Zinc pest ......... Help !!!!!!

**Newbie** · 02-17-2013, 11:14 PM

Damn, i just applied, now i gotta wipe off, lol

**Espenlaub Militaria** · 02-17-2013 11:14 PM

We also buy and trade your items and full collections!

**Newbie** · 02-17-2013, 11:26 PM

ok, wiped off all that i could, there is still a slight sheen of the Vaseline, but the badge itself looks fine, and no pest .....I will let dry and reapply Vaseline, without aloe.

**Adrian** · 02-17-2013, 11:32 PM

It will retain a certain sheen after vaseline but this is no problem. Better that than a rotting badge.....

**Newbie** · 02-17-2013, 11:36 PM

So should i reapply the regular Vaseline, i didn't really think aloe to be an issue, it was an after thought. I just put the initial coat on, then wiped it off like after 20 min after we questioned if aloe was ok........ I do notice that the badge is darker, and seems to not have as much of the silver wash visible ....will the the silver wash become visible again after it dries?

**rbminis** · 02-17-2013, 11:39 PM

by Newbie

ok, wiped off all that i could, there is still a slight sheen of the Vaseline, but the badge itself looks fine, and no pest .....I will let dry and reapply Vaseline, without aloe.

It will probably not dry.

I would just reapply and wipe off as much as you can. I have had 1 or 2 badges that had very little zinc pest and I only applied to the pest and near surrounding area for a short period of time and that seemed to work well.
Ralph.

**Newbie** · 02-18-2013, 02:19 PM

Here is the final result......a little shy of 24 hrs....

**Kradmelder** · 02-18-2013, 03:49 PM

Your badge looks much better yet imo.

My result.

**DAZZA3483** · 02-18-2013, 04:04 PM

Does the coat of Vaseline actually stop the Zinc pest?,I'm sure I read somewhere that its sadly an irreversible condition...the scourge of badge collecting!

Would it be a wise move to treat all WW2 badges (Zinc pest or not) with Vaseline as a general act of preservation?

**Adrian** · 02-18-2013, 04:14 PM

I don't think it stops it but it does improve the condition and arrests the progress and severity of the rot. I think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that the zinc pest needs air and the vaseline leaves a barrier which protects the base metal. I think it also depend on the quality of the zinc too. Obviously there is bound to be differences in quality between batches and the poorer quality zinc seems to be more affected.

**Kradmelder** · 02-18-2013, 04:55 PM

by DAZZA3483

Does the coat of Vaseline actually stop the Zinc pest?,I'm sure I read somewhere that its sadly an irreversible condition...the scourge of badge collecting!

Would it be a wise move to treat all WW2 badges (Zinc pest or not) with Vaseline as a general act of preservation?

A really zinc pest comes of the inside of the material.You have no chance to stop it.

A soft oil or vaseline,is a good protection for oxidation or other reactions they touch the material from outside.