corrosion on flak and ground assault badges

[kevin john]

Hello everybody,I only started collecting in march and i have 16 ekIIs,but i know want to collect Luftwaffe flak and ground assault badges as well,my question is i have been looking at all the threads i can to try and learn about them .But on the dealers sights i see a lot of badges made of zinc that seem to be covered in a surface corrosion,on anouther thread one of the members said you could give them a vaseline bath.put vaseline on for two days then gently clean it off is this a good idea or is there a different way .thanks in advance from a novice kevin.

[Waffe]

Hello:
I don't have any advice for treating it, but here is an article on the problem:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc_pest

Regards,
Kent

[kevin john]

hello kent interesting article i suppose if there is not a solution i can stick to collecting the ones made from a different metal thanks kevin.

[Waffe]

i can stick to collecting the ones made from a different metal thanks kevin.

That is one solution, yes. I have had several pieces made of zinc, that never changed in the years that I had them. I wouldn't avoid all zinc items, just be selective about the condition you obtain them in.

Kent

[kevin john]

kent thanks for the info kevin.