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[BeeJay UK]

I have just acquired a 'secondhand' 6 channel 2.4Ghz Rx & Tx.


So far so good, they talk to each other and all is hunky-dorey but.......


The back of the Tx is rubberised but it has gone 'sticky'. I've have carefully tried meths, white spirit & hot soapy water but none of those are cleaning off the stickiness. I suspect that the rubber has actually degraded.


I just wondered if anyone else has faced this problem and whether they had a cure. One option I was toying with was painting it over it with black tyre dressing to try and 'seal' the rubber. However I am open to any suggestions as while it works fine any bits of rubbish are sticking to the rubber & I don't really want a Tx camouflaged with dry grass clippings.


Thanks in advance.

[CaptainJoshie]

Hi


Is it a complex shape? (The rubbery bit). If fairly simple you could apply a covering of ‘fablon’ type material.


Or remove it from the case completely and replace with that grippy stuff on a roll they sell in QD for stopping things move around on dashboards.


Or try sprinkling it with talcum powder, that should remove the tacky feeling.


Or you could just buy a spare back, often parts are really cheap.


How about adding a photo of it along with make and model. Someone may have a dead TX hanging around.


John

[BeeJay UK]

It's a very complex shape, all across the back and sort of 'wrapped' around the front too. I don't think re-covering it is an option, at least not for me. I tried to see if the 'coating' would peel off the battery cover, it doesn't.


It's a ST6DF by ST Model, basic but sound, apart from the 'stickiness'.

[CaptainJoshie]

Hi


I believe that was/is sold by Ripmax Models, I’d suggest a phone call to their service/spares department, they may have a spare back hanging around.


Phone number is 020 8282 7500.


But try talc to de sticky so you can at least use it now.


John.

[BeeJay UK]

I have got to spray some satin black later. I might try that on the battery cover and see what happens.


I would actually need a whole case, front, back & battery cover and I doubt that would be cost effective but I will give Ripmax a go anyway.

[roycv]

Hi as possible solution to the stickiness have you tried talcum powder?  Just rub it in til the stick bits are no longer sticky.

Roy

[BeeJay UK]

That has been suggested by others, but I'm not sure I really want a radio covered in white powder and smelling like a newly changed baby............

[roycv]

Sorry did not notice #3 response'
Roy

[mrlownotes]

I have had the same problem with some binoculars going sticky. My solution was to cover the areas that have to be touched with black gaffer tape. Any other areas have simply been left to be sticky. I know it sounds as if it may not look very pretty but with careful cutting of gaffer tape you can create shapes that fit the necessary sticky curves.

[Martin (Admin)]

 
I've never found a one step solution ..... 

But, I've had some success with:

1. A clean up with some sort of solvent, meths, surgical spirit (rubbing alcohol ) nail varnish remover, Acetone or Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
    ( NB. Be very careful - You MUST for meltage FIRST! ) 

2. Soapy water wash.
 
3. WD40 seems to nutarlise most of the remainder

4. Soapy water wash.

5. Talcum power or chalk dust.

 ... ' ya pays your money. Yous takes your choice!'   
 
 
 

[Martin (Admin)]

( Topic renamed )

[john44]

Hi l removed the sticky rubber coatIng from a spotter scope with meths and 0000 wire wool
Hard work but worth it.
Wear disposable gloves.

John

[Baldrick]

  Hi too.   We have a Pure Elan portable DAB radio which has (Had) a rubberised feel black case.     A while ago it all went sticky , the case is of course plastic, this problem is well documented on the web chat ..     The answer was to rub the surface with Isopropanol, it worked, case is now not sticky also not rubberised but shiny black plastic which is OK.

[BeeJay UK]

I have tested over-spraying the sticky rubber with a rattle can of satin black on just the battery cover.


It seems to have worked fine, left overnight to dry, no hint of stickiness and doesn't look bad either.


I guess satin finish varnish would work too but I haven't got that laying around. I think I will take the back off the Tx later and give that a spray, if that works then I'll tackle the more complex task of masking up the front. It's not really spraying weather outside here today though, large drops of 'humidity' falling from the sky.


Thanks to everyone who have come up with potential solutions.

[tigertiger]

If it is a silicon rubber coating, then the problem may be oils. I believe the silicon rubbers contain oils, one of the reasons that they have the grippyness that they do. After time the oils start coming out. You can clean them up, but eventually they oils will surface again, sometimes sooner rather than later. If this is the case then paints might work initially, but then start to peel off as the oils reappear.
I now avoid buying anything with the 'soft feel' grips.

[Subculture]

I find isopropanol alcohol usually works well on this kind of stuff.

[BeeJay UK]

I have tried white spirit, meths and isopropanol on this, they all seem to make it stickier in the short term and just the same once dry.
I wish isopropanol did work as I have 3 and a bit boxes of out of date surgical wipes soaked in isopropanol.

[Dave_S.]

Lighter fluid works well to remove most sticky stuff, in fact some brands list that as a use on the tin. I'd want to test it carefully on the underlying structure before letting loose with it, though.

[tigertiger]

I have tried white spirit, meths and isopropanol on this, they all seem to make it stickier in the short term and just the same once dry.
I wish isopropanol did work as I have 3 and a bit boxes of out of date surgical wipes soaked in isopropanol.

 


Even with alcohol cleaning is a pain. You need to wipe, scrape, wipe, and repeat, and repeat.... I think if you are constantly handling the stuff it keeps clean, but if you leave the stuff for a few months it goes sticky again. Like I said, I now avoid the stuff. I have had it on torches, umbrella handles etc. hate it.