Rubber Revitalization
Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 4:44 pm
Several years back a piece of rubber became available but it was part of a set. Already having the other parts in the set did not make me happy. This caused me to remember a periodic maintenance technique used on Naval Aircraft.
Vasoline!
It is very odd to see huge cans of the stuff, especially on ship back in the day.
Anyway, the maintenance was to wipe the rubber with vasoline. So I took my parts that were not torn and washed them up with dawn and hot water. After that I loaded them up with vasoline, every nook and cranny. It wasn't that nice wipe down; I had a very good layer about two quarters thick covering the parts. I then wrapped them in Saran Wrap and placed them in a zipped lock bag. I forgot I had done that as I had moved onto the other parts of the car.
It has probably been about a year and while I was now looking to buy new parts I remembered what I did, although I had to find the bag. The bag turned up in a box I kept in the shed for the heat value. Apparently I also did it to other parts from different year cars. I found an early and late cowl drain tube, early and late trunk gas tank boot and a few other rubber parts. About an hour ago I took them out of the bag and wiped them off. They sure are pretty and very pliable.
It is a thought if you are going to be working on your project a while. Now I can spend the saved money on other parts I need.
Vasoline!
It is very odd to see huge cans of the stuff, especially on ship back in the day.
Anyway, the maintenance was to wipe the rubber with vasoline. So I took my parts that were not torn and washed them up with dawn and hot water. After that I loaded them up with vasoline, every nook and cranny. It wasn't that nice wipe down; I had a very good layer about two quarters thick covering the parts. I then wrapped them in Saran Wrap and placed them in a zipped lock bag. I forgot I had done that as I had moved onto the other parts of the car.
It has probably been about a year and while I was now looking to buy new parts I remembered what I did, although I had to find the bag. The bag turned up in a box I kept in the shed for the heat value. Apparently I also did it to other parts from different year cars. I found an early and late cowl drain tube, early and late trunk gas tank boot and a few other rubber parts. About an hour ago I took them out of the bag and wiped them off. They sure are pretty and very pliable.
It is a thought if you are going to be working on your project a while. Now I can spend the saved money on other parts I need.
So what did they put on our cars 