Lead, Does it degrade?

[silverandblackattack]

I was wondering if we have any lead experts? Does lead degrade over time. Some of the unpainted lead figures I have picked up on ebay lead me to believe so. Does the lead change color? Does a white powder develop? Does the lead become very stiff and brittle? How much danger is there from lead poisoning? They say that lead exposure can cause lethargy and seeing how long it takes to get mini\'s done I might be getting too much exposure. How do some of you deal with sanding/filing off lead mold lines? Do you use extra precautions? Just wanted to know.???

 

[silverandblackattack]

It does oxidize.

I looked it up on the web and lead does turn dark gray or black with age. It oxidizes as all metals do and it forms a white powder,also it becomes very hard the older it gets. So do not try to bend old lead minis or you\'ll snap them off. I found this out the hard way.:flip:

 

[Beelzebrush]

There was a similar thread to this a while ago. I can\'t remember who started it but I seem to remember that soaking the affected mini in vinegar was suggested.

 

[supervike]

Lead Rot

I think the term I have seen used is lead rot. I saw a few \"funny\" looking spots on some of my older unpainted minis.

I used a toothbrush and some dishsoap and scrubbed the heck out of them, It seemed to help.

It may be a good idea to go ahead and prime your old minis, maybe that would help as well. (I should take that advise too!!)

 

[Chrispy]

See, this is why I prime with Rustoleum regarless of the metal of the mini.. And yeah, Rackham\'s stuff is mostly lead so dispose of any extra sprue and try not to breathe when you\'re sanding. Better yet, use a mask. This is also why those darn Confrontation minis break, but that is another thread..

 

[barkel]

the future is gold!

We should launch a campaign to have minis made from gold. It is, if I\'m not mistaken, the one metal that does not degrade. This is actually where it\'s value comes from. It does not oxidize, rust, tarnish, whatever. So let\'s see if we can get GW to switch to using gold instead of pewter. We already pay enough for it!

barkel

 

[vincegamer]

gold

That may be tradition, but recently the value of gold is based on the peculiar fact that it is an excellent conductor of electricity and a terrible conductor of heat.
That means you can make computer parts out of it and they don\'t overheat quickly while carrying a pretty hefty charge for example.

Okay, totally off topic but there ya go.

My old lead is also darkened (and I learned too that it\'s brittle ). I just scrubbed with soap and primed.
I may try the rustoleum but for now I\'m brushing on primer.

 

[finn17]

Memory gone...

Originally posted by Beelzebrush
There was a similar thread to this a while ago. I can\'t remember who started it but I seem to remember that soaking the affected mini in vinegar was suggested.

I think I started that thread and I even lost track of it just after I posted it so don\'t ask me where it is nowlol

There is definitely a condition variously referred to as \'lead cancer\' and \'lead rot\'. It is truly horrible if it occurs in one of your prize possessions as the lead appears to oxidise in patches and eventually crumble. It should not affect new minis however as they only have a low lead content, however...Rackham models are still made of lead and so may be vulnerable..
I only have anecdotal evidence, but there is a belief that it can spread, so if one model in your box develops the condition it may affect others in close contact to it. Don\'t quote me on that however.

 

[Sand Rat]

My experience that the Lead rot will spread -

 

[-Percival-]

The best ariticle I have ever read on Lead Rot...the cause...and the fix...
http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/lead_01.html


It spreads...not like a cancer...but because the conditions that started the rot in the first place are still present...and leads to other figures becoming suceptable to it. If you smell vinigar around your figures...You probably have lead rot.

 

[Sand Rat]

Damn, thats a good reference piece Percival - gonna have to print it out and add it to my collection.

 

[finn17]

God I just love it when someone does that..

Originally posted by -Percival-
The best ariticle I have ever read on Lead Rot...the cause...and the fix...
http://www.dt.navy.mil/cnsm/lead_01.html

Percival...You are \'The Man\'.
(At least I hope you are?lol)

Brilliant reference!
Thank you very much:bouncy:

 

[Sand Rat]

I dont know how many of you have read the article that Percival posted the link to but it has a couple of interesting points to consider - one of the things that it says can cause lead rot is PVC/white glue and contact with certain types of wood. Might want to think about it next time you are putting together a large base unit -

 

[silverandblackattack]

Excellent article!

That was a great article. It scares me though. I keep my old Grenadier minis in their original cardboard boxes and I store most of my mini\'s in a wooden dresser.

 

[vincegamer]

Originally posted by steelcult
I dont know how many of you have read the article that Percival posted the link to but it has a couple of interesting points to consider - one of the things that it says can cause lead rot is PVC/white glue and contact with certain types of wood. Might want to think about it next time you are putting together a large base unit -

I need to read that article!
I\'ve sometimes used pva glue to fill gouges in a mini.

 

[smokey]

Originally posted by barkel
We already pay enough for it!

barkel

I saw this and had to respond, before I even finished reading the thread. I should\'ve, but hey, whatever. I (in my not-so-humble-or-respected-opinion) think that gold is a terrible idea. Like you said, we already pay enough for Minis, and having to pay the increased international rate for gold would make me have to put away my modeling and painting stuff forever. That\'s bad.

Smokey

 

[-Percival-]

It was also an eye opener for me...also explains why I don\'t see much lead rot...as most of my figures are stored open air...

and yes I am male... with 2 daughters :bouncy:

 

[finn17]

The missing link....

I found the old thread on this subject..

http://www.coolminiornot.com/forums/viewthread.php?tid=1098

The screwball who posted it rather stupidly placed it in the Confrontation forum. OK, it was me.....:duh:

(Sorry Percival, It\'s just that I work in such an avidly PC environment that to assume a name, any name, is a bloke always leads to a huge row and accusations of chauvenism - until something heavy needs moving or a computer stops working then the she-dragons are all sweetness and light)lol

 

[-Percival-]

NP...on the PC...heh...we know how some of them can be

Went and read that thread...and Errex had some interesting points about using Vinegar mix...pretty much supported in the Navy Modeler article...

So...Lead is succeptable to Acid...just like comic books...

1)Store figures in open air...if you have to close air store them...use Acid Free Boxs. You can find these box\'s at Comic book shops.

2)Don\'t display figures in Closed spaces. If you do have to display them in closed spaces, take percautions. Like No Wood display cases. Open the display case twice daily and flush out CO2(Carbon Dioxide).

Those are the major points of the article. Other minor points like watching the substances we paint and work with...


I wonder...if giving the figures an Base/Alkaline Bath would be better for them? Baking Soda anyone?