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13th Apr 2020, 11:37 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 625
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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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Knobs and tubes rule ok |
13th Apr 2020, 11:41 pm | #2 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,944
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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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14th Apr 2020, 12:24 am | #3 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK.
Posts: 5,339
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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) .
Last edited by emeritus; 14th Apr 2020 at 12:30 am. |
14th Apr 2020, 2:37 am | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
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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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14th Apr 2020, 8:04 am | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,106
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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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14th Apr 2020, 11:56 am | #6 |
Heptode
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Tonbridge, Kent, UK.
Posts: 686
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Re: Plastic gone sticky
Talcum power works for reducing stickiness without have to remove the coating.
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14th Apr 2020, 12:51 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: East Sussex, UK.
Posts: 3,326
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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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14th Apr 2020, 2:50 pm | #8 |
Octode
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Oxfordshire/Bucks borders, UK.
Posts: 1,604
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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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Avometer, vintage Fluke and Marconi collector. Also interested in vintage Yaesu and KW. |
14th Apr 2020, 9:10 pm | #9 |
Heptode
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Portland, Dorset, UK.
Posts: 874
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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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14th Apr 2020, 10:03 pm | #10 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Redruth, Cornwall, UK.
Posts: 2,573
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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 |
15th Apr 2020, 10:31 am | #11 |
Heptode
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Kendal, Cumbria, UK.
Posts: 625
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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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Knobs and tubes rule ok |
16th Apr 2020, 8:16 am | #12 |
Octode
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 1,780
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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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16th Apr 2020, 11:14 am | #13 |
Hexode
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Buderim, Queensland, Australia.
Posts: 428
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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. |
18th Apr 2020, 7:15 am | #14 |
Rest in Peace
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Basildon, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,100
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Re: Plastic gone sticky
Yep, meths.
Mike |
18th Apr 2020, 3:51 pm | #15 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 705
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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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15th Oct 2020, 5:22 pm | #16 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 606
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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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15th Oct 2020, 5:57 pm | #17 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,944
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Re: Plastic gone sticky
Yes, it comes off with detergent if you give it time to work.
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16th Oct 2020, 3:29 am | #18 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
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Re: Plastic gone sticky
You can still get that foam cleaner from Farnell.
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16th Oct 2020, 7:43 am | #19 |
Heptode
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Gosport, Hampshire, UK.
Posts: 606
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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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16th Oct 2020, 10:16 am | #20 |
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Oxford, UK
Posts: 27,944
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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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