Old Funko Pop smells like Rust

[rontonsoup]

I just bought a Metallic Alien SDCC off eBay and it smells like rust and the paint is sticky. I confirmed that it was real via Facebook.

Other than that, has anyone ever had this experience?

I was questioning the authenticity because of the smell and texture, but after a thorough debate with people who actually own it, they confirmed it was real.

[Hgmaddhatter]

Maybe it was stored somewhere without temp control and the fluctuation broke down the paint?? Definitely weird though, because whenever I make customs and remove the paint with acetone or whatever it will get a bit tacky, but I would imagine if some sort of chemical got on it the box would be damaged as well.

I had a different but similar thing happen where I opened my 10" Baby Groot and he had like a weird oil substance on his back and one arm. I took him OOB a few years ago for a few mins when I first bought him but since then he has been on a shelf in box. It almost feels like grease from his bobblehead spring...

[PrincessLeia]

Would you say it's the painting or the vinyl? If it's the vinyl then the plastic is breaking down, but it's strange. Never heard of that happening to a Pop.
It only happens to certain vinyls that are stored in a way that they can't "breathe" (sealed in a package). When the plastic breaks down, the plasticizer leaches out of the vinyl, it vaporizes but can't escape the package, so it clings to the figure, making it even more sticky.

[Toys R Us Kid]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

[Schl0]

I’ve had some Spastiks that stayed in their tubes forever begin to “sweat” if vinyl doesn’t get some fresh air every once in a while this will happen.

[renardchua]

Had the same experience with these with older Wobblers and Spastiks as well.

I think it’s a normal thing that could happen, if it’s stored in a sealed location.

[mongoose12]

i'd take this as a badge of honor. some would say its the smell of sweet vintage funko glory

[CaseyJones14]

I've had vinyl sweat on Spastiks, Wobblers, and even Dorbz but have not experienced it on a Pop as of yet.

[rexflexall]

News to me on that one!

[BigM]

Guess we’ll start hearing more of this happening with some pops as the years go by. They’re starting to get “old”.

[Sarcasticguy]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

Came to say this... old vinyls definitely used to sweat. IDK about now or the Pops, but maybe that's what happened? It also could have been a case of someone's house not being clean.

[Lakers]

That is new to me, did not see it so far on my old ones. But will need to keep a eye on it.

[Icetenka]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

If the POP is sticky, the paper towel didn't stick to the pop? There is a thread in the wobblers section and it seems a little bit of soap and water with a magic eraser helps.

[lavery01]

I can’t say that I have, but I probably wouldn’t even know, we keep all of our pops in box.

[Toys R Us Kid]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

If the POP is sticky, the paper towel didn't stick to the pop? There is a thread in the wobblers section and it seems a little bit of soap and water with a magic eraser helps.

Oh yes, magic eraser is better. Just be careful because it did start to turn the color of the wobbler I was washing. Which I'm sure is just the residue/sweat washing away. I was gentle and didn't attack it too aggressively just in case it was pulling paint.

[Toys R Us Kid]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

Came to say this... old vinyls definitely used to sweat. IDK about now or the Pops, but maybe that's what happened? It also could have been a case of someone's house not being clean.

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

[Jango_Fresh]

I have had this happen to wobblers and spastiks, can’t say I have seen pops sweat though.

[fbingha]

Just think, how would Flocked pops react to the sweats?

[BRiley0216]

Not sure why but after reading the tittle for this thread I had to check it out

[dork_knight]

This has happened to me with old Wacky Wobblers. The paint sweats and smells like lead. But this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Have you tried to wash it? I've washed older wobblers with a little soap and warm water. Maybe even dab the back of it with a wet paper towel and see if that helps.

Came to say this... old vinyls definitely used to sweat. IDK about now or the Pops, but maybe that's what happened? It also could have been a case of someone's house not being clean.

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

[Ginzo1622]

Came to say this... old vinyls definitely used to sweat. IDK about now or the Pops, but maybe that's what happened? It also could have been a case of someone's house not being clean.

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

Really? Never had a wobbler.

[rexflexall]

Now I gotta check my 'vintage' pops from 2012 LOL!

[Fugly16]

I've personally never experienced this but I do find this thread intriguing with other examples of it. Can you only notice the smell when it is OOB?

[Kwik_One]

Would you say it's the painting or the vinyl? If it's the vinyl then the plastic is breaking down, but it's strange. Never heard of that happening to a Pop.
It only happens to certain vinyls that are stored in a way that they can't "breathe" (sealed in a package). When the plastic breaks down, the plasticizer leaches out of the vinyl, it vaporizes but can't escape the package, so it clings to the figure, making it even more sticky.

This is good to know. I’ll have to start taking some of the older ones out of box for a little while to let them “breathe”. Thanks!!!!

[Toys R Us Kid]

Came to say this... old vinyls definitely used to sweat. IDK about now or the Pops, but maybe that's what happened? It also could have been a case of someone's house not being clean.

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

Yep I think it’s the vinyl they used to use. My Vision wobbler feels like sticky candy haha. But I think you can kinda wash it off. A little scary because I think it pulls the color a bit?

[Ginzo1622]

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

Yep I think it’s the vinyl they used to use. My Vision wobbler feels like sticky candy haha. But I think you can kinda wash it off. A little scary because I think it pulls the color a bit?

Hmmm interesting

[dork_knight]

Yeah agreed, this is the first I've heard of it happening to pops. Idk if now that pops are starting to have some years on them, they are beginning to get the sweats too? If most collectors have them in box and haven't taken them out for years, they may not even notice it's happening. And if they have them out of box, is it true airing them out helps prevent the sweats?

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

Yep I think it’s the vinyl they used to use. My Vision wobbler feels like sticky candy haha. But I think you can kinda wash it off. A little scary because I think it pulls the color a bit?

Yeah. I'm afraid to wipe it cuz i feel like it might pull off paint :/

Have you tried anything before?

[renardchua]

Ewww...I had a wobbler that feels sticky from sweating. I'm wondering if it's because of the paint used or even the vinyl?

Yep I think it’s the vinyl they used to use. My Vision wobbler feels like sticky candy haha. But I think you can kinda wash it off. A little scary because I think it pulls the color a bit?

Yeah. I'm afraid to wipe it cuz i feel like it might pull off paint :/

With my old sticky wobblers, I sometimes wipe them with a fine cloth soaked into water, it somehow reduces the "stickiness", but I believe eventually it will come back to be sticky again at some point (based on experience).

[DrunkoPop]

I just bought a Metallic Alien SDCC off eBay and it smells like rust and the paint is sticky. I confirmed that it was real via Facebook.

Other than that, has anyone ever had this experience?

I was questioning the authenticity because of the smell and texture, but after a thorough debate with people who actually own it, they confirmed it was real.

My only guess is, how the person kept the Funko pop for the time being.