Tutorial: Quick, clean, and easy torso splitting

[meandnooneelse]

WARNING: DO NOT USE THIS METHOD ON THE 30TH/DOLLAR GENERAL STORM SHADOW TORSO

Here is how I split GI Joe torsos quickly and easily. Here are the tools you will need:

1) Bench vise
2) Masking Tape
3) An old sock (preferably clean and without holes)

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut1.jpg



First up, put several layers of masking tape over the teeth on the bench vise. This prevents them from damaging your figure.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut2.jpg



Next prep your figure by removing any web gear, armor, and other accessories. It’s also best to remove the head. In this case, Retaliation Roadblock from the 3 pack will be my victim. (I have previously removed the body paint)

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut3.jpg



Now insert the figure into the sock with his arms down straight by his sides. Only the neck should be sticking out the top and wrap the sock tightly around the figure. The sock not only pads the figure but also keeps the parts contained once they are separated.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut4.jpg



Hold the figure in place and tighten slowly until the vise has a firm grip on him. As you continue slowly tightening, make sure the figure’s shoulders are perpendicular to the vise or you could damage the torso.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut5.jpg



Continue slowly tightening until you see the neck separate. Sometimes it will seem like the figure will be destroyed before this happens but I have never had any problems as long as the figure is squarely perpendicular to the vise.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut6.jpg



Remove your parts from the sock and you will have a nice, cleanly separated torso!

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb305/Darth_Simmons/Tutorial/TorsoTut7.jpg

[CrimsonGuard101]

real men do it by hand with channel locks lol...this is the easiest way to do this...trying an exacto? hope you have good medical insurance hah!

[meandnooneelse]

I find the vise easier. No need to fool with taping sockets to the channel locks and it doesn't take the hand strength of Thor.

[Scotty97]

The right arm's shoulder joint looks like it may have been damaged. Was it, or is it just the camera angle?

[Ford]

The real question is how did you get that paint off the figure?!

[Dropkick]

My RB's shoulder has the same jacked up look. I don't think the vice did anything to it. Thanks for the tutorial, I have never padded my vice with tape...I'll try that next time.

[MrClean]

I've been using the vice method for 2-3 years now and it's the easiest way I've tried. The only figure I remember giving me trouble was the first Gung Ho. The shoulder swivel actually cracked with that one. But that's the only one. The dozens of others i tried all opened up easy.

[Scotty97]

My RB's shoulder has the same jacked up look. I don't think the vice did anything to it. Thanks for the tutorial, I have never padded my vice with tape...I'll try that next time.

Good to know, thanks!

[meandnooneelse]

Yeah, Hasbro made those swivels too large. I sanded them down before I put them on the custom I'm making.

[meandnooneelse]

The real question is how did you get that paint off the figure?! Acetone, my friend. You can get in the automotive section at Wal-Mart. However use it VERY sparingly on hard plastic because it eats it up. Soft plastic (like arms) it won't hurt.

[JediKnutt]

I've been using a vice for a while. Mine has thick rubber padding on it though, which is removable. Definitely the best way I have found. I use Goof Off for removing paint. Also the best I have found. Just don't breathe it, touch it, look at it funny or taunt it.

[Lody]

WTH is a toso???

[meandnooneelse]

WTH is a toso??? OH @#$% I HATE IT WHEN I SCREW UP SPELLING AND/OR GRAMMAR!!!! I need a mod here! Please correct the topic title.

[Darkseid83]

Thank you, the tape idea has helped

[TR1ER]

I just broke my fucking vice with a res duke!!!!!!!!

[nerdsgetchicks]

WTH is a toso???

OH @#$% I HATE IT WHEN I SCREW UP SPELLING AND/OR GRAMMAR!!!! I need a mod here! Please correct the topic title.



More importantly!!! WTH is a Lody?

[PhantomStranger]

Lody is typically a female name that originates from Australia. Other than that I don't know much about the name. The only person I know of that had the name was a WWI German Spy named Carl Hans Lody.

[meandnooneelse]

I just broke my fucking vice with a res duke!!!!!!!! Seriously? I've split one with mine.

[shawnspookcity]

I use vice grips. Works super well.

[fireflyguy]

I just use some pliers.

[thairestauranteur]

Everyone should own a bench vise! It is the handyman's secret weapon!

[meandnooneelse]

I can't imagine splitting these things with pliers or channel locks. The bench vise allows so much control over the speed and amount of pressure I put on the figure.

[RodimusVTS]

Acetone, my friend. You can get in the automotive section at Wal-Mart. However use it VERY sparingly on hard plastic because it eats it up. Soft plastic (like arms) it won't hurt.

You can also get it in the cosmetics section. In fact your wives, and girl friends probably have it on hand in bottles deceptively marked nail polish remover. I've never looked for it in the automotive section, but in the cos. section you can get a big bottle for less than $4. I think it's $2.75 for the big bottle of pure acetone. It is also used for cleaning the syringes for injecting molds when you're molding, and casting.

[meandnooneelse]

You can also get it in the cosmetics section. In fact your wives, and girl friends probably have it on hand in bottles deceptively marked nail polish remover. I've never looked for it in the automotive section, but in the cos. section you can get a big bottle for less than $4. I think it's $2.75 for the big bottle of pure acetone. It is also used for cleaning the syringes for injecting molds when you're molding, and casting.
You don't wanna go that route. See, I tried nail polish remover before straight acetone. All it did was smear the paint. The conditioners in it change the way it acts. (Thanks to Alyosha for teaching me that a long while back)

[Jacklefttown]

Will this vice method work on Modern Star Wars figures?

[meandnooneelse]

Will this vice method work on Modern Star Wars figures?

Certain ones, but only if they have hard plastic torsos. Some Star Wars figures have soft torsos that can be dropped in a mug of boiling water to soften them up and you can just pop the arms right out.

[supermanblue]

Ok so when putting these back together again what type of glue do you use?

[A.V.A.C.]

I use glue from Harbor Freight, you can get 3 gel tubes for $1-$1.50. You can't beat that price. I live in KC too, there are two HF's in town.

[supermanblue]

[QUOTE=A.V.A.C.;3999824]I use glue from Harbor Freight, you can get 3 gel tubes for $1-$1.50. You can't beat that price. I live in KC too, there are two HF's in town.[/QUOTE


Cool thanks, what's the name of the glue? Do you apply it w a q-tip or something. Going to attempt this real soon.

[A.V.A.C.]

They have glue applicators on the tube, similar to a toothpaste tube. There is gel and liquid glue, i like to use the gel. You just need to keep the applicator clean and it likes to run out fast so squeeze gently.

Here's the link for the glue:

Super Glue Gel, 3 Pack (http://www.harborfreight.com/super-glue-gel-3-pack-67190.html)

[supermanblue]

Thanks will try it.

[meandnooneelse]

Do not use this method on the 30th/Renegades/Dollar General Storm Shadow torso. It caused a deformation of the chest piece. I dropped the chest and back pieces into a cup of boiling hot water afterwards which seemed to fix the problem, but it could've easily destroyed the parts.