[vcf-midatlantic] rubber rejuvenation

[corey cohen]

There is a special spray that is made for printer platen/rollers.  It does a pretty good job of putting them back into working order.  I’ve use it on multiple TI silent ASR restorations, the machines are circa 1973/74.  

There is rubber treatment that BMW makes for their convertibles that helps with rubber seals around convertible tops and windows.  I forget exactly what is it called but it’s something like “Gummipledge”.  

Cheers,
Corey 

corey cohen
uǝɥoɔ ʎǝɹoɔ
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> On Oct 16, 2020, at 8:55 AM, Jason Perkins via vcf-midatlantic <vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
> 
> My experience is that once the plasticizer in the rubber "goes off" and the
> whole thing turns to goo, there's not much that can be done.
> 
> I've tried boiling rubber drive belts... it helps a little but not enough
> for them to work properly.
> I've got automotive "belt dressing" that makes the belt kind of sticky, it
> can help a little but on small belt drives doesn't do much.
> I've soaked rubber gaskets in leather treatment oils, which swells them up
> somewhat, but not bad to their original shape. It does make them more
> flexible.
> 
> If you had rubber that has turned hard as a rock, I'd wonder if it's
> possible to absorb new plasticizer into it? What I've seen as the rubber
> "dries out" it also shrinks, distors, and cracks. Making it soft again
> won't fix this.
> 
> If the rubber is still the correct shape, but is gooey, I wonder if there's
> a chemical process that could pull the extra plasticizer out?
> 
> I'd love to see the process how these rollers were made in the first place.
> I imagine it's similar to what the modern rubber roller rebuild places do.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
>> On Thu, Oct 15, 2020 at 2:29 PM Jeffrey Jonas via vcf-midatlantic <
>> vcf-midatlantic at lists.vcfed.org> wrote:
>> 
>> Many thanks to everyone for their replies.
>> Degnan is right: I never specified my situation.
>> I have many rubber items that need restoration:
>> tape drive rollers, printer/platen rollers,
>> rubber stampers, sandal soles, etc.
>> 
>> The rubber feet on equipment is the bane of my existence :-(
>> I usually just replace them.
>> The most annoying failure mode is when they LIQUIFY
>> and slime everything UNDER IT :-0
>> Next worst: when just ONE is missing.
>> 
>> -- Jeff Jonas
>> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Jason Perkins
> 313 355 0085