I thought this video on this topic was interesting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5__qz96xFk

 

You dang right it's neurotic.

 

Me, I make sure my hands are clean, and certain figures like MP. I tend to wipe off to make sure oily fingerprints arent left when I'm done like my G1 and reissues, MP figures, anything with Chrome or actual paint. Mainline figures, not so much, other non vintage figures...no.

I've built model cars and have seen my fair share of Vintage chrome...I know what prolonged exposure to oily and acidic fingerprints can do to Chrome, even modern Chrome, even some finishes. But gloves...no.

 

I've considered it, but have never actually done it. For most figures it makes no sense, but what prompted me to think about it was several figures I'd taken good care of that developed chrome damage from what I can only assume was oils from handling. I don't think I'm particularly oily but my laser prime's tanker is all kinds of jacked up and it definitely wasn't scratched up. At any rate, some of the FT Dibots made me wonder if I should use gloves with them due to the chrome.

 

my best friend's dad has an amazing comic collection. like he has literally every issue of amazing spderman. so as kids if dan wanted to read amazing fantasy 15, he had to wear gloves.

 

Yes. Yes it is neurotic.

 

I think it depends what you are collecting and what the goals of your collections are. If you collect mainly for a static display and you want to keep them as prestine as possible go for it.

I use gloves when doing dusting duties because I don't want to remove all the fingerprints after dusting. For normal handling I make sure to wash my hands and whipe them off once I'm finished playing with them.

This is of course only for my collectibles and not for retail toys. So my SoCs' Macross Valykries, MP Tranformers, etc.

 

If it's rare, old, contains diecast and is north of $250 I consider and wear purple non-latex exam gloves. I can tell you I have never touched my Ultimetal Prime without gloves. This rarely happens with my transformers but it's common with my chogokin collection. Plus I look fucking awesome in purple exam gloves.

 

Never use glooves, it ruins the sensation.

 

^ until you buy from them on the secondary market and realize holy shit this person gave a shit about his collection this toy is pristine and not finger fucked beyond all recognition.

 

Yeah, for real guys, enough with the "he must be disturbed and a psycho" or whatever wannabe psychiatrist nonsense.

Can we agree that it's weird? Yes, for sure. Unless they ARE "museum pieces", like a one-of-a-kind hand painted G1 prototype or even some of the rarer Japanese GPS figures, or something along those lines.

I mean, no one will think it's weird to handle G1s or even Masterpieces with a good hundred years from now, but yes, it's generally weird now. But not dark disturbed psycho-killer weird. I know we're all prone to hyperbole, but COME ON!  

But weird? Yes, definitely weird.

 

If I see a figure that doesnt meet my expectations or looks like it was abused I would simply pass it up. Wearing gloves to handle a toy is a lot different then handling a rare piece of art.

 

not if you put lube on THEN the gloves.

 

I paid $1k for Ultimetal Prime it's a little beyond a child's toys and I handle it with gloves everytime. All my ExGokins as well and some of my vintage robots I have 10s of thousands of dollars in collectibles. There are many I would handle with gloves. I consider toys works of art. Anyone handling a $15 classics figure with gloves is a little silly but toy collecting stretches a good deal beyond that.

 

Agree, if my hands are obviously filthy I will make sure they are clean before handling my figures, but the same goes for anything. I don't get in my car and start grabbing the steering wheel with filthy hands, that's just not proper etiquette.

Wearing gloves to handle your figures? Am I a gemologist? That's silly. They're toys, they need to be held lol.

 

Just wash or purell before handling if you're worried...