Zinc Pest

[clevischi]

Hello guys, these kind of grey spots in this IAB could be the zinc pest?

Thanks in advance.

[Paul R.]

I see traces of zinc rot, and the bronze wash flaking off. Paul

[Stahlhelm]

I agree with Paul. It does, however, look to be in the early stages. Another problem with zinc pest is that it can develop under the finish, and then help to push it off and/or corrode it, as it forms.

Chris

[clevischi]

Thank you guys, i used some Renasence wax for protecting it. Do you do something more?

[Paul R.]

I hate to say this. There is no 100% cure or bring the zinc pest to a hault. Nothing will work. You may delay the pest a bit, but sooner or later it's back I would keep it away from other badges. Some people swear that it jumps badges. I am not 100% sure of that myself, but why risk it. Paul

[Stahlhelm]

Thank you guys, i used some Renasence wax for protecting it. Do you do something more?

Clevishi:

I have a bit of good news, from my perspective, for whatever it's worth. I have a couple of items in my collection with small amounts of zinc pest. I have controlled the environment in which they are displayed, and during the last two years since, I have noticed absolutely NO further progression of zinc pest on those pieces. I know this, because I initially examined each piece with a high-powered magnifying glass and sketched exactly where the pest was on each piece. As I said, as of today, two years later, there has been NO change.

The best way to try to control it is to control the humidity level in your collection's environment. Invest in a hygrometer and keep the humidity low. After all, it is the humidity which I believe starts the pest and keeps it going thereafter. All of the metal corrosions I've seen so far are like rust; they mainly need humidity (water in the air) to get started and keep them going successfully, optimally, and/or at all. Just think of the way rust works. You turn off the water, and it dies or goes into remission.

Now, there are those who beleve that once zinc pest begins, it's like a nonstoppable cancer that will eat and deteriorate your collectibles to death, without hope. While I don't make a habit of buying pieces already infected with obvious zinc pest, I don't like to give up hope about controlling this stuff--especially when the jury hasn't reached a final verdict on it yet.

As Paul said, some believe that the pest can jump from one piece to another within a collecting area. I do not personally believe that. From what I know about it, after lots of reading and practical thinking about it, what really causes it, etc., I see absolutely no reason to think that it is contagious. If you notice that multiple items become infected within the same area, I think it is mainly because they are all being kept within the same high humidity environment. Whereas it may appear that the pest is contagious, jumping from one piece to the next, the humidity is the likely culprit, in my opinion.

In order for anyone to really prove the zinc pest residue (the white substance on the surface) causes the pest perse, they would have to prove a lot more unlikely things, in my opinion. Since the zinc pest is just the result or the byproduct of the infection (precipitated by moisture), it just doesn't make sense to me that it also in turn causes it. For example, rust doesn't cause rust, and verdigris doesn't cause verdigris, perse. Those are two similar metal corrosions. They are all also instead caused mainly by water and/or water and other pollutants in the enviroment. For example again, verdigris is caused by humidity interacting with acetic acid--a natural and man made pollutant in the environment. However, the verdigris product (copper acetate or "the green stuff") does not in itself cause more verdigris. There is no evidence of this that I have ever uncovered in any extensive reading on the subject, nor does it make any good sense. Furthermore again, nothing in any research I've read on the pest suggests that is caused by any other main ingredient but humidity. Believe me, I have looked high and low for such evidence, and I have personally yet to find any.

Until someone shows me research to the contrary, I will not budge on my hopeful conclusions. If anyone out there does find any hard evidence, explaining exactly what the zinc pest residue is composed of, and then suggests that this residue in turn causes the pest, please let me know.

As a final note, I am in no way suggesting that you should not heed the warnings and keep your stuff away from other noninfected pieces in your collection. The ultra-safest thing to do is to quarantine, I suppose. This is just all my opinion, from my personal experience and learning.

Chris

[clevischi]

Thank you Chris. Very nice informations. I already bought some "silica packs" and will buy a hygrometer in near future.

[Stahlhelm]

Hi, clevischi:

You are most welcome! I'm glad I could be of help.

Chris

[Paul R.]

Thanks Chris! Paul