Is it safe to store PM in an unheated attic?

[playmogal]

George,
Thanks! Hope we find out soon how much torture our Kilckys can withstand without bending.

bb: This reminds me of when my four brothers and I used to play with insects as kids....I feel sorry for those poor creatures! Pgal

[playmo1989]

public storage   

[Bill Blackhurst]

public storage   

Unless climate controlled, not a good idea either.

[Rasputin]

I really would like to know from collectors who have dealt with long term storage, 20+ years. I had it in a barn and the temp. would reach an uncomfortable level. When it did  that is when I worried. If there was an optimum safe temp/humidity it would be great to know especially now with all the rubber in the parts.  I know that there is silicone you can spray on some plastic to re-hydrate the molecules so it was less brittle. I wonder if there is something that will work on playmobil that will replace what evaporated.

We use plastic cord on some machines and if you store it under water it does not dry out and become brittle. It lasts a lot longer due to being more flexible. I wonder if you were to fill all your bins with water could it have the same effect? ? ? Also the heat would take alot longer to affect the plastic as the heat energy would first have to heat all the water. The cool night would prevail, keeping the toys safer.  Good idea hugh, fill them all with water and put them in the attic 

Geobra may know from all the light/heat tests but I have a feeling this is for safety issues not collection storage concerns.

[Bill Blackhurst]

I wonder if you were to fill all your bins with water could it have the same effect? ? ? Also the heat would take alot longer to affect the plastic as the heat energy would first have to heat all the water. The cool night would prevail, keeping the toys safer.  Good idea hugh, fill them all with water and put them in the attic 

If you see your ceilings start sagging,.....RUN!

[playmogal]

Ras,

An interesting idea for sure!

As BB mentioned, that is adding a lot of weight to some already heavily loaded floor joists in the attic.

Also I would be concerned about what would be growing in the water and how we would get it off the PM when we did drain them. And if any of the containers started to leak, the sheet rock below would be ruined.

I think we need an answer from a scientific test showing how much heat for how long has what kind of effect. PM may not have this data hoping that their toys self destruct over time so folks have to buy more. The concept is called obsolescence, and it is quite common.

It may be a very long wait for the magic answers, Pgal

[bonniebeth]

I'm sure we will never get a scientific answer, but as I have said twice, I had playmobil stored in the attic, in closed plastic tubs, for about five years, and some of it WAS damaged. Some floor and wall pieces were warped/bent/twisted from the heat. And being a kid when I put it up there, there was sticky tack on some pieces, which became permanently melded to it. I'm sure North Carolina attics are not all that much cooler than Louisiana attics, so I think it is not a good idea to put your playmobil in the attic during the summer. I'm not saying it might get damaged, I'm saying in my experience it does get damaged. And definitely do not ever put playmobil in the attic that still has sticky tack on it from being displayed. Hope that answers the question.

[flatcat]

Q: Is it safe to store PM in an unheated attic?

A: No


I love how we take 6 pages to get to this answer

Damo

[Bill Blackhurst]

Maybe we should lock this topic, & start a poll so everyone can vote on it!

[bonniebeth]