Replaceing metal washers with zip-tie on 'healthy' ponies?

[Lightning Twirl]

I might just be a paranoid my little pony mommy,  but I want to prevent as much problems as possible and keep all my ponies in best condition as possible! I was thinking about my G4 collection and how it might be effected in 20 years by the elements. I definitely try to keep them very well taken care of in a dark, cool, dry spot free of moisture and I even have a tiny dehumidifier where they are kept. I was thinking... even though they aren't getting wet, should I replace the metal washers with zip-tie already to prevent future tail rust? What do you guys think, too much?

Also,  this might be a bit excessive... but is it a good idea, until I move and set up a pony display, to keep each pony separated in their own ziplock bag with a dryer sheet or silica gel packet? I find a lot of those silica packets at work in freight, and I could easily find enough for each member of my herd in  maybe a week!

[phoenixsoul85]

I am curious about the washer question myself.  Let's see what some other mommies and daddies think.

[Hexi]

hmm.... unless you live in a really humid part of the world i think they would be ok without the ziplock bags. especially as you are already taking care of them with a de-humidifier.  unless they already have signs of mould?
i know a fair few members here take the metal washers out of their ponies almost immediately to stop rust so that would be ok as long as you're the kind of person who can get the plug thing back in (i can't).
but i think the ziplock bags are a bit exessive especially as G4s are new ponies, there's no sign of mould and it's not like there's much chance of that just yet.
taking precautions is ok but i think you might be setting yourself up for a bit of stress otherwise. and if they're in baggies the ponies won't be on display!

but i'm just a newbie! what does everyone else do?

[Lightning Twirl]

Thank you guys, hopefully more people will answer because I do live in the very humid part northeast of Texas, I usually have to keep my AC on 17 hours a day to keep the humidity down for my desert reptiles living with me. Good news is its dry inside my apartment, but that changes if the AC breaks. I wanted to keep the ponies in baggies until I am ready for display, then I will take em out! =P Heehee,  I keep asking myself how would I get the tail back in the pony after the mini ziptie is on....

[Hexi]

hmmm thats true cause there is a metal thing holding the tail together isn't there..... pull the tail through the neck but leave a bit still sticking out of the butt, use some kind of metal cutters to snip off the washer. then zip tie and pull back through? or what about covering the washer in something instead of removing it? like to seal it and stop it rusting?

[Lightning Twirl]

Neat idea  bout not pulling the tail out all the way! =D hmm...dont know what we would use to cover the washer with... 

[katrine2309]

I would not be too concerned with the washer on G4s. After all the washers are made in s sturdy material and as long as they are not kept in a humid environment or you do not get your ponies wet all the time by washing them- they will not rust. It is water and humidity that causes rust and even then it would demand the washer to be consistently exposed to a wet environment. It seems like a lot of work for something that will most likely not happen. But that is just my opinion;)

[Teddy]

I think that's a little obsessive to do with G4's, but that's just me.

[sd_dreamcrystal]

Well I'm going to add my two cents. I will say it WILL be hard to go through this route. I've customed a few G4s and getting the heads off are hard enough but putting them back on after fact is really hard without cutting... some can do it others cannot.

But if you do go that route it's easy to get the tail back into the G4s once you get the heads off and the neck plugs out... just be warned, if you are planning on doing this with G4 Princess ponies... don't bother, trust me.

[Lightning Twirl]

All right, thank you everyone! I apprecciate the help! I wont actually try to replace the washers. For fun, I just tried to take the head off of a spare sweetie belle and omg it was hard to remove the head...cant imagine doing that to 100-ish ponies! Yeah, probably wont bother trying this unless someone has tail rust.

[hathorcat]

Whatever you do don't store them in baggies with dryer sheets - they can easily get stained or pigment can come out a little if pressed against a dryer sheet for too long.

I can kind of see where you are coming from as I have seen people report having tail rust on their G4 ponies already. But I think there are a couple of things to consider.

1) Tail rust is super easy to fix - one of the easiest things with ponies in fact - so if a pony develops it, the pony is not ruined and can easily be cleaned up.

2) There are tens of thousands of 30 year old G1 ponies in collections who have lived longer and probably less agreeable lives than your G4s which have probably gone straight from box to display, so I dont think a pandemic of tail rust in your herd should be immediately forthcoming

All in I personally think its a lot of work with very little purpose - I would simply store and display them as you describe and if you are worried about humidity then simply keep a watchful eye trained.

[tulagirl]

For me altering a pony when it is not necessary is not the best idea when it comes to value.  Its best to only do what is required and a minimal amount of work that does not alter the pony's original condition including washers.  I am against removing washers and the metal clamp on tails.  Once that is done, I don't want the pony, it ruins the value to me as now there is no proof the hair is original.  People are doing this, but having been an antique collector for many years any dealer will tell you..this is never a good idea in the long run.

[Shy Violet]

I wouldn't worry about it. Your an adult collector so the ponies are not going in the bathtub or playing outside in the elements, you've already taken some steps to prevent humidity. I know you've already discovered for yourself that their neck plugs don't come out easily but aside from having the washers and clamps removed devaluing the ponies, having their neck plugs cut out and crazy glued back in would be a huge devalue in my opinion. Hope that helps

[phoenixsoul85]

So glad this isn't recommended.  I had one heck of a time with removing the head and SUPER rusty weight of a SeaPony I have.  I never want to do it again but she was in dire straights.