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Hands · Articulation · Care
Sex Doll Hands: Articulated Fingers and Care
Sex doll hands come in two types: fixed hands, with fingers cast in a single piece, and articulated hands, which carry a wire or plastic armature inside each finger with two or three bend points per digit. Articulated hands pose a grip; fixed hands survive longer.
Hands are handled most and examined last, and they are the thinnest casting on the figure, so wear appears there first. This guide covers hand types, joint counts, posing, cleaning and knuckle repairs.
1. Silicone Material Introduction
Why Hands Wear Before the Rest of the Body
A finger carries a few millimeters of silicone or TPE around its core; a torso carries a centimeter or more. That gap explains most hand problems: a force harmless against a thigh will crease or split a finger. Fixed hands sidestep it by having no moving core. Articulated hands trade durability for poseability, which pays off only if you pose the figure.
Silicone and TPE in the Hand
Silicone holds finer detail in the nail bed and knuckle crease, resists staining from dark clothing and keeps its surface longer. TPE is softer at the same hardness reading, stretches further before tearing and costs less. Both degrade under heat, solvent and prolonged pressure. For the wider comparison, see our guide to silicone vs tpe sex doll construction.
Attribute
Silicone
TPE
Feel
Firmer, slight drag, warms slowly
Softer, more give, tacky when new
Weight
5 to 15 percent heavier at the same height
Lighter, easier to move and dress
Detail retention
Holds nail beds and creases for years
Softens over 12 to 24 months of handling
Maintenance
Wash, dry, light powder every 3 to 4 weeks
Powder weekly, oil occasionally
Stain resistance
Good, though dark denim can transfer
Lower; dark fabric marks within days
Lifespan
Five to ten years with care
Two to four years in regular use
Price
Included from about 2,000 to 6,000 dollars
Included from 600 to 1,800; fingers add 80 to 200
Most full-size figures are sold in both materials, and a few makers cast silicone hands onto a TPE body as a custom option. Ask early whether the hand is cast with the arm or joined at a wrist seam, because that decides whether a damaged hand can be replaced.
2. Customization Options
Hand configuration is usually chosen at checkout or in a short message to the seller. Three builds cover almost everything on the market.
Hand type
Bend points
Grip
Pose hold
Add-on
Main risk
Fixed sculpted
None; fingers in a relaxed curl
None
Not applicable
Standard
Split at the web
Wire, two-point
Two per finger, two in thumb: ten per hand
Light items to about 200 g
Holds until wire fatigues
80 to 200 dollars
Wire break at the middle knuckle
Multi-joint
Three per finger, three in thumb: fifteen per hand
Better wrap, not a clamp
Better, more natural curl
150 to 350 dollars
More flex cycles per joint
Articulation Depth
Two bend points per finger is the common spec, enough for a relaxed hand or a loose hold. Three points add a knuckle that makes a partial curl look deliberate. Neither version locks, so fingers drift when the arm is raised. Our overview of sex doll skeleton types explains how wrist and elbow ranges limit reach.
Nails, Veins and Surface Paint
Factory nails are airbrushed and sealed, with inset acrylic offered on some premium hands. Veining and freckling are painted by hand, so no two sets match. Choose nail color at order time; repainting is possible, but matching a full set is difficult. Pick skin tone with the body, since a hand cast in another batch can read warmer in daylight.
Wrist Attachment and Replaceability
Hands are either molded into the forearm as one casting or joined at a wrist seam with a socket. The seam version is serviceable; the molded version is not. Ask for hand length in centimeters: a 16 cm hand suits a 150 cm figure, while an 18 cm hand looks oversized on the same body.
3. Buying Guide
Match the Hand to How the Doll Will Be Used
Collectors who dress a figure want articulated fingers, because a hand draped over a chair back or holding a book carries much of the realism in a still image. Buyers who keep one pose and handle the doll mainly for cleaning are better served by fixed hands. A split set, articulated on one side only, is a reasonable middle path.
Numbers to Check Before Ordering
Height band
Typical weight
Hand length
Body joints
Typical price band
Hand options offered
100 to 130 cm
9 to 20 kg
11 to 13 cm
24 to 28
450 to 1,100 dollars, TPE
Fixed as standard
135 to 150 cm
19 to 29 kg
14 to 16 cm
26 to 30
600 to 1,600 TPE; 1,800 and up in silicone
Fixed; wire optional
152 to 165 cm
27 to 40 kg
16 to 18 cm
28 to 34
900 to 2,400 TPE; 2,200 to 4,500 silicone
Wire or multi-joint common
168 to 175 cm
36 to 50 kg
18 to 20 cm
30 to 36
1,200 to 2,800 TPE; 2,800 to 6,000 silicone
Multi-joint on premium builds
Joint counts describe the body skeleton, not the hands. Twenty-eight joints is the common baseline, and 36 adds rotation at the shoulders, hips and spine. Weight rises faster than height, so a 165 cm TPE figure can weigh as much as a 175 cm silicone one.
Six Questions for the Seller
How many bend points per finger, and is the thumb the same?
Is the armature copper wire, steel wire or segmented plastic?
Is the hand cast into the forearm or attached at a wrist seam?
Can a replacement hand be ordered separately, and at what price?
Are the nails airbrushed or inset, and is a touch-up kit included?
What is the hand length in centimeters, wrist to fingertip?
4. Maintenance & Care
The Weekly Routine
Hands collect powder, dust and skin oil faster than any other surface because they are handled constantly. A weekly pass with a dry microfiber cloth keeps the creases from gumming up, and light cornstarch-based powder stops the surface feeling tacky. Work a little powder into each joint with a soft brush.
Cleaning Between the Fingers
Wrap a microfiber cloth around one finger at a time and work from the web outward, using lukewarm water with a single drop of mild, unscented soap. Rinse the cloth rather than the hand so water does not run into the wrist seam or the armature channel. Dry each gap, leave the hand open for an hour, then powder. Our guide to how to clean sex doll surfaces covers the full routine.
Nails, Paint and Powder
Acetone, strong alcohol and oil-based solvents dull the cast and lift paint, so keep them off the hand. Chipped nails can be touched up with thin acrylic model paint and resealed with a flexible topcoat, both usually supplied in a sex doll care kit. Powder sparingly around painted detail, since a heavy layer settles into the cuticle lines and reads gray.
Knuckle Tears and Repairs
Splits start at the crease, usually two to five millimeters long, and widen if the finger keeps bending. Clean the tear, dry it fully, and close it with platinum-cure silicone adhesive on silicone or TPE glue on TPE, holding the shape until the bond sets. If wire is visible, stop bending that finger. Our notes on sex doll repair cover clamping and curing times.
5. Shipping & Privacy Policy
Packaging and Lead Time
Figures ship in plain, unbranded cartons with a neutral sender name and no product description on the label. A 160 cm doll typically arrives in a carton around 160 by 40 by 30 cm and weighs 35 to 45 kg with packing. Production and dispatch usually take 7 to 20 business days, and made-to-order hands add to that window.
Import rules, duty thresholds and restricted goods lists vary by country and change without notice. Everything here about shipping and customs is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current rules with your local customs authority before ordering.
Import Checks and Paperwork
Duty and tax are assessed at the border, not at checkout, and depend on declared value, material and destination. Keep the commercial invoice with the tracking record in case the carrier asks for it. We cannot promise an outcome at any border or guarantee a clearance time.
6. Trust & Guarantee
What the Warranty Usually Covers
A standard warranty runs six to twelve months and covers manufacturing defects such as a seam that fails without use or an armature that arrives loose. It rarely covers a knuckle split caused by posing, and hands are often treated as wear items. Ask for the written terms, and confirm whether hands are excluded.
Inspect the Hands on Arrival
Open the carton within 48 hours and check all ten fingers before discarding the packaging. Look for split webbing, paint rubbed off the nails and any finger that will not hold a position. Photograph anything that looks wrong from two angles and send the images with your order number the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are articulated sex doll hands?
Articulated hands carry a bendable armature, usually copper or steel wire, inside each finger. Most fingers have two bend points and the thumb has two or three, which gives ten to fifteen joints per hand. The armature lets you curl the fingers into a loose grip or open the hand flat for display.
How many joints do articulated fingers usually have?
Count two to three per finger. A standard articulated hand has two bend points in each of the four fingers and two in the thumb, for ten per hand. Premium builds add a third knuckle point, reaching fifteen. Ask for the number rather than assuming, because listings rarely state it.
Are articulated fingers worth the extra cost?
They are worth it if you photograph the figure, dress it, or want a hand resting on a book or a shoulder. The option typically adds 80 to 350 dollars. If the doll stays in one pose and you handle it rarely, fixed sculpted hands last longer and cost nothing extra.
Can articulated hands hold objects?
They can cradle light items up to roughly 200 grams, such as a phone, a glass or a folded cloth. They cannot clamp or carry weight. Never lift the doll by a hand or a finger; support the torso and hips instead. A grip that fights the armature will fatigue the wire quickly.
How easily do finger wires break?
Wire fails from repeated bending in the same spot, not from one bad pose. Expect years of light use and months of daily posing at one knuckle. Plastic segmented armatures resist fatigue but snap cleanly once they go. If a finger suddenly feels loose, stop bending it and check for a break.
How should I clean between the fingers?
Use lukewarm water with a drop of mild, unscented soap and a microfiber cloth wrapped around one finger at a time. Work from the web outward, rinse the cloth rather than the hand, and dry each gap with a dry cloth corner. Leave the hand open to air for an hour before powdering.
Can I repaint or replace the fingernails?
Factory nails are usually airbrushed and sealed. You can touch up chips with acrylic model paint in thin coats and reseal with a flexible topcoat. Inset acrylic nails on some models can be replaced with care. Avoid acetone and alcohol-based removers, which dull the surrounding silicone or TPE.
What causes tears at the knuckles?
Three things: bending a finger past its natural range, making it grip something rigid, and lifting the doll by the hand. Thin casts split at the crease first. Storing the figure with the fingers curled against a hard surface also leaves a permanent crease that can open over time.
Can a damaged hand be repaired or replaced?
Small splits of two to five millimeters can be closed with a platinum-cure silicone adhesive on silicone, or TPE glue on TPE. Larger tears or exposed wire usually mean replacement. Some makers sell hands separately for 80 to 250 dollars; others cast the hand into the forearm, which rules out a simple swap.
Do articulated hands change shipping or storage?
No. The armature adds only a few grams. Store the doll with the fingers open or lightly curled and nothing pressing on the hand, because a wire left bent for months takes a set. Keep the hand away from direct sun and heat, which softens the cast around the wire.
Final Thoughts
Hand type is a small line on an order form and a large part of how a figure reads in a room. Fixed hands suit a doll that stands, sits and gets cleaned on a schedule. Articulated hands earn their price when the doll is dressed or photographed, provided you respect the armature and keep the creases dry.
Whichever you choose, check the fingers when the carton opens and powder the joints before they feel tacky.
Compare Hand Options
Browse figures by hand type, material and height, with articulated fingers listed on each specification sheet.
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If you’re curious about these dolls, there’s never been a better time to check them out. With so many options out there, you’re sure to find a doll that’s perfect for you. Do a little digging, choose a reputable manufacturer, and take good care of your doll. Have fun exploring the diverse offerings of SSBBW sex dolls.
