white crystal stuff that seems to show up on some limbs.

[RussG]

white crystal stuff that seems to show up on some limbs. I've heard you put it in sun light etc. if MOC and it gets rid of it. ... I have a loose B wing pilot that had it show up so I washed it off , it came back after so many years .. washed it off again ... now it seems not to be a big deal but wondering if it will spread to other figures ... I get the feeling it doesn't since it was only on one leg of the B wing pilot and he's standing by other figures and none of them show any signs. just want to make sure I'm protecting my figures. many thanks.

 

[AussieFortuna]

Your not cooking meth are you Russ? id suggest wearing a chem suit if you are to avoid these sort of issues

On a serious note, just give your figure a good wash in dishwashing liquid with a toothbrush and hot water, that will fix it for years or for good, the jury is out on whether it can spread, i had a Boba about 5 years ago with it all over, i found it in a box of figures at a fair, used the above method, it never came back, cheers

 

[RussG]

I'm leaning towards it not spreading at least not unless it's touching another figure ... does that sound about right? I know I washed him off ... and if it spreads it's not that hard to remove so it's not like it's going to turn the stuff to mush LOL

 

[Snake_eyes_82]

My bro chris (TheNightmarcher) found all his old Star Wars Figures at his dad's place a year or so ago and loads of them had that weird Crystal going on!

 

[BobaFett34]

It's frosting/mold...

 

[Lt__Brenn_Tantor]

white crystal stuff that seems to show up on some limbs. I've heard you put it in sun light etc. if MOC and it gets rid of it. ... I have a loose B wing pilot that had it show up so I washed it off , it came back after so many years .. washed it off again ... now it seems not to be a big deal but wondering if it will spread to other figures ... I get the feeling it doesn't since it was only on one leg of the B wing pilot and he's standing by other figures and none of them show any signs. just want to make sure I'm protecting my figures. many thanks.

http://forum.rebelscum.com/t971595/
http://forum.rebelscum.com/t970848/#post16331888

Q: My MOC figure has what appears to be white crystals or dust, or something on the leg/arms. What is this, and how can I get rid of it?

A: This is mold. It can easily be removed by increasing the temperature inside the bubble, for a short amount of time, usually 10 minutes at most. It doesn't take a lot of heat, 10 minutes of sunlight is generally enough. You may also use a 60 watt bulb, or an oven on low. don't put the bubble or card too close to the heat source, as you might generate enough heat to damage it, by direct contact.
For more information, please Join the discussion in the following thread(s)

De-Frost Experiment
Frosting on carded figures, esp 12 back help!!! (Check Chris G's post for more.)

Just follow the links for more information .

 

[tapuvae]

"or an oven on low"

My Lord that takes a set right there to try that one.

 

[LandoInDisguise]

"or an oven on low"

My Lord that takes a set right there to try that one.

The figures can handle 100 celcius just fine. I would put them in a heat resistant container, like a closed oven dish or something, to avoid direct heating from the oven itself. The heating element will be a lot hotter then 100 celcius, to get the interior an even 100c. No risk at all, if you cover them up.

 

[AussieFortuna]

Ive always doubted this frosting is mold, im probably out on a limb on myself here but it has no characteristics of mold imo, its crystal/powdery to touch, id like to look at it under a high powered microscope.

Plus normal sunlight does not kill most molds, ive just read that you need at least 150 degrees c to kill mold.

Ive got a feeling this is a type of plastic leaching/degradation.

Has anybody got ant hard facts on it being mold ? it just makes little sense all round to me..

Or i could be totally wrong, wouldnt be the first time lol.

 

[BobaFett34]

I've only put one in the sun once...you have to be seriously careful...depending on where you live, it can start to warp the bubble or at the very least soften it temporarily. That said, when you get rid of the frosting, it does look quite better.

I've seen differing answers on what exactly the frosting is...

 

[doc_atomic]

I always heard it was more a chemical reaction than mold... Regardless, my bagged Early Bird Chewie had some of the frosting growing on his legs and I shined a 75 watt bulb on it for a couple minutes -- just a little to warm it up, not enough to damage the bag -- and it cleared up fine. It's the heat, not the light, so any good source will do. You could probably use an old radiator... Again, go slow and gentle so you don't risk damaging the figure, bubble, or baggie.

Fun with chemicals! Or mold! Either way, it's probably going to kill us all in the end. Lol.

 

[BobaFett34]

Something tells me 100 years from now, mold will be the least of the figures' problems, haha

 

[Yehuda_K]

The crystals are likely not mold but a plasticizer leaching out. It shouldn't spread like a mold and only needs to be washed away on a loose figure or remelted with heat on a mint on card figure

 

[RussG]

The crystals are likely not mold but a plasticizer leaching out. It shouldn't spread like a mold and only needs to be washed away on a loose figure or remelted with heat on a mint on card figure

that's what I was thinking, and there wasn't any links in the resource sticky post that really gave a clear answer as if this is mold or chemical issue. the b wing figure I have, was MOC and the issue was only on one leg, and way different than frosting one would see on a vader 12 back MOC, that stuff looks like powdered sugar that was put on wet then let dry LOL ... the stuff I was asking about are the crystal looking. but when I pulled the b wing off, I washed it off then it came back over a good 4 or 5 years. washed it off again and it's still gone but only has been about 4 months. and so I figure if it is a mold, it's growing from within the figure itself, since none of my other figures or misc. toys have any issues. I wonder if it's the same stuff as the sticky oil that is found at times, but maybe a smaller amount and dries and when it dries it makes these crystals???

 

[Yehuda_K]

Plasticizers are added to plastics such as PVC to maintain flexibility. These plasticizers can often migrate over time to the surface causing crystals to form or a sticky film to form. Without the plasticizers the plastic would become brittle and be prone to cracking. In these vintage figures if the plasticizers migrate to the surface it shouldn't have a major affect on the figures since it is a small amount. The migrated plasticizers only need to be washed off or reheated.

 

[AussieFortuna]

Agree with you guys above, theres no way in the world these crystals are mould, they are plasticizers leaching out, they have no charictoristics of mould what so ever.

 

[thenightmarcher]

Like Eddy said, I had a handful of loosies that developed this 'frosting' after many years sealed up in sandwich bags which I'd placed inside an old ice cream container up in my Dad's attic. It rubbed right off, so I guessed it had something to do with the plastic & not moisture or mould, but you guys with baggies or MOCs obviously have an extra hurdle to navigate!

I think a similar thread on SWFUK also came to the conclusion that a warm lamp would do the trick, but I can't find the link right now.