Questions regarding "Pony Squish"

Uftaki

Uftaki

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As I've stated in my show & tell thread, I'm inventorizing & re-packing my MLP collection, and "Pony Squish" - the case of ponies on the bottom layers of storage bins getting squashed underneath the weight of ponies on top of them - has been on my mind.

G1 Ponies:
IIRC I read that 3 layers of ponies should be fine for avoiding squish, but as I slowly start to pack the ponies away, I'm realizing my new bins will be able to support packing them 4 layers deep. Is it okay to pack them 4 layers deep, or should I keep it to 3 layers?

As a possible prevention, would placing a solid, flat layer of something (like a thin piece of cardboard, or one of those craft foam boards?) in-between each layer help to distribute the weight/load, allowing for layers of 4 (or more)?

Are baby ponies as prone to "pony squish" as the adult ponies, or can you layer them up a little more with no worries?

Other Pony Gens:
After I'm done with G1, I'll be tackling my G3 and G4 collections. As those both are made with different plastics, each a little harder + firmer than the generation preceding it, does one even need to worry about "pony squish"? I can see it not being too much of an issue with G4 at least, given how small + hard/firm each toy is.

Any thoughts and tips on this would be very helpful. Thank you! :smile:
 
Hmmm I’m not sure as I’ve just always followed to three to a stack rule. But @MustBeJewel or possibly @Cactusflower might have a better idea?

I wouldn’t add a foam board as that will add weight. I also assume you are stacking standing up as well?

I don’t think you have to worry about G3/4/5 they are certainly more sturdy of a vinyl. This biggest thing I would recommend would be to wrap hair with plain white paper towel and get some good moisture packets to place in the bins with the ponies just as a precaution.
 
Skybreeze said:
Hmmm I’m not sure as I’ve just always followed to three to a stack rule. But @MustBeJewel or possibly @Cactusflower might have a better idea?

I wouldn’t add a foam board as that will add weight. I also assume you are stacking standing up as well?

I don’t think you have to worry about G3/4/5 they are certainly more sturdy of a vinyl. This biggest thing I would recommend would be to wrap hair with plain white paper towel and get some good moisture packets to place in the bins with the ponies just as a precaution.
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I'm laying them down on their sides, in ziplock baggies (so they wouldn't be able to stand up anyway). I have some silica gel packets I toss in; can try to find a few more. Just don't know where I would find those. c_c;

Just out of curiosity, why wrap their hair? And do you mean wrap their hair around their necks/legs, or just the hair itself? (it won't be as easy to do on the ones with more complex curls)

And the 'drawer dividers' thing sounds like a good idea. How I'm imagining it is like... thin strips of a firm cardboard/plastic, standing on-edge, in-between the rows of ponies... and the strips are a little taller than the ponies, then lay the thin cardboard sheet on top. Sort of like a table, almost? Is that what you were picturing?
 
Is this even a thing? Pony squish? I’ve never heard of it happening. Ponies are so light. I can’t imagine the weight being heavy enough to do that.

My ponies, which you probably noticed since you were sitting across from them recently, are standing and I have three layers. Probably far less likely to squish if they are standing. It never occurred to me to lay them down.
 
Lilykin said:
You could get (or make) some adjustable drawer dividers and then lay a piece of cardboard between the layers. That would keep the pressure off them completely.
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Like the kind you use to divide glasses when moving? That’s a good idea

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@stjarne they absorb any moisture that might get in which keeps it away from the ponys, when I move I always put a few in the boxes with my dolls
 
I understand the concept of the moisture packet, but I’d never store my ponies anywhere that this would be an issue. I guess if you were putting them in a damp basement or something, it might be a concern.
 
I think some G3 ponies can get squashed but their legs. My Starbeam that I picked up in a charity shop has squashed back legs and I think one or two of my childhood ones. Maybe putting something between their legs could help?
 
AzaleaArt said:
Like the kind you use to divide glasses when moving? That’s a good idea

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@stjarne they absorb any moisture that might get in which keeps it away from the ponys, when I move I always put a few in the boxes with my dolls
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oh ok, i dont live where thats a big problem but maybe ill think of throwing some in when we move, since it'll be during the summer months :confused: i also forgot the point of moisture packets was to take away moisture not add it
 
Uftaki said:
I'm laying them down on their sides, in ziplock baggies (so they wouldn't be able to stand up anyway). I have some silica gel packets I toss in; can try to find a few more. Just don't know where I would find those. c_c;

Just out of curiosity, why wrap their hair? And do you mean wrap their hair around their necks/legs, or just the hair itself? (it won't be as easy to do on the ones with more complex curls)

And the 'drawer dividers' thing sounds like a good idea. How I'm imagining it is like... thin strips of a firm cardboard/plastic, standing on-edge, in-between the rows of ponies... and the strips are a little taller than the ponies, then lay the thin cardboard sheet on top. Sort of like a table, almost? Is that what you were picturing?
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For me I wrap hair when the pony has hair im afraid will bleed. Neon haired ponies scare me a bit lol Im afraid theyll bleed onto the pony. My g1 Surprises I always wrap up her hair. I also wrap my entire ponies up in white paper towels instead of plastic baggies im not sure if it makes any difference I just worry about plastic against plastic for long periods of time.

I think thats what they mean by the cardboard! Imagine it like tiering a cake. You need to put support tiers in each layer before putting on the cardboard on top so the cake doesnt squish by the weight of the next layer. That way the cardboard is held up by the support tiers not the cake itself. Or in this case, held up by cardboard strips instead of the ponies.
StormMaeker said:
I think some G3 ponies can get squashed but their legs. My Starbeam that I picked up in a charity shop has squashed back legs and I think one or two of my childhood ones. Maybe putting something between their legs could help?
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Theres info on the my little pony preservation project about fixing squished ponies with hot water! :winkpony:
 
Uftaki said:
I'm laying them down on their sides, in ziplock baggies (so they wouldn't be able to stand up anyway). I have some silica gel packets I toss in; can try to find a few more. Just don't know where I would find those. c_c;

Just out of curiosity, why wrap their hair? And do you mean wrap their hair around their necks/legs, or just the hair itself? (it won't be as easy to do on the ones with more complex curls)

And the 'drawer dividers' thing sounds like a good idea. How I'm imagining it is like... thin strips of a firm cardboard/plastic, standing on-edge, in-between the rows of ponies... and the strips are a little taller than the ponies, then lay the thin cardboard sheet on top. Sort of like a table, almost? Is that what you were picturing?
Click to expand...
Yes, exactly like that! I think ponies are light enough you could get away with only one or two "crossbeams". Unless you just wanted them separated individually lol.

You can buy premade dividers but it might be a little tricky finding the correct height.
 
stjarne said:
i simply have all my G3 in a plastic bin on top of bubble wrap & inside ziplock baggies. they're all on their sides, lol :p this is a topic im curious about too
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Make sure never to seal your ziploc baggies all the way, they can hold in any moisture and increase the risk of rust and mold ;)

Uftaki said:
I'm laying them down on their sides, in ziplock baggies (so they wouldn't be able to stand up anyway). I have some silica gel packets I toss in; can try to find a few more. Just don't know where I would find those. c_c;
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I think that if any ponies are susceptible to being squished, putting them on their sides might make them more prone to it, only because it's much easier to compress a pony sideways than to push down on the top of a pony.

Again, be sure not to seal your ziploc baggies ;)

Silica gel packets are not a bad idea!

stjarne said:
just wondering, why are moisture packets good to throw in? so confused in that sense lol
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Moisture-absorbing packets like silica gel can help remove any excess moisture from the air and will leave ponies less susceptible to mold and/or rust. ;)


My collection is currently in storage, in approximately 50+ hard plastic latching tote bins. Each loose pony is wrapped individually in white acid-free archival tissue paper and stacked 3 layers deep. I had collected a ton of sturdy cardboard box halves--the kind used to package cases of pet food or cases of drinks:

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This sturdy but lightweight option allows for the weight of the top layers of ponies to be evenly distributed across the layers underneath.

I was able to fit 6 of these trays in each 64-gallon Sterilite storage tote.

NOTE: Always be extra careful with non-vinyl items like porcelains, Dream Beauties, wingers, and such. Though the same approach can be used if the sides of your box tray are tall enough, where items can rest safely within them (wrapped in bubble wrap and tissue) and the boxes will support their own weight on top of one another. ;)
 
I have some silica gel packets I toss in; can try to find a few more. Just don't know where I would find those. c_c;
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The gel packets are readily available from Amazon. These are ones that I order. Depending on the size of the bin I typically add about 4 into the bottom of a tote. ;)

Just out of curiosity, why wrap their hair? And do you mean wrap their hair around their necks/legs, or just the hair itself? (it won't be as easy to do on the ones with more complex curls)
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As stated above, I always fully wrap my chartreuse, red, fading pink and colour change haired ponies. This not only helps preserve the colour of the hair but also protects the vinyl from the hair bleeding further into it. I’m also paranoid when I pack away my G1’s so I always wrap hair around legs and body and top off with a paper towel just to keep hair nice so it’s less work when I unpack my gals. Curls are easy too! Just wrap them around a straw and top with the paper towel to keep it under control. (I can take some photos quick if you need visuals too.)

I'm laying them down on their sides, in ziplock baggies (so they wouldn't be able to stand up anyway).
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As @MustBeJewel mentioned I would highly recommend standing the G1’s as well. They are so prone to getting squished when they’re laid flat even with the best of intentions. And with our lovely Canadian weather and fluctuations and inevitable humidity fluctuations it’s extra easy to happen in our environment. Side note, I just stand all my ponies up when packing because you can fit so much more in that way. :p

Again, I don’t think you need to worry AS much with G3/G4. I still use the same precautions with my newer gens as I would a G1. But, I can be very paranoid with my things. Still I’d rather be over cautious than regret not doing a simple precaution in the first place.
 
MustBeJewel said:
Make sure never to seal your ziploc baggies all the way, they can hold in any moisture and increase the risk of rust and mold ;)
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... oops, lol, to be fair theyre just in my room for now but guess whos going to have to go back in and unseal them slightly one by one. im too protective of them :sadpony:
 
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stjarne said:
... oops, lol, to be fair theyre just in my room for now but guess whos going to have to go back in and unseal them slightly one by one. im too protective of them :sadpony:
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The environment around them isn't the issue, it's sealing in moisture that's the potential problem ;)

Lilykin said:
*remembers some dolls I have in storage* Ummmm.... >_>;

Tbf I think it's only a few that had the mattel ~head glue problem~ but still ^^;
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Better safe than sorry! ;)
 
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