Is "kabi" still suspected of being contagious? I'd love to take a known specimen and leave it in a shoebox with another toy for a year, see what happens.
I mean, that was the problem with the whole kabi discussion. The people who described the phenomenon were never able to produce a first-hand example (or any example, really). @deafmetal Thanks for the info, interesting to know that there are some where the bubbles have not developed a discoloration. Whatever may be the cause, my take on the microbubbles and 'dirt' is that it is probably not something that is contagious or destructive. If it were something that could cause the toy to deteriorate over time and/or spread to other toys, I think it would be a much bigger deal in the vinyl collecting world (especially now that people are spending thousands on vintage figures).
When I read about kabi here in 2009, I panicked thinking my first Tiger 7 had the "dreaded disease", and was going to spread it to my other toys, if he wasn't isolated in a vacuum cube. Brian assured us that the discoloration wasn't mold, but dirt that had gotten into the tiny vinyl bubble holes, over time. So I got out my hand lense and took some photos of this, and this was what I found: Tiger 7 (my first one! ) Note the gray areas on the shoulder, which I thought were kabi Closeup on the shoulder It does look like mold, doesn't it More extensive look So when the grayish areas are magnified, you can see they are indeed vinyl bubble holes. Dirt is embedded deep into the bubbles. Well he's been living with his brothers in my toy case, and no signs of spreading "mold" to other toys. The dirt has discolored the base vinyl material, in addition to being inside of the bubble. No amount of washing has been able to make a difference, so I just soap and rinse my toys occasionally to keep them clean. *Now it is theoretically possible for toys to have mold and mildew! If they were stored in a dirty moist environment. I'm sure toys can get moldy. In this case, it was just dirt.
@Mr. Humphreys Thanks for sharing the update on your Tiger 7. Glad to hear it has remained the same over the years. I still wonder how the dirt gets in those little holes, or why some of them develop that slight ring of discoloration.
My Sanda and Gaira by Bear Model (two of my favorite BM toys, ever) have a lot of bubbles on the surface, in certain areas, causing tiny craters. Luckily they haven't accumulated any dirt/mold and the sculpts are textured enough in that classic bear model style ... it doesn't matter.
Thinking of giving my "new" to me Ultra Man 13 inch a scrub. It's not too dirty but could probably use a gentle cleaning.
I don’t believe it’s theoretically possible for toys to have mold. Mold needs a food source that is organic like wood, paper, grains, etc. Vinyl is an inorganic substrate and isn’t a food source for mold.
I think polyvinyl chloride would be considered an organic compound because vinyl chloride has carbon molecules in it. They also add in phthalates at the factory to determine if the figures will be rigid or more pliable, those compounds are also organic.
I should’ve have been more specific. Mold uses cellulose and/or carbon based organic compounds as food. I was in the industrial hygiene industry for numerous years and I’ve never seen mold growing on anything plastic and/or vinyl. Take that for what it’s worth.. /shrug
With all of that being said, mold could potentially grow on the dust that has settled on your toys, but it’s rather unlikely..
But mold grows on my shower tiles people's shower tiles. What plant matter is it eating in cases like that (that I don't have any personal experience with)?
Soap scum, dirt, and skin cells accumulate in showers and baths, providing a food source for mold. Mold is not eating the tiles. It’s eating what on the tiles.. I edited my earlier reply. Mold also feeds on carbon based organic matter like dead things skin cells, etc.. It was late and I haven’t been in the biz for over a decade. My expertise isn’t what it used to be..
