diff --git a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
index 7365c99f0a..0421ca4747 100644
--- a/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/MetavoxelSystem.cpp
@@ -218,7 +218,6 @@ int MetavoxelClient::parseData(const QByteArray& packet) {
 }
 
 void MetavoxelClient::sendData(const QByteArray& data) {
-    QMutexLocker locker(&_node->getMutex());
     NodeList::getInstance()->writeDatagram(data, _node);
 }
 
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.cpp b/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.cpp
index 87510e9347..832c6b5d39 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.cpp
@@ -151,6 +151,13 @@ QVariant MetavoxelEditor::getValue() const {
     return editor ? editor->metaObject()->userProperty().read(editor) : QVariant();
 }
 
+void MetavoxelEditor::detachValue() {
+    SharedObjectEditor* editor = qobject_cast<SharedObjectEditor*>(_valueArea->widget());
+    if (editor) {
+        editor->detachObject();
+    }
+}
+
 bool MetavoxelEditor::eventFilter(QObject* watched, QEvent* event) {
     // pass along to the active tool
     MetavoxelTool* tool = getActiveTool();
@@ -522,6 +529,7 @@ void InsertSpannerTool::simulate(float deltaTime) {
 }
 
 void InsertSpannerTool::render() {
+    _editor->detachValue();
     Spanner* spanner = static_cast<Spanner*>(_editor->getValue().value<SharedObjectPointer>().data());
     Transformable* transformable = qobject_cast<Transformable*>(spanner);
     if (transformable) {
@@ -532,6 +540,7 @@ void InsertSpannerTool::render() {
         glm::vec3 rayDirection = inverseRotation * Application::getInstance()->getMouseRayDirection();
         float position = _editor->getGridPosition();
         float distance = (position - rayOrigin.z) / rayDirection.z;
+        
         transformable->setTranslation(rotation * glm::vec3(glm::vec2(rayOrigin + rayDirection * distance), position));
     }
     const float SPANNER_ALPHA = 0.25f;
diff --git a/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.h b/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.h
index 1bccfae9f5..5b580129a9 100644
--- a/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.h
+++ b/interface/src/ui/MetavoxelEditor.h
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ public:
     glm::quat getGridRotation() const;
     
     QVariant getValue() const;
+    void detachValue();
     
     virtual bool eventFilter(QObject* watched, QEvent* event);
 
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
index bf2cdd1e96..919bc4cbc8 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.cpp
@@ -355,17 +355,7 @@ Bitstream& Bitstream::operator>>(QObject*& object) {
         object = NULL;
         return *this;
     }
-    object = metaObject->newInstance();
-    for (int i = 0; i < metaObject->propertyCount(); i++) {
-        QMetaProperty property = metaObject->property(i);
-        if (!property.isStored(object)) {
-            continue;
-        }
-        const TypeStreamer* streamer = getTypeStreamers().value(property.userType());
-        if (streamer) {
-            property.write(object, streamer->read(*this));    
-        }
-    }
+    readProperties(object = metaObject->newInstance());
     return *this;
 }
 
@@ -476,13 +466,34 @@ Bitstream& Bitstream::operator>(QScriptString& string) {
 }
 
 Bitstream& Bitstream::operator<(const SharedObjectPointer& object) {
-    return *this << object.data();
+    if (!object) {
+        return *this << (int)0;
+    }
+    return *this << object->getID() << (QObject*)object.data();
 }
 
 Bitstream& Bitstream::operator>(SharedObjectPointer& object) {
-    QObject* rawObject;
-    *this >> rawObject;  
-    object = static_cast<SharedObject*>(rawObject);
+    int id;
+    *this >> id;
+    if (id == 0) {
+        object = SharedObjectPointer();
+        return *this;
+    }
+    QPointer<SharedObject>& pointer = _transientSharedObjects[id];
+    if (pointer) {
+        const QMetaObject* metaObject;
+        _metaObjectStreamer >> metaObject;
+        if (metaObject != pointer->metaObject()) {
+            qWarning() << "Class mismatch: " << pointer->metaObject()->className() << metaObject->className();
+        }
+        readProperties(pointer.data());
+    
+    } else {
+        QObject* rawObject;
+        *this >> rawObject;
+        pointer = static_cast<SharedObject*>(rawObject);
+    }
+    object = static_cast<SharedObject*>(pointer.data());
     return *this;
 }
 
@@ -492,6 +503,20 @@ void Bitstream::clearSharedObject() {
     emit sharedObjectCleared(_sharedObjectStreamer.takePersistentID(object));
 }
 
+void Bitstream::readProperties(QObject* object) {
+    const QMetaObject* metaObject = object->metaObject();
+    for (int i = 0; i < metaObject->propertyCount(); i++) {
+        QMetaProperty property = metaObject->property(i);
+        if (!property.isStored(object)) {
+            continue;
+        }
+        const TypeStreamer* streamer = getTypeStreamers().value(property.userType());
+        if (streamer) {
+            property.write(object, streamer->read(*this));    
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 QHash<QByteArray, const QMetaObject*>& Bitstream::getMetaObjects() {
     static QHash<QByteArray, const QMetaObject*> metaObjects;
     return metaObjects;
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
index 74cb7de073..c06c4c3b5f 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/Bitstream.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 
 #include <QHash>
 #include <QMetaType>
+#include <QPointer>
 #include <QScriptString>
 #include <QSharedPointer>
 #include <QVariant>
@@ -317,6 +318,8 @@ private slots:
     void clearSharedObject();
 
 private:
+    
+    void readProperties(QObject* object);
    
     QDataStream& _underlying;
     quint8 _byte;
@@ -328,6 +331,8 @@ private:
     RepeatedValueStreamer<QScriptString> _scriptStringStreamer;
     RepeatedValueStreamer<SharedObjectPointer> _sharedObjectStreamer;
 
+    QHash<int, QPointer<SharedObject> > _transientSharedObjects;
+
     static QHash<QByteArray, const QMetaObject*>& getMetaObjects();
     static QMultiHash<const QMetaObject*, const QMetaObject*>& getMetaObjectSubClasses();
     static QHash<int, const TypeStreamer*>& getTypeStreamers();
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
index c9ada9f82e..5665e70f91 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.cpp
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ void SpannerVisitor::prepare() {
 }
 
 bool SpannerVisitor::visit(MetavoxelInfo& info) {
-    for (int i = info.inputValues.size() - _spannerInputCount; i < info.inputValues.size(); i++) {
+    for (int i = _inputs.size() - _spannerInputCount; i < _inputs.size(); i++) {
         foreach (const SharedObjectPointer& object, info.inputValues.at(i).getInlineValue<SharedObjectSet>()) {
             Spanner* spanner = static_cast<Spanner*>(object.data());
             if (spanner->testAndSetVisited()) {
@@ -862,9 +862,6 @@ void SpannerRenderer::render(float alpha) {
 }
 
 Transformable::Transformable() : _scale(1.0f) {
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(translationChanged(const glm::vec3&)), SLOT(updateBounds()));
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(rotationChanged(const glm::vec3&)), SLOT(updateBounds()));
-    connect(this, SIGNAL(scaleChanged(float)), SLOT(updateBounds()));
 }
 
 void Transformable::setTranslation(const glm::vec3& translation) {
@@ -885,12 +882,6 @@ void Transformable::setScale(float scale) {
     }
 }
 
-void Transformable::updateBounds() {
-    // temporary fake bounds
-    glm::vec3 scaleVector(_scale, _scale, _scale);
-    setBounds(Box(_translation - scaleVector, _translation + scaleVector));
-}
-
 StaticModel::StaticModel() {
 }
 
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
index 9021213ee7..85bdd54938 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/MetavoxelData.h
@@ -360,10 +360,6 @@ signals:
     void rotationChanged(const glm::vec3& rotation);
     void scaleChanged(float scale);
 
-protected slots:
-
-    virtual void updateBounds();
-
 private:
     
     glm::vec3 _translation;
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
index 2393785702..7e10068afe 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 
 REGISTER_META_OBJECT(SharedObject)
 
-SharedObject::SharedObject() : _referenceCount(0) {
+SharedObject::SharedObject() : _id(++_lastID), _referenceCount(0) {
 }
 
 void SharedObject::incrementReferenceCount() {
@@ -74,6 +74,16 @@ bool SharedObject::equals(const SharedObject* other) const {
     return true;
 }
 
+void SharedObject::dump(QDebug debug) const {
+    debug << this;
+    const QMetaObject* metaObject = this->metaObject();
+    for (int i = 0; i < metaObject->propertyCount(); i++) {
+        debug << metaObject->property(i).name() << metaObject->property(i).read(this);
+    }
+}
+
+int SharedObject::_lastID = 0;
+
 SharedObjectEditor::SharedObjectEditor(const QMetaObject* metaObject, bool nullable, QWidget* parent) : QWidget(parent) {
     QVBoxLayout* layout = new QVBoxLayout();
     layout->setAlignment(Qt::AlignTop);
@@ -110,6 +120,22 @@ void SharedObjectEditor::setObject(const SharedObjectPointer& object) {
     }
 }
 
+void SharedObjectEditor::detachObject() {
+    SharedObject* oldObject = _object.data();
+    if (!_object.detach()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    oldObject->disconnect(this);
+    const QMetaObject* metaObject = _object->metaObject();
+    
+    QFormLayout* form = static_cast<QFormLayout*>(layout()->itemAt(1));
+    for (int i = 0; i < form->rowCount(); i++) {
+        QWidget* widget = form->itemAt(i, QFormLayout::FieldRole)->widget();
+        QMetaProperty property = metaObject->property(widget->property("propertyIndex").toInt());
+        connect(_object.data(), signal(property.notifySignal().methodSignature()), SLOT(updateProperty()));
+    }
+}
+
 const QMetaObject* getOwningAncestor(const QMetaObject* metaObject, int propertyIndex) {
     while (propertyIndex < metaObject->propertyOffset()) {
         metaObject = metaObject->superClass();
@@ -182,7 +208,7 @@ void SharedObjectEditor::propertyChanged() {
         if (widget != sender()) {
             continue;
         }
-        _object.detach();
+        detachObject();
         QObject* object = _object.data();
         QMetaProperty property = object->metaObject()->property(widget->property("propertyIndex").toInt());
         QByteArray valuePropertyName = QItemEditorFactory::defaultFactory()->valuePropertyName(property.userType());
diff --git a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
index 008ea02e4b..94f6c192c5 100644
--- a/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
+++ b/libraries/metavoxels/src/SharedObject.h
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QSet>
 #include <QWidget>
+#include <QtDebug>
 
 class QComboBox;
 
@@ -24,6 +25,8 @@ public:
 
     Q_INVOKABLE SharedObject();
 
+    int getID() { return _id; }
+
     int getReferenceCount() const { return _referenceCount; }
     void incrementReferenceCount();
     void decrementReferenceCount();
@@ -34,6 +37,9 @@ public:
     /// Tests this object for equality with another.    
     virtual bool equals(const SharedObject* other) const;
 
+    // Dumps the contents of this object to the debug output.
+    virtual void dump(QDebug debug = qDebug()) const;
+
 signals:
     
     /// Emitted when the reference count drops to one.
@@ -41,7 +47,10 @@ signals:
 
 private:
     
+    int _id;
     int _referenceCount;
+    
+    static int _lastID;
 };
 
 /// A pointer to a shared object.
@@ -54,7 +63,8 @@ public:
 
     T* data() const { return _data; }
     
-    void detach();
+    /// "Detaches" this object, making a new copy if its reference count is greater than one.
+    bool detach();
 
     void swap(SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>& other) { qSwap(_data, other._data); }
 
@@ -98,11 +108,13 @@ template<class T> inline SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::~SharedObjectPointerTem
     }
 }
 
-template<class T> inline void SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::detach() {
+template<class T> inline bool SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::detach() {
     if (_data && _data->getReferenceCount() > 1) {
         _data->decrementReferenceCount();
         (_data = _data->clone())->incrementReferenceCount();
+        return true;
     }
+    return false;
 }
 
 template<class T> inline void SharedObjectPointerTemplate<T>::reset() {
@@ -160,6 +172,9 @@ public:
 
     const SharedObjectPointer& getObject() const { return _object; }
 
+    /// "Detaches" the object pointer, copying it if anyone else is holding a reference.
+    void detachObject();
+
 public slots:
 
     void setObject(const SharedObjectPointer& object);