Using a Locknut Joint

I recently received a question about how I joint my bears, so I thought I would share this with all of you just in case some of you might find the information useful. Okay, now for the confession. I'm going to just cut and paste a portion of the text from the directions to Sammy's pattern. So here it goes!

I generally chose to use locknuts and bolts to joint my bear’s limbs.  Unlike cotter pins, the limbs will be stuffed after the joint is tightened.  Place a metal washer and then the appropriately sized fiberboard disk onto the end of a bolt.  Insert into the limb, and push the end of the bolt through the joint hole....  Slide the end of the bolt through the corresponding hole in the body.  From the inside of the body, slide a fiberboard disk and then a metal washer onto the bolt and finger tighten the locknut onto the bolt.  With a locknut, the all silver side will be facing away from you and the side of the locknut with a small plastic “donut”in it will be facing towards you.  Note that you will only be able to make a couple of turns on the locknut by hand.  Repeat this procedure for the remaining arms and legs.

After all of the limbs have been loosely attached to the body, tighten each joint using a screwdriver and pliers.  You’ll want each joint to be able to rotate using about the same amount of effort. The joints should be a little difficult to turn, but not so much so that you can’t move them or that you feel like you could rip the mohair.

I wish I had photos to help explain this more clearly, but, alas, that will have to wait for another day.  Also, don't forget to trim any fur that would be caught in the joints over the fiberboard disks.  This is especially important if you are using longer mohair.  Be careful to stay within the width of the disks. I do this for all four limb joints.  However, I don't tend to do this for the head joint because I generally use wobble-joints for the head and the extra fur is helpful in hiding the heads of the cotterpins.

Hope this helps! 

Warmly,

Cheryl