There’s nothing worse for a bobblehead collector then dealing with a beyond repairable bobblehead. We’ve all had our breaks, cracks, chipped paint etc. But when is really the right time to dump a bobble in the trash can?

There’s many degrees of damage to a bobblehead. The feet can be separated from the base, the ankles or neck can be cracked or the brim of the hat can be chipped, to name a few examples. Those flaws can somewhat be repaired. There’s a few guys over on certain Facebook groups that are masterminds with repairing bobbleheads. I tend to glue and paint some of my broken ones, but here’s when I know to throw in the towel. 

90% of the time there are little (as I call them), “guide rods” that are built into a bobblehead. It’s the beginning stages of creating a bobblehead and then the heavy resin and ceramic material gets molded around the rods. It’s basically a structured support system to align the bobblehead in place. 

So, when the “guide rods” are either cracked or bent, call it a day. More importantly, if the resin/ceramic material is chipped or shredded of the guide poll, pack your bags because it’s a goner. I’m sure there may be some dudes out there that can fit it, but it’s not worth the hassle. It’s also not worth the money you’d spend to get the damaged bobblehead fixed. 

Here’s an example of what I’m referring to as the “guide rod” and a bobble that I came to terms with throwing it away for good. 

The “guide rod” is bent and cracked so not only do you have to repair the rod, but the resin material must be molded back in place. It’s not worth the time or the aggravation. Throw it away and move on to the next one.