for the longest time I struggled with this. my old method was to send the wire through the back of the head and out the top between the eyes. This would always come loose.
so this is my .02 on the head and neck union.
I drill and hole from the back of the head all the way through so the bit exits between the eyes(like a normal union). I then drill a hole through the ear location, all the way through the other side. On the bottom side of the head I use a dremel tool and a ball end bit to make a slot.
once the neck is complete, I make a loop at the end of the wire at the end of the neck where it meets the back of the head, and let the wire continue on so it will go through the hole that exits between the eyes. --o========. (that is the best illistration I can come up with.) when the head is ready to be installed I use hot glue to fill the head cavity and heat the end of the neck wire and install. I then take a small peice of wire and run it through the ear hole and through the loop in the neck wire and let the hot glue cool.
this makes a union that will not come loose
Just my .02
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I started using them when they came on the market and had the same problems. I drill similar to what you do. I "fish hook" the wired on top of the skull after compressing the neck by pushing the head down the wire. HOWEVER, after I drill that initial pilot hole, I take a spade bit, the same size as the neck material and drill a hole up into the head about 1 inch. The compressed neck and the recessed hole allows me to bend that head in any position I like after it's mounted without living in mortal fear that the neck junction will separate in some way.
I had the same fish hook idea a while back and tried it but had trouble getting the wire snuged up.
After you make the fish hook do you pull the wire secure on the body side?
I have the neck hotglued and wired into the body already. Then by pushing the artificial head back down on the wire, you can scrunch up the neck to act as a spring and pull the "fish hook back into the head. Then I add a spot of hotglue and mold it with a finger dipped into cold water first.
I will try it, thanks George