A Beginner’s Guide To Action Figure – 4 Tips On Maintaining Your Action Figure Collection
Here are 4 useful tips on maintaining your action figure collection to keep those action heroes in their prime.
Starting an action figure collection can be easy, but it doesn’t stop there. You also need to take proper care of them. If not, I don’t think it will last very long. Whether you are collecting as a hobby or an investor, protecting them can make your collections last longer.
1. Regular Care of the Figures
The least you can do is dust them frequently. Dust and airborne particles will cause damages to your collection. If you are like me, who on and off play with your toys, it is impossible to minimize direct contact with them from our fingers. It is because, on our fingers, there is a layer of grease or finger oil that may cause yellowing to the collectibles.
Other than the dusting, if you frequently play with them, clean them. Take a bowl of warm water. Not hot water, okay. Hot water can cause the plastic to soften. The bowl should be large enough to completely submerge the figure. You’ll also need a soft-bristled toothbrush. Get a brand new one as it will be free of toothpaste residue. Toothpaste residue can be abrasive and cause the paint to scratch off of the figure. You’ll also need some liquid soap. The dish detergent should do no damage to the material and color.
Personally, I use Amway L.O.C. Multi-Purpose Cleaner. This multi-purpose cleaner really does clean everything and is versatile enough to be used on almost any surface to remove any kind of dirt or grime and it’s gentle enough to be used as a mild cleanser for your collection. I have a friend who is very sensitive to most cleaning products but this one has never given him a problem. Still, you have to test it out to confirm. It works for me.
Or if you have the money, you can also invest in an ultrasonic cleaner. You can check it out at Amazon. I have not used one before, can’t comment much, but it was also recommended by a friend. He said the process is really fast and easy for everyday cleaning.
2. Don’t Play With It Too Often
I can’t stop you when you have the urge to just get lost in your own world and your own version of Avengers movie.
Imagine that you are Tony Stark gearing up as Iron Man to blast into battle alongside your fellow Avengers.
Don’t get too excited. Do note that frequent movement on the joints will cause the figures joints to be loosened. Just be careful. And make sure your hands are clean before playtime.
3. Avoid Direct Sunlight
Avoid direct sunlight for a long period of time. UV light can cause discoloration and degradation. If it is exposed to UV light for a long period, it might cause a crack and brittle to it as well.
4. Storing Your Collections
Once you have a handful of action figures, it’s time to think of a place to store your collection. It can be as simple as a few layers of open shelves. Or a cabinet with glass doors. If you frequently go to IKEA, the display cabinet that has glass all over would be just perfect.
If you are keeping them on open shelves, you also need to think of a proper container to keep them. Usually, collectors will keep those expensive ones in a sealed storage container, but for me, I just use the most common container that is widely used among hobbyists which is the plastic container. It is reliable and cheap. You can get it for as cheap as USD1.50 at Daiso.
Maintaining your action figure collection is not difficult. You don’t have to do it every day. I hope with the tips above, you got an idea of how to proceed.
If you are new to the action figures, read our article on How To Start An Action Figure Collection and why you should Start With A Niche.
Not sure where to start? The Ultimate Buying Guide For X-Men Collectibles post could help if you want to focus on the Hasbro Marvel Legends series.
Well I definitely liked reading it. This article provided by you is very practical for good planning.