Lead Adventure Forum

Other Stuff => Workbench => Topic started by: Bosch on July 20, 2021, 10:03:03 AM

Title: Lead disease
Post by: Bosch on July 20, 2021, 10:03:03 AM

I'm slightly disturbed to have found that a figure in a unit that I'm still painting is already showing signs of lead disease. Has anyone come up with a cure/solution for this yet?

Title: Re: Lead disease
Post by: Digits on July 20, 2021, 10:32:21 AM

For a short time, I thought you were referring to the disease most of us wargamers have succumbed to……the steady but insurmountable build up of a lead pile that will never feel the caress of a brush!

However, I assume you are referring to the oxidation often seen on (usually) older minis?

I’m sure there are many solutions that can be suggested up, but I have often found a quick brush with a old firm toothbrush in soapy water has gotten them sufficiently cleaned up to paint.

Title: Re: Lead disease
Post by: Cubs on July 20, 2021, 10:37:36 AM

My recipe is 50% mineral oil, 50% acetone (similar recipes and variations on the theme are also out there and are no doubt equally effective), scrubbed on with an old toothbrush or a soak overnight for extreme cases. This stops it in its tracks and protects against any further lead rot, but obviously can't reverse existing damage. However, this gives the model an oily sheen which makes it difficult for paint to adhere to, so before painting a quick scrub in warm soapy water will help remove the surface oil.

Title: Re: Lead disease
Post by: Bosch on July 20, 2021, 01:50:00 PM

Thanks both. Changing my search to lead rot rather than lead disease has also helped and brought up not only a thread on here

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=1837.0 (https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=1837.0)

but also this

http://www.blmablog.com/2018/11/revisiting-lead-rot.html
 (http://www.blmablog.com/2018/11/revisiting-lead-rot.html)

Having only just (in relative terms) painted this particular figure though, I was hoping that someone would have a miracle cure that saved the paintwork. I'm guessing not....

Title: Re: Lead disease
Post by: Mister Frau Blucher on July 24, 2021, 01:06:12 AM

I had a three page thread on this earlier this year:

https://leadadventureforum.com/index.php?topic=129679.0

 I also did a bunch of posts about it on my blog. The last one dealt with painted figures specifically. I did have some success with what I used.

https://swordsunderdistantsuns.com/2021/03/25/fighting-lead-rot-on-painted-miniatures/

Hope this helps!

Title: Re: Lead disease
Post by: Bosch on July 25, 2021, 10:10:38 PM

Thanks, much appreciated.