tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post4018415862240088854..comments2024-03-27T15:59:11.066+00:00Comments on Prometheus in Aspic: Lead Rot - a Seasonal RevisitMSFoyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-35344071114343544522013-12-16T19:54:25.999+00:002013-12-16T19:54:25.999+00:00Hugh - you're right - the solder on electric b...Hugh - you're right - the solder on electric bulbs is unlikely to be fine pewter, right enough - there is a whole range of alloys here - and your old flats will certainly be high lead. What happens to lead sheeting on roofs, by the way? It changes colour, but then it can last for decades - it might not if it rained vinegar, though…<br /><br />My immediate problem is solved by having physically cleaned up the solder areas - if it gets worse again I can repeat the job, or try the vinegar. It would be stupid of me to associate what happens to my light bulbs with bug-a-boo tales of disintegrating white metal castings, but I have heard (from Featherstone or someone), long ago, that figures should not be allowed to freeze.<br /><br />Where else could you get fun like this?MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-64041611090184409252013-12-16T19:44:22.949+00:002013-12-16T19:44:22.949+00:00The acetic acid thing is why you DO need to rinse,...The acetic acid thing is why you DO need to rinse, but it also stops the rot so-to-speak. It's not to be left on, it's about fighting fire with fire as it were. Perhaps that's where the boiling came in? Or maybe you had to rinse with distilled water!! I've successfully treated flats that had a high lead content and were nearly 100 years old.<br /><br />As Mr Foy has discovered there is a lot said about it, as there is about scale/size/ratio (particularly the eponymous HO/OO of dear old Airfix!), plastic rot, Nazi party uniforms, SS re-enactors and anything else that allows people to sound knowledgeable while upsetting other members of the forum!<br /><br />While gaming figures have had the lead drastically reduced, I suspect the bulbs will be softer (more lead content) as there is an airtight element to the invention of / necessity for; a seal?<br /><br />But it was only a suggestion!<br />HughHugh Walterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10689023221814673819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-31219725925336465342013-12-16T19:26:27.829+00:002013-12-16T19:26:27.829+00:00Thank you both, gentlemen. To amuse myself, I had ...Thank you both, gentlemen. To amuse myself, I had a read through some threads on TMP on this subject, and I've never read such a lot of superstitious old wive's tales in my life - almost complete crap. Vinegar is interesting - it will react with lead to produce a coating of lead acetate, which has occasionally been suggested as a good thing. Maybe it is, but the lead content in modern castings is low - the instability problem at low temperatures is to do with the deterioration of tin in cold conditions - what i believe is called tin pest. This is alleged to have caused problems for Napoleon's troops in Russia, when the pewter buttons on their gaiters fell to bits, and they got problems with wet feet and frostbite. It was also a problem for Capt Scott and his merry men in the Antarctic, when the cold destroyed the solder seals in their jerry cans of cooking and fuel oil, and the oil ran away - which did them no good at all.<br /><br />Thus my reference to Lead Rot is inaccurate, as I suspect it has been in parts of the TMP threads as well - the problem ingredient in lead-tin alloys at low temperature is the tin - which I think is also probably corroded by acetic acid. Apologies - untidy thinking on my part - the deterioration of lead-tin alloys in cold weather is due to the tin breaking up through tin pest; damage to the lead content because of chemical action is a separate problem (which should be limited in scope in modern alloys), but vinegar would tend to accelerate it.<br /><br />Hmmm.MSFoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14470241067504971068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-33594582492279940042013-12-16T18:04:33.876+00:002013-12-16T18:04:33.876+00:00With respect Maverick, Acetic acid appears to be ...With respect Maverick, Acetic acid appears to be the cause not the solution (or the precipitate).<br /><br />A timely reminder to look through your lead pile for plague carriers.PatGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00379668269395518541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7111053985478999734.post-56815366422142123022013-12-16T14:49:16.104+00:002013-12-16T14:49:16.104+00:00When you take them down try washing (wiping?) the ...When you take them down try washing (wiping?) the tips with a solution of white vinegar, and then rinsing and drying them. Vinegar (white) is the cure for lead-rot....there's a very detailed (and somewhat complicated 'instruction') in one of the Toy-soldier books but I can't place it, that involves boiling and all sorts, obviously you can't start boiling bulbs, but equally you don't want to be leaving strong solutions of vinegar in the tips, but as they are smooth, three cloths should do the trick - vinegar - damp rinse - dry?<br /><br />Might help...might kill them all!<br />HHugh Walterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10689023221814673819noreply@blogger.com