The Energon Pub

In terms of general handling, you won't melt the plastic (those honors happen automatically with rubber and some pvc whether you handle them or not!) but there are some rules of thumb I've discovered over the years.

When you handle any figure, be sure to avoid touching decal surfaces, as the image can actually rub away over time. Seriously avoid contact with any chrome parts, as finger oils can positively cause blackening and discoloration, and in this day and age with slip-shod chroming could also accelerate chrome peeling.

Overall, I try to also avoid painted surfaces, especially chalky, matte finishes, as the paint is more prone to wearing off than glossy coatings.

I try to handle my figures by the unpainted plastic parts where at all possible. It's not going to always BE possible to avoid touching certain surfaces, especially when transforming, but handling the aforementioned parts with kid gloves will go a long way towards avoiding damage.

Hope that helps!

AdamFett wrote:

breakdown99 wrote:[youtube][/youtube]

AdamFett wrote:Are there any dangers in ''playing'' with your transformers?

No. That's what they're made for. Just be wary of handling toys with stickers when you do.

I read somewhere that touching them can cause the plastic to degrade because of the oils on your fingers.......is that true?

Unless you've bathed in turpentine or sulfuric acid, highly unlikely. This' probably the ramblings of an OTT OCD individual.

Thanks for that man. Maybe i do have mild OCD. Sorry about my ''ramblings'', and thanks for the sarcasm. prick

I can see why you'd interpret it as such. Perhaps using what you've read, instead of this' would've helped clarify the tone of my post. I wasn't referring to your post as ramblings, just what you've read.I hope that has clarified things for you.

breakdown99 wrote:

AdamFett wrote:

breakdown99 wrote:[youtube][/youtube]

AdamFett wrote:Are there any dangers in ''playing'' with your transformers?

No. That's what they're made for. Just be wary of handling toys with stickers when you do.

I read somewhere that touching them can cause the plastic to degrade because of the oils on your fingers.......is that true?

Unless you've bathed in turpentine or sulfuric acid, highly unlikely. This' probably the ramblings of an OTT OCD individual.

Thanks for that man. Maybe i do have mild OCD. Sorry about my ''ramblings'', and thanks for the sarcasm. prick

I can see why you'd interpret it as such. Perhaps using what you've read, instead of this' would've helped clarify the tone of my post. I wasn't referring to your post as ramblings, just what you've read.I hope that has clarified things for you.

Its all good bro.....

Think i'm too used to being insulted. Recently transitioning from star wars figures, to transformers. And the guys on the star wars collecting forums tear you a new one for no apparent reason....lol

Sorry for the ''prick' thing man.....

I agree with Cobalt Prime's comment about avoiding certain surfaces on your figures...provided keeping them in pristine condition for a long time matters a lot to you.

I have a few figures that I rarely touch because I want'em in immaculate condition. But the rest, I don't worry about it very much. It all comes down to how much you're worried about their condition.

nickh wrote:I agree with Cobalt Prime's comment about avoiding certain surfaces on your figures...provided keeping them in pristine condition for a long time matters a lot to you.

I have a few figures that I rarely touch because I want'em in immaculate condition. But the rest, I don't worry about it very much. It all comes down to how much you're worried about their condition.

Believe me, I learned the hard way with my G1 figures. I made a mess out of mine back in the eighties, and that was being what I thought was careful back then! Thank heavens for Reprolabels and the ability to buy replacement chrome bits on Ebay and at Bot Con!

The only figure problems I ever had with was my TFA deluxe Soundwave, but then again, I brought this thing with me to alot of places outside, and now his back is so incredibly scrapped up you can see through the paint over the plastic. I had several of my figures for years now, and they haven't shown any plastic deterioration (except in figures who were like that in packaging <TF Prime revealers Arcee>). I do try to handle my figures with care so that they don't turn up like my old Star Wars and Marvel Legends figures. (Missing limbs, broken accessories, rubbed off paint, chip marks, etc.)

As fastidious as it sounds, I actually do use white cotton gloves sometimes when handling certain TF's, particularly chromed parts, decals and painted areas.

That said, I'm more worried about sweat (pretty warm where I'm at) corroding the chrome and decals than oils from my fingers.

For me I don't worry about handling problems because

1. My hands are always dry and I my skin is not that oily.

2. Sweat's also not a problem because I live in MN and it's only really hot in June, July, and August.

The only figures I am really careful with are: Am Breackdown, Universe 1.0 Nemesis Prime, any figure that has a lot of chrome, and my favorite figures.

And always remember, these are toys designed for kids that play with them so a adult collector should have no problem with anything, except chrome and gold plastic.