Softening rubber that has gone hard? - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

beamcurrent · 22nd Jan 2011, 3:50 pm

A recent acquisition of a vintage TV camera leads me to ask if anyone has experience of softening hardened rubber. In this instance the cue light dome, an old car rear light, is held in place by a rubber-gasket that should peel back to allow the red cue dome to be removed.

It has gone very hard and I am reluctant to apply too much force.

Has anyone any suggestions as to a treatment to soften it?

Vintage rubber is a tiresome product, if it doesn't go hard it seems to turn into a form of black treacle, impossible to remove from your fingers!

Thanks Brian

Leon Crampin · 22nd Jan 2011, 4:05 pm

Sparse and frequent application of silicone grease well rubbed in, will sometimes revive degraded rubber wire insulation - so it could be worth a try.

Leon.

Tractorfan · 22nd Jan 2011, 5:03 pm

Hi Brian,
Is it a standard round 50s Lucas car lamp with a chromed ring and glass dome? The same ones that the early "Daleks" and Morris Minors used to sport? If so, can you post some pictures. I might just have a usable spare rubber bit.
Cheers, Pete

Herald1360 · 23rd Jan 2011, 10:47 am

Re Pete's suggestion, you can get these:

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/364

or indeed these:

http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/363

or even these:

http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/part.phtml?PartID=841

off the shelf still.

GMB · 23rd Jan 2011, 11:19 am

I have been searching for a solution to this kind of problem too.

I recently tried soaking a rubber part in brake fluid (for about a week). It seemed to help, but it does seem to soak in so you end up with rubber that exudes the fluid for a while.

Other people have suggested things like WD40 - but this may be dangerous as it might continue to soften the rubber until the second problem that you mention occurrs.

Tractorfan · 23rd Jan 2011, 11:25 am

Crumbs!
I didn't realise these were still available new.At reasonable prices as well. Mine were rescued from a 1966 Morris Traveller I used to own. It failed its MoT on wet-rot & woodworm

.
Just thought: have you tried boiling them?
Cheers, Pete

davehills · 23rd Jan 2011, 11:43 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by beamcurrent

A recent acquisition of a vintage TV camera leads me to ask if anyone has experience of softening hardened rubber. In this instance the cue light dome, an old car rear light, is held in place by a rubber-gasket that should peel back to allow the red cue dome to be removed.

Have a look at your next local autojumble. A lot of old car lights can be found as NOS.

beamcurrent · 23rd Jan 2011, 4:53 pm

There is a picture of the lamp in question. It is fitted to a Marconi MkIII camera from the middle 1950s. Interesting suggestions, I think I might give the silicone grease a go.

Brian

Herald1360 · 23rd Jan 2011, 7:01 pm

Ahh..... it's not the typical Lucas rear light then, just similar in its domedness.

Still, if the diameter of the bottom of the dome is the same, I'm sure something could be done with the Lucas rubber, and fitting a chrome ring would snazz it up a bit

22nd Jan 2011, 3:50 pm	#1
beamcurrent Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Camberley, Surrey, UK. Posts: 805	Softening rubber that has gone hard? A recent acquisition of a vintage TV camera leads me to ask if anyone has experience of softening hardened rubber. In this instance the cue light dome, an old car rear light, is held in place by a rubber-gasket that should peel back to allow the red cue dome to be removed. It has gone very hard and I am reluctant to apply too much force. Has anyone any suggestions as to a treatment to soften it? Vintage rubber is a tiresome product, if it doesn't go hard it seems to turn into a form of black treacle, impossible to remove from your fingers! Thanks Brian

22nd Jan 2011, 4:05 pm	#2
Leon Crampin Octode Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,874	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? Sparse and frequent application of silicone grease well rubbed in, will sometimes revive degraded rubber wire insulation - so it could be worth a try. Leon.

22nd Jan 2011, 5:03 pm	#3
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? Hi Brian, Is it a standard round 50s Lucas car lamp with a chromed ring and glass dome? The same ones that the early "Daleks" and Morris Minors used to sport? If so, can you post some pictures. I might just have a usable spare rubber bit. Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..."

23rd Jan 2011, 10:47 am	#4
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? Re Pete's suggestion, you can get these: http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/364 or indeed these: http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/363 or even these: http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/part.phtml?PartID=841 off the shelf still. __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

23rd Jan 2011, 11:19 am	#5
GMB Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: near Reading (and sometimes Torquay) Posts: 3,100	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? I have been searching for a solution to this kind of problem too. I recently tried soaking a rubber part in brake fluid (for about a week). It seemed to help, but it does seem to soak in so you end up with rubber that exudes the fluid for a while. Other people have suggested things like WD40 - but this may be dangerous as it might continue to soften the rubber until the second problem that you mention occurrs.

23rd Jan 2011, 11:25 am	#6
Tractorfan Dekatron Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: St. Frajou, l'Isle en Dodon, Haute Garonne, France.(Previously: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, UK.) Posts: 3,184	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? Crumbs! I didn't realise these were still available new.At reasonable prices as well. Mine were rescued from a 1966 Morris Traveller I used to own. It failed its MoT on wet-rot & woodworm . Just thought: have you tried boiling them? Cheers, Pete __________________ "Hello?, Yes, I'm on the train, I might lose the signal soon as we're just going into a tunn..." Last edited by Tractorfan; 23rd Jan 2011 at 11:27 am. Reason: Suggested boiling them.

23rd Jan 2011, 4:53 pm	#8
beamcurrent Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Camberley, Surrey, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? There is a picture of the lamp in question. It is fitted to a Marconi MkIII camera from the middle 1950s. Interesting suggestions, I think I might give the silicone grease a go. Brian Attached Thumbnails

23rd Jan 2011, 7:01 pm	#9
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: Softening rubber that has gone hard? Ahh..... it's not the typical Lucas rear light then, just similar in its domedness. Still, if the diameter of the bottom of the dome is the same, I'm sure something could be done with the Lucas rubber, and fitting a chrome ring would snazz it up a bit __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O