Lead Rot, How I Despise Thee... (Not for the Squeamish)

[Roebeast45]

I picked up a box of unopened Star Frontiers minis today. The packaging was perfect, still in shrinkwrap. But when I pulled back the foam these horrors awaited me:







Now to find a place that accepts toxic materials for disposal.

Apparently the cardboard used in packaging older minis gives of acidic vapor that begins the oxidation. And once it starts there's really no way to stop it. Too bad. I was looking forward to painting the Dralasites.

[Hupp n at em]

  Ouch!  That's really rough... poor guys. 

[FramFramson]

Too bad they can't be repurposed as Lovecraftian Horrors.  

[Hammers]

*screams in horror*

'The Lead That God Forgot'

[Sangennaru]

And once it starts there's really no way to stop it.

our worst nightmare is arrived. we are all doomed.

[Galland]

I think I have had this disease once, I had a terrible hangover, but I swear I looked just like that.

[Parriah]

Yeah, I got some just like that once too. Twenty years sealed in plastic just ain't kind to lead is it?
Later fellow Pb heads!

[Parriah]

Roebeast, check PM's please?

[Commander Vyper]

Plenty of ideas out there on the cursed lead rot. Best one I've heard so far is using shellac, (furniture polish/varnish made from beetle wings). You need to cover the whole figure and make for an airtight coat.

Is the mould/rot  powdery or hard?

[Gluteus Maximus]

I think I have had this disease once, I had a terrible hangover, but I swear I looked just like that.

  Remind me to steer clear of Swedish beer!

[Dolmot]

Remind me to steer clear of Swedish beer!

Right move, wrong reason. It's 3.5%. Hangover is among the least likely consequences.

[Roebeast45]

Is the mould/rot  powdery or hard?

All of the above. It has actually created pits in the surface of the mini and crusty flakes around the pits.

I'm sure that taking a brass brush to them and removing all the surface oxidation will help somewhat. I managed to find a few that aren't too bad.

And like most diseases prevention is the best cure. Some hints from Jeff Rodman at Miss Minis:
1. Don't use casting metal with high lead content.
2. Cardboard and wood give off vapors that start the process so don't store lead minis in these materials unless there is air flow.
3. Using a good enamel primer on lead miniatures will help to keep the process from starting.

I had forgotten how much I detest high lead content miniatures before I started cleaning these. They gum-up needle files, break far too readily, and seem to have much softer detail. But that's the fun of painting old minis. It reminds me how great we have it now.

[General]

 

[Gluteus Maximus]

2. Cardboard and wood give off vapors that start the process so don't store lead minis in these materials unless there is air flow.

Looks like I'd better check my lead mountain 

[phreedh]

Bloody hell mate, that's a nasty case there! My comiserations! =(

Right move, wrong reason. It's 3.5%. Hangover is among the least likely consequences.

Not true... What you can get in a regular grocery store must not exceed 3.5% - but the ones you get at Systembolaget (state owned liquor stores with monopoly on alcoholic beverages) can be of any percentage.