[Guest]

Its kind puzzling to me that we all have such beautiful collections that we pour a great deal of energy and pride into and yet we dont shre that age old secret...

How do you keep them clean and dust free. :lol

I thought by now that this forum would have filled up with tips and advice on how to maintain and take care of some of the awesome pieces that we have on display.

As I routinely rotate my models on display, I suffer the same anxiety as most everyone...dust. :ranting

I find myself dusting on a daily basis :ranting

 

[vegasracer]

As I've mentioned before, all of my higher-end models are in individual cases. My other models are toughing it out on the shelves, exposed to dust. With those models, I use a very large, soft makeup brush and some canned duster 'air' to clean them on a weekly basis.

Frankly, the only time dust seems to be a problem is during photo sessions. Then, I use the brush and canned air to remove most of the microfibers and dust.

Also, all of the cars displayed out in the open are closed (coupes). Any roadsters or open models are displayed in cases.

I'm fortunate... even though Las Vegas is an inherently dusty locale, my house appears to be rather 'tight' and I don't get a lot of dust.

 

[Guest]

I notice dust too while taking pics, its kinda embarrassing if you don't catch it in time :giggle

 

[Ford GT]

I usually dust my models atleast once a week if not more.

I have my more "valuable" diecast in their boxes, so just the boxes need dusting :giggle

I have a few shelves but nothing near what I should have.

Looking to buy some glass one's in the near future :cheers

 

[vegasracer]

I notice dust too while taking pics, its kinda embarrassing if you don't catch it in time :giggle

For me, it's not so much that it's embarrassing (you can always edit it out in your image editor)... it's just that it takes more work to edit the dust out than it does to do a good thorough job in the beginning before you shoot!

 

[Guest]

Cleaning-wise, I've got a camel hair broad paint brush that go over my models with when I get in the dusting mood. For the interior, the can of compressed air does the trick as well. Since Most of my models are now in some sort of storage, I don't worry about dust as much.

 

[Ronan]

The glass cabinets I have my cars in are mostly dust free, so very little cleaning is needed. I do give them an occasional dusting with a make-up brush used for just that purpose (plus a can of compressed air to get at the interiors if necessary). Mostly just before a photo session really (just like VR described!)

 

[LUW]

The glass cabinets I have my cars in are mostly dust free, so very little cleaning is needed. I do give them an occasional dusting with a make-up brush used for just that purpose (plus a can of compressed air to get at the interiors if necessary). Mostly just before a photo session really (just like VR described!)

Same here.

 

[StygianMax]

I notice dust too while taking pics, its kinda embarrassing if you don't catch it in time :giggle

For me, it's not so much that it's embarrassing (you can always edit it out in your image editor)... it's just that it takes more work to edit the dust out than it does to do a good thorough job in the beginning before you shoot!

:iagree That can certainly be time-consuming. You wouldn't believe how much dust can show up on that reflective black background I've been using recently! Even when I remove a car from the board, I see like tire marks (made up of really fine dust particles) on the board. I have to dust my board before shooting each a new car!

That image editor tool for "removing" dust and weird light flare spots is a life saver. :happy

 

[JSB 33]

The glass cabinets I have my cars in are mostly dust free, so very little cleaning is needed. I do give them an occasional dusting with a make-up brush used for just that purpose (plus a can of compressed air to get at the interiors if necessary). Mostly just before a photo session really (just like VR described!)

Same here.

:iagree :iagree

 

[Guest]

are the air cans cheap to buy????

I have no cases so dust gets to my diecast very easily :crying

 

[Ronan]

are the air cans cheap to buy????

I have no cases so dust gets to my diecast very easily :crying

Pretty cheap I think, I get mine at PC World a large warehouse computer supply store. They don't last all that long though, so if you had dozens of models to dust you may only get one sessions use out of one can.

 

[Guest]

Dust is a real big problem for me and unfortunately I haven't discovered any real effective method of combating them other than what has already been discussed.

I live in a very old house where dust seems to be everywhere and in unusually high abundance. I can't have a model out in the open more than a day or two before it needs to be dusted, and when I do, it seems like I'm just transfering it on to another model. Sometimes it gets to a point where I wonder why I even collect these things when I have to keep them all in cases and boxes all the time just to keep dust off. I don't feel I'm getting full enjoyment of having them around. Even the "dust-free" cabinet gets dusty after a while from me opening and closing while rearranging.

My models are all in one room which is fully carpetted (dust magnet). I've put a small piece of carbon filter, those used for portable air purifier, over the air vent to keep dust from blowing into the room. I have a portable air purifier in there running a few hours a day. I'm vacuuming every other day. I'm going to have the ventilation ducts professionally cleaned this spring. Hopefully all this will save me from having to dust and clean them in the first place. Well, less often anyway.

Sorry that I didn't add any valuable information to this thread.

 

[StygianMax]

I'm really lucky in that my office accumulates dust at a very slow rate. I think it's just because of where that room is located withon the house. SM JR's room on the other hand is a real problem!!

 

[Guest]

I haven't really noticed a dust problem as yet - some of my models are displayed in a (Ikea) Billy bookshelf unit. I'm in the process of adding some weather stripping to make the cabinet more air tight.

 

[Guest]

I haven't really noticed a dust problem as yet - some of my models are displayed in a (Ikea) Billy bookshelf unit. I'm in the process of adding some weather stripping to make the cabinet more air tight.

I too have 2 Billy cabinets and have added magnetic closures on the top and bottom. I've been looking for some light brown door felt to seal the top and bottom seams for more "air-tightness". I've minimized the gap in the cemter to almost nil and as it sits right now, dust is not a problem.

Ah yes, but before last summer, when all was open to "Dust Vader", I just kept all my open cockpit cars in jet-plast displays and put the coupes out. I would dust the coupes with a very fine make-up brush and all was well. It also helped that while watching races almost every other weekend, I'd sit and polish and wax my cars, maybe 4-6 cars each race. They look great with a coat of wax on em'. I can't wait to get my silver M3 GTR and cut polish it and then throw 3-4 coats of wax on that. Bring out the sunglasses. :cool1

 

[Guest]

DiecastX:

I find myself dusting on a daily basis

How many models do you have? :confused Thats alot of dusting for everyday.

Im sorry guys but all I do is cover them up with a towel and when Im in the "Diecast Sanctum" (as I call it (a room almost dedicated to diecast) I just uncover them see them then put the towels back on them and I almost never have to dust at all. I will dust maybe once every 3-4 months if that. :cool

 

[Guest]

I recently went over the 150 mark, I think I'm roughly around maybe 175 or so. :giggle