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Author Topic: Are my Steck parts leaching?  (Read 1336 times)

Offline flatcat

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Are my Steck parts leaching?
« on: August 18, 2024, 08:25:48 »
Hi everyone  :wave:

Im sorry, I know it has been a while!

Just got my 3666 castle out of storage where it has been untouched for 10 years.

There are these small droplets all over it, which have a different texture to water

It has been stored in a hot loft/attic for the last 3 of those 10 years

Has the usual Steck smell but a lot worse than I remember!

Sorry if this has been covered before. I couldn't remember!
« Last Edit: August 18, 2024, 20:04:41 by flatcat »
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Offline GrahamB

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Re: Are my Steck part leeching?
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2024, 09:27:52 »
Welcome back, Flatcat!
I've never heard of weeping Steck before! My guess is it's something to do with it getting heated up. How easily does the liquid wash off? Has it yellowed at all?
Not a nice thing to find. I'd better check the stuff I have stored in the attic....
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Offline flatcat

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Re: Are my Steck part leeching?
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2024, 09:39:13 »
Quote from: GrahamB on August 18, 2024, 09:27:52
Welcome back, Flatcat!
I've never heard of weeping Steck before! My guess is it's something to do with it getting heated up. How easily does the liquid wash off? Has it yellowed at all?
Not a nice thing to find. I'd better check the stuff I have stored in the attic....

Thanks Graham

I have never come across it before at all either. The funny smell I have, and on other Playmobil of this era too, but not this bad.

It does just wipe off, but does have an 'oily' feel to it.

No yellowing or discolouration at all. Also to add I purchased this set new and only built it once when I first got it (so just realised it has been stored for a lot longer than I first thought!  8} ) So otherwise all the pieces look brand new still.
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Offline flatcat

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Re: Are my Steck part leeching?
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2024, 09:48:19 »
Just noticed the staining on the poster in the box too. I thought it was just foxing from age but it looks like little oily stains
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Offline playmofire

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Re: Are my Steck part leeching?
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2024, 14:49:48 »
Welcome back, Damo.

In an attic (or is it a loft?) you are quite likely going to get wide ranges of temperature, especially if there is little or no insulation under the roof.  There will always be moisture in the air and as different materials will heat up and cool down at different rates there condensation will occur as cooling will take place, hence, possibly these drop on the Steck.

For the same reason, you could get condensation on other materials such as the poster, but as this is absorbent, the drops would soak in and dry and leave a stain.

As regards the icky smell, leaving the Steck out in the open air should help clear it.
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Offline Tiermann

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Re: Are my Steck part leeching?
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2024, 18:57:59 »
Nice to see you again.
I haven't run into this, but it may just be environmental. Condensation out of the air carrying air contaminants with it. Anywhere near over a kitchen or by a fireplace? As long as it cleans off with a good soapy wash it should be fine regardless.
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Offline Macruran

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Re: Are my Steck parts leaching?
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2024, 21:38:59 »
Your steck is crying over what's happened to PM :'(
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Offline Beekhuys

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Re: Are my Steck parts leaching?
« Reply #7 on: August 19, 2024, 13:51:39 »
Very strange! Did you store the Playmobil in cardboard boxes or plastic containers?

Cheap toys made of cheap plastic sometimes pulverize after a few years, due to the composition of the products. But good quality toys such as Playmobil and Lego can really last for decades, meaning your grandchildren will still enjoy them.

What I always understood is that certain oils are used in the plastics of Playmobil and Lego that contribute to this. Could it be that those oils are leaking from your Playmobil? That would be very special! I'm no physicist, but that seems very strong to me, especially if it is stored well packaged in your attic.

Normally it is better to store your Playmobil in the attic than in the basement, due to moisture. It can of course get warm in an attic, but so hot that a plastic melts seems impossible to me.

So it would have to be something from outside, but could moisture, for example, be added? Or do you smoke a lot?

But normally Playmobil, just like Lego, lasts an awfully long time (except for the Wiltopia, the organic Farm and the new World of Horses, which are of rubbish quality, which is so breakable and does not last long, so far the durability of "sustainable" ;-P)

...Good story, nice and short! 8}
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