throughout more of the articulation - or would this interfere with the transformation in some way?

 

how about you try this, drop the clear polish on the socket instead of the ball.
it should solve your problem permanantly

 

When all else fails, get a long, thin piece of masking tape. Wrap the ball with the tape and shove the socket back on it. That ought to tighten it right up. I use that method for post/hole connections all the time. If it weren't for tape, my Cog wouldn't be able to use his arms. Hell - I even used clear tape to keep Brave Max's door from falling open due to gravity. It works great.

~Z