Removing tail washers -and- clamps?

[sweetlittlejenny]

Well, I think I'm leaving it in and if someone buys him and wants me to remove it then I will. If it was a regular $5 pony I wouldn't worry about it but since he's a little pricier I just wasn't sure.
Keep your eyes peeled, he'll be up for sale soon!

[hathorcat]

I've never removed the clamp from a rusty pony. I use whitening toothpaste to scrub the rust out of the tail hair and off the clamp, then let it dry before I pop it back in. Unless the clamp was so rusted it was breaking apart, I don't see reason to go through the trouble of removing and replacing it.

Just be careful with this. I am honestly not warning people for anything other than their own good and future sanity.

First if the clamp was rusty, you will find that the hair covered by the clamp, which you can not see is also damaged/stained by the rust. Popping the tail back in with this clamp still in place and with the rust on the inside of the clamp, you are going to find the rust simply comes back over time.

In addition by soaking the clamp and cleaning the tail this way you have done to the metal of the clamp the very thing which will have caused rust on the washer to start with - gotten it wet.

I have a WigWam who I purchased 5 or 6 year ago. He arrived with a replaced plastic washer but his clamp in place. Because the seller had mentioned they had replaced his washer due to rust I checked it out when he arrived. The seller had done a fantastic job - WigWam's tail, new plastic washer and original tail clamp had no sign of rust at all. So I popped him up on display and did not worry about it. About 3 months ago I was taking pictures of some ponies including WigWam and on wiping/dusting him down I was horrified to notice that he has the start of very minor tail rust. He has never got wet; I do not live in a humid environment but on removing his tail there is very slight rust on the clamp now. Unfortunately its most likely been because the rust on the underside was never removed and has simply expanded over the last years.

[Rachel-Eyes]

I always remove the washers even if they aren't rusty, just because I like to decrease the chances of rust later on.
 Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but whatever. Haters gonna hate.

 And maybe I'm just dumb, but the only reason I never remove the clamp is because... I can't figure out how to get the darn things off! I nearly destroyed Little Giggles's tail before I gave up. I was a new collector then, and I haven't tried it since.

All of these things though are things that I'd be more than happy to disclose with a buyer since, after all, my methods are a bit unorthodox.

[happycootie]

Personally, I like to remove the washer and the clamp if any rust is present. I know some people worry about how that may affect their value, but I have no plans to sell my ponies ever so I don't care. I just want them to feel happy and clean!

[sweetlittlejenny]

Just for the record I don't believe Tux had any rust on his tail at all, just the Pony Bride. Just removed the washer by habit while cleaning him up. Water could have gotten in there while cleaning him though I suppose. But I'm making sure he and his tail are thoroughly dry.
Thanks for everyone's opinions.

[pineapple]

I always remove the washers even if they aren't rusty, just because I like to decrease the chances of rust later on.
 Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but whatever. Haters gonna hate.

 And maybe I'm just dumb, but the only reason I never remove the clamp is because... I can't figure out how to get the darn things off! I nearly destroyed Little Giggles's tail before I gave up. I was a new collector then, and I haven't tried it since.

All of these things though are things that I'd be more than happy to disclose with a buyer since, after all, my methods are a bit unorthodox.

I hold the clamp with one pair of pliers and pull it open with another pair of needle nose.

[hathorcat]

I always remove the washers even if they aren't rusty, just because I like to decrease the chances of rust later on.
 Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but whatever. Haters gonna hate.

 And maybe I'm just dumb, but the only reason I never remove the clamp is because... I can't figure out how to get the darn things off! I nearly destroyed Little Giggles's tail before I gave up. I was a new collector then, and I haven't tried it since.

All of these things though are things that I'd be more than happy to disclose with a buyer since, after all, my methods are a bit unorthodox.

I hold the clamp with one pair of pliers and pull it open with another pair of needle nose.

You can also crush it...pinch it flat in one direction and then pinch it flat in the opposite direction. You wont damage the hair inside but eventually the metal in the clamp will fracture at the crease points and open.

[Rachel-Eyes]

I always remove the washers even if they aren't rusty, just because I like to decrease the chances of rust later on.
 Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but whatever. Haters gonna hate.

 And maybe I'm just dumb, but the only reason I never remove the clamp is because... I can't figure out how to get the darn things off! I nearly destroyed Little Giggles's tail before I gave up. I was a new collector then, and I haven't tried it since.

All of these things though are things that I'd be more than happy to disclose with a buyer since, after all, my methods are a bit unorthodox.

I hold the clamp with one pair of pliers and pull it open with another pair of needle nose.

You can also crush it...pinch it flat in one direction and then pinch it flat in the opposite direction. You wont damage the hair inside but eventually the metal in the clamp will fracture at the crease points and open.

This was actually what I was doing... but it was still bending the clamp without breaking it.

[hathorcat]

I always remove the washers even if they aren't rusty, just because I like to decrease the chances of rust later on.
 Perhaps a bit unorthodox, but whatever. Haters gonna hate.

 And maybe I'm just dumb, but the only reason I never remove the clamp is because... I can't figure out how to get the darn things off! I nearly destroyed Little Giggles's tail before I gave up. I was a new collector then, and I haven't tried it since.

All of these things though are things that I'd be more than happy to disclose with a buyer since, after all, my methods are a bit unorthodox.

I hold the clamp with one pair of pliers and pull it open with another pair of needle nose.

You can also crush it...pinch it flat in one direction and then pinch it flat in the opposite direction. You wont damage the hair inside but eventually the metal in the clamp will fracture at the crease points and open.

This was actually what I was doing... but it was still bending the clamp without breaking it.

Oh dear! All I can say is stick at it. They will eventually loosen although I will admit it can be very time consuming...I get my poor brother to do it he is much stronger and determined than I am.

[Prince Primbrose]

I've never removed the clamp from a rusty pony. I use whitening toothpaste to scrub the rust out of the tail hair and off the clamp, then let it dry before I pop it back in. Unless the clamp was so rusted it was breaking apart, I don't see reason to go through the trouble of removing and replacing it.

Just be careful with this. I am honestly not warning people for anything other than their own good and future sanity.

First if the clamp was rusty, you will find that the hair covered by the clamp, which you can not see is also damaged/stained by the rust. Popping the tail back in with this clamp still in place and with the rust on the inside of the clamp, you are going to find the rust simply comes back over time.

In addition by soaking the clamp and cleaning the tail this way you have done to the metal of the clamp the very thing which will have caused rust on the washer to start with - gotten it wet.

I have a WigWam who I purchased 5 or 6 year ago. He arrived with a replaced plastic washer but his clamp in place. Because the seller had mentioned they had replaced his washer due to rust I checked it out when he arrived. The seller had done a fantastic job - WigWam's tail, new plastic washer and original tail clamp had no sign of rust at all. So I popped him up on display and did not worry about it. About 3 months ago I was taking pictures of some ponies including WigWam and on wiping/dusting him down I was horrified to notice that he has the start of very minor tail rust. He has never got wet; I do not live in a humid environment but on removing his tail there is very slight rust on the clamp now. Unfortunately its most likely been because the rust on the underside was never removed and has simply expanded over the last years.

I had never even considered this... So, after removing a clamp, just add plastic parts to keep everything in place?

[sweetlittlejenny]

Yes, you can use zip-ties that are normally use to tie up electronic cables. I bought clear/translucent ones at my local home store.

[Prince Primbrose]

I think at some point I tried to secure a tail with a zip tie, but the hair slipped out of it, and the zip tie didn't seem big enough to not pop out the tail hole. (But I may have had too little hair for the tail, so I'll try again soon. )

[vortex1310]

Personally, I like to remove the washer and the clamp if any rust is present. I know some people worry about how that may affect their value, but I have no plans to sell my ponies ever so I don't care. I just want them to feel happy and clean!

Well said! Exactly how I feel.

My ponies often come with me so I feel better knowing if they get dirty or their hair gets messed up I can wash them when I get home and not worry about it aggravating the rust.

[hathorcat]

I've never removed the clamp from a rusty pony. I use whitening toothpaste to scrub the rust out of the tail hair and off the clamp, then let it dry before I pop it back in. Unless the clamp was so rusted it was breaking apart, I don't see reason to go through the trouble of removing and replacing it.

Just be careful with this. I am honestly not warning people for anything other than their own good and future sanity.

First if the clamp was rusty, you will find that the hair covered by the clamp, which you can not see is also damaged/stained by the rust. Popping the tail back in with this clamp still in place and with the rust on the inside of the clamp, you are going to find the rust simply comes back over time.

In addition by soaking the clamp and cleaning the tail this way you have done to the metal of the clamp the very thing which will have caused rust on the washer to start with - gotten it wet.

I have a WigWam who I purchased 5 or 6 year ago. He arrived with a replaced plastic washer but his clamp in place. Because the seller had mentioned they had replaced his washer due to rust I checked it out when he arrived. The seller had done a fantastic job - WigWam's tail, new plastic washer and original tail clamp had no sign of rust at all. So I popped him up on display and did not worry about it. About 3 months ago I was taking pictures of some ponies including WigWam and on wiping/dusting him down I was horrified to notice that he has the start of very minor tail rust. He has never got wet; I do not live in a humid environment but on removing his tail there is very slight rust on the clamp now. Unfortunately its most likely been because the rust on the underside was never removed and has simply expanded over the last years.

I had never even considered this... So, after removing a clamp, just add plastic parts to keep everything in place?

Yes You can buy plastic washers - look for the ones which are not rigid plastic but have a little flexibility in the plastic. Just tie a ribbon or bit of string around the tail root, pull the tail through the tail hole and then through the washer. Untie the ribbon/string and replace with a cable tie or plastic grip [which of course needs to be larger than the hole in the washer. All done!