Tips on how to keep your collection clean and dust free (1 Viewer)

[Currahee Chris]

Hey Fellas:

Over the years we have seen some really impressive collections. What strikes me is how well a lot of you maintain the cleanliness of your collections. Obviously the best way to keep the collection clean would be to store it in a glass display case. But some folks just don't have the means or the room to do that. Me, I have several displays in my home- a couple that are in glass display cases and then some bigger ones where they are works in process. Essentially I am still fleshing the dio out and will get it "covered" later on.

I have seen some guys with displays where their stuff is sitting on shelves- so I was wondering how you guys eliminate dust?? I have some dust buildup on my KC Normandy village that I have been cleaning over the past couple weeks (on a very very part time basis). I also have some starting to accumulate on my Conte Roman War Galley mast.

Any experiences or tips would be appreciated.

Thanks
CC

 

[Cornwallis]

I have only got a table top to display my figures and staying on top of the dust is a nightmare, although I did 'appropriate' one of my wifes make up brushes for the job.

However I am an AWI collector and my dusty soldiers do kind of look authentic, so I have learned to love the dust! ^&grin

 

[theBaron]

Hi, Chris!

Some of mine are in cases, others are out, exposed to the air. I will sometimes pick one up and dust it off a piece of cloth (like the cuff of my sleeve), other times, I'll gently blow on it. I have also used my airbrush, at a very low psi setting, to blow dust off figures, holding the figure in my hand, or off models.

Eventually I plan to have all of mine under cover, just haven't finished the remodeling work to accomplish it.

Except for a barrister, the cases I use are all smaller and can be placed on a shelf or table top. I have some that I've bought at yard sales or flea markets, and I have a couple of the sports memorabilia display cases sold at Michael's. The one sized for a football is a good size and shape.

Domed display stands are good for a group of figures, or larger, single figures, depending on the size of the figure. I used to have a domed display for a pocket watch, which was perfect for a couple of 54mm figures, but I dropped the dome and broke it. But I would get more of those.

I even salvaged a round glass jar that was a desktop puzzle. It sat on its lid, was filled with water, and contained a little round stand and a golf ball. The puzzle was to try to get the golf ball up on the stand. I took this apart, emptied it, and will use it for a display of a figure or two.

Hope that all helps, prost!
Brad

 

[Currahee Chris]

I have only got a table top to display my figures and staying on top of the dust is a nightmare, although I did 'appropriate' one of my wifes make up brushes for the job.

However I am an AWI collector and my dusty soldiers do kind of look authentic, so I have learned to love the dust! ^&grin

that's funny!! {sm4}

so in regards to the "brushes" do you use them like one might use a broom? To sort of sweep the dust off the figures and then away from the scenic pieces?

 

[Mitch]

I have a similar brush for taking dust from the AFV's and figures that are not in glass cabinets. mind, they all get dusted weekly and repositioned part of the hobby. I also don't touch the figures with bare hands and always wear some linen gloves I got from the swarovski shop. Grease from hands will eventually muller any paint over time
Mitch

I have only got a table top to display my figures and staying on top of the dust is a nightmare, although I did 'appropriate' one of my wifes make up brushes for the job.

However I am an AWI collector and my dusty soldiers do kind of look authentic, so I have learned to love the dust! ^&grin

 

[marco55]

I use canned air but spay it gently.I heard different on touching them with your hands.That the oils in your fingers are good for them.I think Jim Hillstead says that on his website.
Mark

 

[Arnhemjim]

Hi Chris,
Even within glass cases the dust gets in here in Arizona, with a vengeance. As a semi-professional historian I have come to view the dust as the 'sands of time' scaled down. My wife, bless her heart, tried once. The result, where the Russian Cavalry had failed to break the formation at Balaclava, she singularly succeeded in the annihilation of the 'Thin Red Line'. Am extremely careful when 'dressing ranks', particularly with the rear ranks well into the cabinets. Limited use of a fine paint brush on the front edges. Am a 'traditionalist', i.e. massed formations, see; http://arnhemjim.blogspot.com/2011/06/less-we-forget-past-glories-remembrance.html, to view the challenge.
Arnhem Jim
Arizona Territory

 

[lancer]

Most of my collection is on shelves, open to dust. All I do is dust them on a semi-regular basis, with a make-up brush. I pick them up with my bare hands as I am not too worried about the effect on the paint as much as I am concerned with the figure slipping out of a cotton glove. The dust on my WW1 aircraft is a pain and I am considering the options with forced air, as cleaning around the bracing wires with a brush is near impossible. Wish I had glass cabinets for the planes. -- Al

 

[Mitch]

Al..

Compromise and just buy glass or similar cases the right size for each aircraft
Mitch

Most of my collection is on shelves, open to dust. All I do is dust them on a semi-regular basis, with a make-up brush. I pick them up with my bare hands as I am not too worried about the effect on the paint as much as I am concerned with the figure slipping out of a cotton glove. The dust on my WW1 aircraft is a pain and I am considering the options with forced air, as cleaning around the bracing wires with a brush is near impossible. Wish I had glass cabinets for the planes. -- Al

 

[ucla1967]

It is a nightmare to deal with. Although I have most of my 3,000 figures in seven curio cabinets and one secretary, the dust still seems to find a way to get in. I notice that the curios with side doors do worse than those with a front sliding picture-frame door which seems to seal tighter. I also have an open book case with toy soldiers; AFVs from Dragon, FOV, and Solido; and 1/32 World War II mahogany warbirds. Finally, I have two diorama tables with about 100 figures on each. The bookcase and tables collect dust like it is going out of style.

I also use the previously refered to make-up brush (I bought one for this purpose), but I am not entirely happy with its results. I am almost to the point where I will just leave the dust in place, since it takes me several days to dust the figures and clean the glass shelving in the curios. I invariable knock over and damage some figures during this process and besides the dust comes back in a matter of weeks. So what's the point?

 

[BLReed]

Reduce the source as much as possible. Get rid of carpets. Install hardwood, tile and etc. Get a whole house
electronic air filter and clean it frequently. Clean duct work at least annually. Install an electric or natural
gas furnace if you have forced air. No smoking. Use a range hood in the kitchen, especially if you are big
on fried foods. Don't spread the dust. Use electrostatic dust cloths and HEPA vacuums. Pay your
housekeeper well.

Get rid of the cat. Dogs are fine.^&grin

 

[theBaron]

I use one of my paintbrushes at times, too, to dust individual figures.

Prost!
Brad

 

[steveemmo]

www.pictureboxdisplaycabinets.com table top and wall mounted display cabinets and show cases
steve.

 

[lenswerks]

I was surprised that I've not found any dust in my cabinets as this is the only room with carpet. All other floors are tile or wood.
I've had the cabinets for about 5 years.
I think it depends on where in the house the room is and that you do not keep books in the same room. We have a library with ~1000 books - very dusty room.

Living in FL the windows are never opened.
I keep the door to the room closed to keep our pets out - 2 dogs and a cat.
Keeping the door closed I think helps a lot - When the A/C is on there is a good suction under the door taking anything in the air out of the room quickly.

I've got three of these cabinets on the opposite wall and a large cabinet on each of the other walls, all with doors, for a total of 84 shelves.

The cabinets in the photo are the Ikea Billy bookcase system. Only 10" deep and are 1/4 circle cut at the bottom to clear your baseboard so that they fit flush against the wall.


Donnie

 

[PanzerAce1944]

I use curio cabinets for the most part,with the overflow on top of one of them. Problem with curios is they can get expensive !

 

[Cornwallis]

I've learned to live with the dust and it makes my AWI Redcoats look more authentic from marching up dusty tracks and lanes, while waiting for those supplies from 3000 miles away that get plundered anyway by the Swamp Fox and the Gamecock! ^&grin

 

[steveemmo]

Picturebox table top acrylic showcases... are quite good at keeping off the dust and the little fingers too !