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Old 13th Apr 2020, 11:37 pm   #1
stevekendal
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Default Plastic gone sticky

This Eton plastic radio I bought in Spain 12 years ago has spent most of its life not just in the box, but also the canvas carry case. Now I find that the softer black plastic ends and knobs have become impossibly soft and sticky. Any ideas please?
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Old 13th Apr 2020, 11:41 pm   #2
paulsherwin
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

It's a well known problem with 'soft-touch' plastic coatings of that era. All you can do is clean it off, which isn't an easy job. I've used T-Cut to shift it in the past, though there are probably solvents that will dissolve it.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 12:24 am   #3
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Where goo from drive belts made of this stuff has got onto other surfaces, I have removed most of it by applying dry powder (dried earth from our garden, which crumbles to an impalpable powder when dry) and working it up to a stiff paste that is much easier to scrape off than the untreated goo as it is then no longer sticky. The same problem has arisen with cameras and binoculars, even expensive models, where the stuff has been used for its excellent grippyness (when new) .

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Old 14th Apr 2020, 2:37 am   #4
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I chucked away a computer mouse after it kept going all sticky. I managed to find one that was both cheap and made of hard plastic to replace it with.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 8:04 am   #5
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Post No.3- Fuller's Earth might be used as a substitute for Essex clay soil in this example.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 11:56 am   #6
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Talcum power works for reducing stickiness without have to remove the coating.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 12:51 pm   #7
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I think we are referring to the same coating as applied to many remote controls etc. My wife had the same problem with her car. Much of the interior was coated in the same 'soft touch' stuff and it all went sticky. Tried many different solvents but none really worked. Just elbow grease and dry powder as suggested above.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 2:50 pm   #8
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I don't like IPA, unless it's come out of Greene King, but I wiped down some sticky plastics with IPA solvent before and that removed the sticky touch.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 9:10 pm   #9
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Yes happens a lot, the only device with a soft touch coating that hasn't gone sticky is my GEM S2 keyboard, that's still fine.
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Old 14th Apr 2020, 10:03 pm   #10
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Hi.

I came across an old Sky remote control handset in the garage a while back. The soft touch battery cover was quite sticky and manky looking together with mould growth. I didn't bother to clean it so put it on one side for recycling.

I wonder what's going on here. Could it be high air humidity or airborne pollution that's causing this decomposition? Maybe lack of UV radiation also plays a part too.

Regards,
Symon
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Old 15th Apr 2020, 10:31 am   #11
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I made a paste with baking soda and a good scrubbing with a nailbrush has just left a hard but dry layer to clean off. Let's see how long it lasts.
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Old 16th Apr 2020, 8:16 am   #12
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

The rubberised sticky coating on such items I have found, can be removed with nail varnish remover (acetone)
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Old 16th Apr 2020, 11:14 am   #13
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Try methylated spirits to remove the coating, lots of it, get it really wet, a few times.
Wipe off.
Repeat.

Not next to the fireplace.

Worked for me.
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Old 18th Apr 2020, 7:15 am   #14
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Yep, meths.

Mike
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Old 18th Apr 2020, 3:51 pm   #15
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Washing up powder in warm water. I found this out the hard way, had a grubby Tascam multitrack so threw the case in the sink and let it soak. When I came back it had cleaned it a bit too well, the rubber coating had lifted away including all the labelling...
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Old 15th Oct 2020, 5:22 pm   #16
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I have a memory stick coated in this stuff and I've been fiddling about this afternoon trying to get it off.

Tried, paraffin, white spirit, soapy water and then my eyes fell on an anti-static foam cleaner that I've had for years. Tried that, and it comes off really easily! You have to leave it on for a few minutes and then clean it off.
No idea where I got the tin from or even if this stuff is available anymore.

I might try it on my wifes Pure DAB radio next as that is now getting sticky.

John
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Old 15th Oct 2020, 5:57 pm   #17
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

Yes, it comes off with detergent if you give it time to work.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 3:29 am   #18
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

You can still get that foam cleaner from Farnell.
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 7:43 am   #19
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I noticed that. I wonder if it's the same stuff or has it gone the same way as other cleaners we all used to use in the past and had a key element reduced?

I've still got the cap of my memory stick to do so I'm going to put it in with the washing up water this morning and see what happens!!

John
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Old 16th Oct 2020, 10:16 am   #20
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Default Re: Plastic gone sticky

I've found foaming cleaners very much of a muchness, regardless of their supposed purpose. You can buy it from the usual cheap outlets - Savers, B&M, Aldi etc.
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