Deadalus Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Not sure if this is the right posting location for the subject matter, but has anyone thought about using any sort of clear coat or varnish to seal and protect the stickers on the 2015 sets? I was thinking about using Pledge Future (heavily used by toy customizers and model makers). Once it's fully cured, it forms a tough, durable, acrylic seal on things and it also self-levels. Thoughts? Opinions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nescent Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 What are you trying to protect them from? In my experience LEGO's stickers hold up perfectly well, even when they're swished around in a big bin of parts. But if you do coat them with something, you probably won't be able to remove them without leaving some residue on the piece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadalus Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 I don't ever plan to remove the stickers. These will pretty much be display pieces in my detolfs. I've had past experiences where white stickers crumble and disintegrate on sets as they aged. I checked around on the web and this seems to be a common issue with stickers printed on white material. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munty Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I've got similar issues with a few sets I dismantled this week. One was an old police station, maybe 5-6 years old, which had a map of the town and a criminal height chart stuck on the walls. Both were badly peeled and cracked. They were on white bricks. The other set though was the old harbour, probably of a ismilar age, which had a blue ship hull with large 'city lines' stickers on it. These have absolutely shredded over the years but this time NOT on white bricks so I don't think that's necessarily a factor personally. All of this damage happened prior to my acquiring the sets too so there's no way of knowing how they were stored which could have been to blame. They could have dried out excessively somewhere warm for example. More recent sets are usually fine though and I'd suggest any stickers from the last 2-3 years should last as long as the set there attached to within reason. Just don't mess about with them, don't remove them and definitely keep them out of direct sunlight and away from any unnatural heat sources... Quote Check out my Bionicle store on Bricklink here!> > > Bionic Bricks < < < Let me know if you can help me find these last few collectibles!Also looking for WILD KRAATA and a VMKK Yo!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pohatu: Uniter of Stone Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I've got a really old city harbor set, and the stickers on the boat are badly damaged. I've removed most of them the best I can, but I have no plans to remove the face I drew on the boat when I first got it. His name was Shippy. He's my second oldest intact MOC, and I haven't added anything to him since 2010. I think the water may have damage the stickers, so keep them in a dry place. 1 Quote I HATE SCORPIOS ~Pohatu Master of Stone, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nescent Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I've got a really old city harbor set, and the stickers on the boat are badly damaged. I've removed most of them the best I can, but I have no plans to remove the face I drew on the boat when I first got it. His name was Shippy. He's my second oldest intact MOC, and I haven't added anything to him since 2010. I think the water may have damage the stickers, so keep them in a dry place. I love this. You clearly play with your LEGOs to their fullest potential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadalus Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) I've got similar issues with a few sets I dismantled this week. One was an old police station, maybe 5-6 years old, which had a map of the town and a criminal height chart stuck on the walls. Both were badly peeled and cracked. They were on white bricks. The other set though was the old harbour, probably of a ismilar age, which had a blue ship hull with large 'city lines' stickers on it. These have absolutely shredded over the years but this time NOT on white bricks so I don't think that's necessarily a factor personally. All of this damage happened prior to my acquiring the sets too so there's no way of knowing how they were stored which could have been to blame. They could have dried out excessively somewhere warm for example. More recent sets are usually fine though and I'd suggest any stickers from the last 2-3 years should last as long as the set there attached to within reason. Just don't mess about with them, don't remove them and definitely keep them out of direct sunlight and away from any unnatural heat sources...Yup. Always try to avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight/UV light when dealing with ABS plastic, especially if it's white (turns ugly and yellows!). The stickers don't have to be on white bricks and elements for the degradation to appear with age. I was referring to stickers that were printed on white material, like the ones on Republic dropships from the live action Attack of the Clones film. I've got a really old city harbor set, and the stickers on the boat are badly damaged. I've removed most of them the best I can, but I have no plans to remove the face I drew on the boat when I first got it. His name was Shippy. He's my second oldest intact MOC, and I haven't added anything to him since 2010. I think the water may have damage the stickers, so keep them in a dry place.Hah! That's awesome. All of my Lego sets from my childhood were lost/thrown out over the years, unfortunately. Edited January 13, 2015 by Deadalus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyichir Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 I've never heard of anyone sealing Lego stickers with a protective seal or varnish, but it sounds like it would work provided you don't get any in the connection points and you use a product that's not prone to its own issues like yellowing.Generally, though, the biggest "scare stories" about stickered Lego are based on 10- to 15-year-old anecdotes, or isolated cases where extreme environmental issues were at play. I've been applying stickers for years, and pretty much the only stickers which have given me trouble as far as removal or breakage are concerned are ones that I removed and reapplied, or were otherwise compromised. And I have little doubt that Lego has improved aspects of their stickers like the material backing or adhesive since those early horror stories, so I imagine the majority of sets' stickers should last plenty long without any sort of additional protective treatments. Quote Formerly Lyichir: Rachira of Influence Aanchir's and Meiko's brother Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadalus Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 Huh. Coincidentally, the stickers on Kopaka's legs are already starting to lift a bit at the edges. No air bubbles, re-applying, or extra grease from the mold release either. Just called Lego and ordered extra copies of both sets of decals just in case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Munty Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 The stickers don't have to be on white bricks and elements for the degradation to appear with age. I was referring to stickers that were printed on white material, like the ones on Republic dropships from the live action Attack of the Clones film. Ah apologies, I misunderstood. Indeed the stickers in the police station were white AND on white bricks! I don't think they've actually yellowed too much but they were all on internal walls so that would be a likely reason for why not! In other cases I have seen plenty of yellowed stickers though. It's particularly noticeable with white stickers which also happen to be on white bricks of course as there is a distinct change in contrast between the pieces! Quote Check out my Bionicle store on Bricklink here!> > > Bionic Bricks < < < Let me know if you can help me find these last few collectibles!Also looking for WILD KRAATA and a VMKK Yo!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nidhiki of the Shadows Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Oh this makes me a bit worried... I hate stickers. Exo-Force gives me bad memories... -NotS 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xan Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Oh this makes me a bit worried... I hate stickers. Exo-Force gives me bad memories... -NotS That's the reason I joined Bricklink. Oh and masks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deadalus Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 (edited) The Pledge floor finish came today. Brushed it onto the pieces and checked in about 1 hour. Everything looks nice and smooth and even with a very nice, high gloss shine (matches the plastic). Works like a charm! One of the stickers on Kopaka's knees was already lifting up so I'm glad that I got extra sets coming in the mail. Worse case scenario is that I just buy another white shell piece with my next batch of parts and apply another sticker before brushing on some Pledge. Edited January 15, 2015 by Deadalus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akavakaku Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Wow, great idea! Is there a way to safely remove it if I decide I'd rather not have the stickers though? Quote ( The bunny slippers hiss and slither into the shadows. ) -Takuaka: Toa of TimeWhat if the Toa you know best were not destined to be? Interchange: The epic begins Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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