Will cold damage my TPE doll?

GollyGee · Post by **GollyGee** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 6:58 am

I recently acquired my first doll, a doll from RLSD.

I have an issue at home with privacy. I would move out, but I can't because I don't make enough money to have my own place, so I'm thinking of keeping Trix in the back of my car, in her shipping box, or a similar container. It's pretty cold already where I am, and winter is coming... Will she be okay out there? Is there an appropriate temperature range for storing TPE dolls?

GollyGee · Post by **GollyGee** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 8:41 pm

I don't understand why my post was edited.

Mr Franz · Post by **Mr Franz** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 9:06 pm

viewtopic.php?f=215&t=108409&hilit=cold+van

grimreefer24601 · Post by **grimreefer24601** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 9:10 pm

I've had several samples of TPE sitting in my freezer for about two weeks now. No issues with just cold. In a car temperature will vary from hot to cold. Heat will definitely affect TPE. MJ survived a night in my car in Lincoln, NE when it was 20F. No issues.

somethingrandom · Post by **somethingrandom** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:16 am

As Grimm said, in his tests TPE is fine at freezer temps. Some one suggested TPE should be safe until about -30C (though this hasn't been tested), and depending where you live the outdoors could conceivably get that cold.

You'd "probably" be fine in the deep of winter once it gets cold and stays cold, but the main point that comes up when people mention storing dolls outside in the winter is the fact that TPE is porous and susceptible to mold, which could definitely be a problem if the weather gets warmer during the day rather than stay frozen.

Nord · Post by **Nord** » Tue Nov 27, 2018 11:38 am

I remember a discussion where people claimed that the TPE would get kinda stale from low temperatures, temporarily losing elasticity and would crack more easily if stretched before warmed up.

The TPE dolls are also full of mineral oil, which google says has a freezing point at about 24 °F / −4 °C. I have no idea how that would affect a doll, if at all, but worth a thought.

In any way, it may be fine for storage in a neutral position, but I would at least make sure to warm up the doll properly before bending any limbs.

RockiesDoll140 · Post by **RockiesDoll140** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:23 am

Would the TPE be more susceptible to indentation issues if sitting in a cold environment for an extended period of time, say in the original box? I might need to store her following some recent living arrangement changes that are going to be happening and am also in a cold area, so curious about it, especially if she'll be lying down and not standing.

grimreefer24601 · Post by **grimreefer24601** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:16 pm

I have a piece that's been sitting crimped in my freezer. It doesn't seem to care.

: 20181129_211105.jpg (4.52 MiB) Viewed 1864 times

I don't see that cold has made any difference.

This is all is a stable freezer. Results may be different in an environment where the temperature changes.

Grim

grimreefer24601 · Post by **grimreefer24601** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 11:18 pm

Nord wrote:I remember a discussion where people claimed that the TPE would get kinda stale from low temperatures, temporarily losing elasticity and would crack more easily if stretched before warmed up.

The TPE dolls are also full of mineral oil, which google says has a freezing point at about 24 °F / −4 °C. I have no idea how that would affect a doll, if at all, but worth a thought.

In any way, it may be fine for storage in a neutral position, but I would at least make sure to warm up the doll properly before bending any limbs.

I'm going on three weeks in my freezer. They are perfect. Stretchy as can be. I'm thinking of using them for cold packs.

Post by **winterwarBo** » Fri Nov 30, 2018 11:28 pm

grimreefer24601 wrote:
Nord wrote:I remember a discussion where people claimed that the TPE would get kinda stale from low temperatures, temporarily losing elasticity and would crack more easily if stretched before warmed up.

The TPE dolls are also full of mineral oil, which google says has a freezing point at about 24 °F / −4 °C. I have no idea how that would affect a doll, if at all, but worth a thought.

In any way, it may be fine for storage in a neutral position, but I would at least make sure to warm up the doll properly before bending any limbs.
I'm going on three weeks in my freezer. They are perfect. Stretchy as can be. I'm thinking of using them for cold packs.

Stale comes from Low Humidity/Forced air heat. Kat/Janie/Lisa are all from the 4th quarter of 2016. I got Lisa used over the summer until then she lived in her box with her house having Forced air heat. She is quite a bit more brittle than Kat or Janie. Vaseline and moisturizing cold cream seemed to stop and reverse the damage.

But I have left the window open down to temperatures in the 20s with no real problems.