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long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:12 pm
by GuyIncognito
My girlfriend moved in recently, and my place is pretty small, so until we get a bigger home, I have to put most of my collection into storage. For now, I've packed the Voyagers and larger figures into their original boxes, which still have the plastic bubble inserts, and I've packed Deluxes and smaller figures into plastic tupperware-like containers, and then packed THOSE boxes/containers into larger cardboard boxes. Those cardboard boxes are now stacked in the attic. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, so we have cold winters and hot summers, but not too extreme. The attic gets cold in the winter, but not as cold as it does outside, and it gets pretty warm in the summer. Are my TFs safe there or will they be damaged by the temperatures? They might be there for a year or two.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 12:38 pm
by Axlmus Prime
As far as I know the attic or any other place that has extreme temperature changes is very bad for your TFs. I would consider some other place to store them.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:43 pm
by Razorclaw0000
I went with off site, climate controlled storage. It's running me $80/month for a 10' x 15' unit. I've got everything in 18 gallon totes.

I live north of you, in Wilkes-Barre, by the way.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 1:58 pm
by Counterpunch
GuyIncognito wrote:My girlfriend moved in recently, and my place is pretty small, so until we get a bigger home, I have to put most of my collection into storage. For now, I've packed the Voyagers and larger figures into their original boxes, which still have the plastic bubble inserts, and I've packed Deluxes and smaller figures into plastic tupperware-like containers, and then packed THOSE boxes/containers into larger cardboard boxes. Those cardboard boxes are now stacked in the attic. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, so we have cold winters and hot summers, but not too extreme. The attic gets cold in the winter, but not as cold as it does outside, and it gets pretty warm in the summer. Are my TFs safe there or will they be damaged by the temperatures? They might be there for a year or two.


I'll answer your question if you come out the the TF meet up later this month.

Live and in person.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:09 pm
by El Duque
Counterpunch wrote:
GuyIncognito wrote:My girlfriend moved in recently, and my place is pretty small, so until we get a bigger home, I have to put most of my collection into storage. For now, I've packed the Voyagers and larger figures into their original boxes, which still have the plastic bubble inserts, and I've packed Deluxes and smaller figures into plastic tupperware-like containers, and then packed THOSE boxes/containers into larger cardboard boxes. Those cardboard boxes are now stacked in the attic. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, so we have cold winters and hot summers, but not too extreme. The attic gets cold in the winter, but not as cold as it does outside, and it gets pretty warm in the summer. Are my TFs safe there or will they be damaged by the temperatures? They might be there for a year or two.


I'll answer your question if you come out the the TF meet up later this month.

Live and in person.


I wish there were meet ups around here to go to. :-(

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 2:57 pm
by GuyIncognito
Counterpunch wrote:I'll answer your question if you come out the the TF meet up later this month.

Live and in person.


I'm thinking about it!

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Tue Jan 04, 2011 3:50 pm
by Counterpunch
GuyIncognito wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:I'll answer your question if you come out the the TF meet up later this month.

Live and in person.


I'm thinking about it!


It only hurts the first time.

After that, it's lots of fun!

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:42 am
by goshjosh95
El Duque wrote:
Counterpunch wrote:
GuyIncognito wrote:My girlfriend moved in recently, and my place is pretty small, so until we get a bigger home, I have to put most of my collection into storage. For now, I've packed the Voyagers and larger figures into their original boxes, which still have the plastic bubble inserts, and I've packed Deluxes and smaller figures into plastic tupperware-like containers, and then packed THOSE boxes/containers into larger cardboard boxes. Those cardboard boxes are now stacked in the attic. I live in southeastern Pennsylvania, so we have cold winters and hot summers, but not too extreme. The attic gets cold in the winter, but not as cold as it does outside, and it gets pretty warm in the summer. Are my TFs safe there or will they be damaged by the temperatures? They might be there for a year or two.


I'll answer your question if you come out the the TF meet up later this month.

Live and in person.


I wish there were meet ups around here to go to. :-(

Ditto. Any Seibertronians in the San Francisco East Bay Area? I only know one fellow collector in my area, but only met up once for a trade.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 6:23 am
by Mykltron
Many people say the attic is bad because of the temperature changes. My G1 collection was in my parents attic for ten years and as you can see here the didn't suffer. Perhaps if you insulate them so temperature changes happen gradually they'd be ok. With musical instruments it's sudden changes that affect them.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 2:36 pm
by victoryconvoy
how about a garage you guys think that would be ok :-?

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 5:41 am
by Mykltron
victoryconvoy wrote:how about a garage you guys think that would be ok :-?


It's the same debate over temperature changes. Garages have very little insulation so temperature changes can be fast.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 9:21 am
by GuyIncognito
victoryconvoy wrote:how about a garage you guys think that would be ok :-?


I considered that, but I think the temperatures are more extreme in my garage than in my attic.

Climate-controlled public storage is probably the safest bet, but I can't really justify the expense of renting a public storage space solely for Transformers.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 10:26 am
by SJ21
You can find storage tubs that have lower sides so that you can store stuff under beds.

I don't store my TF's in the attic, but my GI Joe's no longer have rubber bands holding them together.

BTW, the meet-ups are a good time. I am going to try to make this one.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:30 am
by GuyIncognito
SJ21 wrote:You can find storage tubs that have lower sides so that you can store stuff under beds.


Hmm... I never thought about that. I could probably fit a lot of them in those low tubs. Thanks for the suggestion!

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 12:47 pm
by --B--
GuyIncognito wrote:
SJ21 wrote:You can find storage tubs that have lower sides so that you can store stuff under beds.


Hmm... I never thought about that. I could probably fit a lot of them in those low tubs. Thanks for the suggestion!


Plus a lot of them are on sale right now. I just got a 20 gallon tub on clearance from Target for 5 bucks, and some of the ones with red lids (red = Christmas of course) are all on clearance.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 1:22 pm
by rpetras
My G1's were in my parent's attic for close to 15 years and the only thing the temp did was cause some sticker slide.

Squirrels that wintered in their attic on the other hand nibbled on a few of the weapons (damn squirrels!)

I'm in the reading PA (Berks county) area and would be interested in a get together if the South Eastern PA TF fans organized something.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 3:10 pm
by --B--
rpetras wrote:My G1's were in my parent's attic for close to 15 years and the only thing the temp did was cause some sticker slide.

Squirrels that wintered in their attic on the other hand nibbled on a few of the weapons (damn squirrels!)

I'm in the reading PA (Berks county) area and would be interested in a get together if the South Eastern PA TF fans organized something.



We are getting together in Exton, right off the turnpike on the 15th.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?ei ... 0296617507

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 4:19 pm
by Razorclaw0000
--B-- wrote:
rpetras wrote:My G1's were in my parent's attic for close to 15 years and the only thing the temp did was cause some sticker slide.

Squirrels that wintered in their attic on the other hand nibbled on a few of the weapons (damn squirrels!)

I'm in the reading PA (Berks county) area and would be interested in a get together if the South Eastern PA TF fans organized something.



We are getting together in Exton, right off the turnpike on the 15th.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?ei ... 0296617507



It's actually the 22nd. I hope you didn't need it to be the 15th.

Re: long-term storage of TFs

PostPosted: Fri Jan 07, 2011 9:14 pm
by --B--
Razorclaw0000 wrote:
--B-- wrote:
rpetras wrote:My G1's were in my parent's attic for close to 15 years and the only thing the temp did was cause some sticker slide.

Squirrels that wintered in their attic on the other hand nibbled on a few of the weapons (damn squirrels!)

I'm in the reading PA (Berks county) area and would be interested in a get together if the South Eastern PA TF fans organized something.



We are getting together in Exton, right off the turnpike on the 15th.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?ei ... 0296617507



It's actually the 22nd. I hope you didn't need it to be the 15th.


That's even better!