What to do when plastic becomes sticky?

Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:12 pm   

Over the years, I've had several pieces of equipment with plastic parts
that have become sticky. The latest is the rubberized part of a Sears
Craftsman High Temperature Infrared Thermometer. There is also the
rubberized case of a Radio Shack HTX-200 Two Meter Handheld radio.

Does anyone know of a treatment for these sticky surfaces?

Fred

Fri Dec 04, 2009 7:46 pm   

On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:12:31 -0500, Fred McKenzie <fmmck_at_aol.com> wrote:


Know? No, but a couple of ideas. A clear acrylic coating might work.
Mask off the unaffected areas and airbrush on a light coat or two of
Future acrylic. http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

Or, just try rubbing the sticky sections with talc?

--
Rich Webb Norfolk, VA

Sat Dec 05, 2009 1:26 am   

On Fri, 04 Dec 2009 13:12:31 -0500, Fred McKenzie <fmmck_at_aol.com> wrote:


Try vinegar. Let us know if it worked.

--
Boris

Sat Dec 05, 2009 5:10 pm   

"Fred McKenzie" <fmmck_at_aol.com> wrote in message
news:fmmck-615B82.13123004122009_at_nntp.aioe.org...

I had a pair of binoculars with a similar problem where the hard
rubber/plastic parts with some black top coating that had become
gooey sticky after couple of years ???

i treated it to a bath in %91 Isopropyl alcohol and it disolved
and washed the sticky coating completely away exposing the hard
rubber or plastic under part.

I had tried some other chemicals like acetone / methanol /
tolulene which just made the stuff gooeyer, stickyer or
compromised the plastic part underneath the sticky coating.

hth
robb

Sun Dec 06, 2009 12:32 am   

Rich Webb wrote:

stop the problem.

Sun Dec 06, 2009 1:06 am   

In article <guudnaH8Nt-AcIfWnZ2dnUVZ_q1i4p2d_at_posted.localnet>,
Robert Baer <robertbaer_at_localnet.com> wrote:


Robert-

That is what I was thinking. I was hoping there was some chemical that
would "passivate" the decomposing plastic.

I have some 100% Isopropyl Alcohol (fuel line water remover) that I'll
try, just in case that works. If it does, I expect it will just be a
matter of time before the remaining plastic starts to decompose.

Fred

Sun Dec 06, 2009 2:38 am   

In article <67WdnbxRxJy0G4fWnZ2dnUVZ_oCdnZ2d_at_earthlink.com>,
"robb" <some_at_where.on.net> wrote:


Robb-

I liked the idea of using alcohol because it would probably not hurt the
underlying plastic. I tried some Isopropyl Alcohol (fuel line water
remover) on the Infrared Thermometer. Just as you said, it wiped away
the sticky coating.

I was surprised that the "rubberized" surface was actually a coating
that had been painted onto the plastic. The alcohol acted as a paint
remover. If I can disassemble the Two Meter Handheld radio's case, I'll
give it a try as well. It is just too intricate to clean without
getting sticky stuff inside the radio.

Fred