Rubber Rejuvination/Restoration

[cpwalter]

Has anyone found a product that will seep back into rubber that has not gone rock hard and rejuvinate it and protect it? I am not interested in the stuff that just coats the outside and make it look good. I am wanting something the seeps into the rubber to give it back its original feel and look. I see there are products for rubber rollers on tape machines and printers. I don't know if that would work or not. I do not need to buy new rubber. My 38 has good original rubber around the windows and I want to presenrve it. Any info will be appreciated.

[Guest 1930]

I did quite a bit of looking into on this some time back. What I eventually did was soak my draftpads in armor all for several days to maybe a couple of weeks and they are still now pliable and in great shape, that was maybe a year ago if not more.

I tried tranny fluid and a few other things but got no results until I tried the armor all, there are some that might warn against this, I have read objections to this online but it worked for me.

[nearchoclatetown]

Not another" I don't know anything about what you are asking , BUT" answer. I've HEARD that ATF will soften rubber. But I KNOW that Lestoil WILL soften rubber. I have a set of VW floormats that are from about '56-'57 that would have broken if bent over, they were that hard. I soaked them in Lestoil for a few days and they've been soft and bendable for at least 4 years. Don't get it on paint, it will stain or strip it. I've brushed it on window rubber, but make sure the car is in the garge so it doesn't rain on it. Check on your rubber at least every day or it will go limp or swell up and ruin it. A buddy forgot a grommet for about a week, and it swelled up about 5 times the size it should have been. The local grocery store carries it. I've had a few old bottles that developed a hole, thought it was a mouse chewing on the plastic bottle. My buddy had the exact same thing happen, in a place where there aren't any mouses. We think it eats through the bottles, so we store it in glass.

[TonyAus]

What on Earth is lestoil?

[nearchoclatetown]

You may not have it downunder. It is an old fashioned cleaning liquid, smells like a petroleum chemical. It's meant to be diluted, burns like crazy in paper cuts. I use it for whitewall cleaner too.

[TonyAus]

Got it! Contains pine oil, sodium hydroxide and stoddart spirit. Sounds like WD40 with attitude. Must be great for your complexion. No wonder the rubber yields to its gentle caresses.

:eek:

[mrspeedyt]

i've heard dot 3 brake fluid works... but I haven't tried it yet.

[hddennis]

When I first started gathering parts for my Maxwell restoration, money was tight so I bought 4 old tires off eBay. They were hard and badly weather checked. Someone here recommended Lestoil. It worked wonders, not only did it soften and revive the rubber it closed up the weather checking so it appeared to disappear. Try it, you'll like!

Howard Dennis

[mrspeedyt]

do you use lestoil straight or delute it for rubber revitalization?

[hddennis]

I used it straight out of the bottle, just brushed it on about 3 or 4 times and let it soak in and dry between each application.

Here's where I got the idea and it worked: http://forums.aaca.org/f120/make-rubber-mat-look-like-new-262022.html

Howard Dennis

Edited December 22, 2010 by hddennis (see edit history)

[TonyAus]

I may have cracked this one. Not being sure how the pine oil or caustic soda in Lestoil would soften rubber I checked out stoddard spirit (white spirit). The instructions for this product say that it should not be brought into contact with rubber. From this I assume it is a solvent of rubber and that careful application would have a softening effect.

Not having access to the magic Lestoil here in Australia, I will try neat white spirit. Watch this space for results.

[nearchoclatetown]

Tony, where did you find the ingrediance? I've never heard what is in it, just know it works. For anyone that follows NASCAR a few years ago Jeff Gordon was caught useing a cleaning agent that softened his tires. They never tell the whole story when one of the racers are caught cheating. I wonder if this was his secret sauce?

[TonyAus]

Just Google "Lestoil". I suspect WD40 might have a similar effect given its high proportion of stoddard spirit. However, you would probably have to remove the oil reisdue.

[1936 D2]

Hey "choclate",

Here is a link to the info that Tony found - I think...

http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/products/msds/lestoil/lestoilconcentratedheavydutycleaner.pdf

(It is from the 2009 info on the earlier references to other AACA Forum answers mentioned above.)

[nearchoclatetown]

Thanks. Never realised it had anything to do with Clorox either. If you want to test the skin irritant part put some on a paper cut.

[1936 D2]

... If you want to test the skin irritant part put some on a paper cut.

OUCH ! :eek:

[TonyAus]

Great news - the stoddard spirit/white spirit works. Several brushings over a couple of days softened a hardended fuel filler grommet that I had lying around.

Next atempt will be on some hardended floor mats that I need to preserve. Looks like this could be a cheaper alternative.

Tony

[nearchoclatetown]

Cool beans!

[1936 D2]

... Several brushings over a couple of days softened a hardended fuel filler grommet that I had lying around. ... Tony

Thanks for taking the time to do the empirical research Tony!

Could you tell us the exact process you used? (What was the real product you finally used? How often did you apply? How dense was the application - runny or barely on there? How much time in between applications? Any comments on a possible better way to do it, now that you did it?) I'm all ears! (Well, maybe not, but you know what I mean!!!)

Thanks!

[TonyAus]

The stuff I used is branded "Digger's White Spirits", marketed locally in a range incuding turps, methylated spirit, shellite etc.

I think your local hardware or paint store should carry it as a dry cleaning/brush cleaning sovent - possibly under the name of Stoddard Spirit.

As a first cautious step I applied it to the rubber by brush, reapplying when dry (about an hour or when I remembered). The results were good after a couple of days.

Next step is to try soaking. I expect that too long might result in swelling and ultimate disintergration so care might be needed. Will report back.

[idrjoe_sandiego]

Around here it's sold as "Mineral Spirits". (Home Depot)

[Guest 1930]

Putting mineral spirits on rubber will only damage it

[idrjoe_sandiego]

According to Wikipedia (if you trust them):

Mineral Spirits, also called Stoddard solvent [CAS 8052-41-3][1], is a petroleum distillate commonly used as a paint thinner and mild solvent. Outside of the United States and Canada, it is referred to as white spirit. In industry, mineral spirits is used for cleaning and degreasing machine tools and parts. According to Wesco, a supplier of solvents and cleaning equipment, mineral spirits "are especially effective in removing oils, greases, carbon, and other material from metal."

[nearchoclatetown]

I have mineral spirits, never heard the term Stoddards spirits. I will be trying it soon on some rubber. If it softens rubber as good as Lestoil I'll just keep that for cleaning white walls.

[TonyAus]

Latest report. Soaking a small hardened bump stop in white spirit for 24 hours resulted in significant softening. No sign of swelling or disintegration so far - will try it for another 24 hours and see what happens.

[TonyAus]

After three days the surface of the bump stop has started to crumble - but the whole part remains pliable. Looks like some caution might be in order.

[Guest 1930]

Im shocked, try the armor all, soak it a few weeks, mine were done maybe 4 years ago like I said and they are still like new.

[Guest FOlsen]

Impressed.... I'm off to the store..

[Guest FOlsen]

Well they don't sell it in my Big town,,, of course

[RickBrinker]

Try the family dollar on 89

[Guest DodgeKCL]

LESTOIL is sold in Canada at Canadian Tire stores in 800 ml containers. I'm going to try and soften the rubber ring that goes around the gas tank filler tube and the rubber 'cover' that closes the hole around the steering column on my '35. Both are original and very hard with spider web cracks. I'll let you know the outcome.

[Guest synthman]

NEW TO SITE!

what is best way to rejuvenate old rubber weatherstripping on

1968 MERCEDES-BENZ 250 SE SEDAN. only 103,000 + miles!!

Like -short of complete restoring with new-

WHAT IS BEST PRODUCT THAT WILL MAKE WEATHERSTRIPPING SOFT AGAIN

AND MAKE DRIED OUT CRACKS SMOOTH OUT??

I simply can't believe that there isn't something out there that can do this,

in this age if chemicals!!

I read about LESTOIL being used on rubber mat, but what about

rubber weatherstripping???

Sincere thanks for any help you can give me on this!!!

[vergil]

Does anyone else remember the jingle, "It's so easy when you use Lestoil"?

[Guest synthman]

YES, I DO!!!!!! I COULD EVEN SING YOU THE MELODY!!! THAT'S WHY I USE THE NAME

SYNTHMAN!!

However, that jingle doesn't answer my question, but I do applaud you for kicking up

the gray matter in my brain!!!

Does anyone have an answer to my question??

[Guest synthman]

IF LESTOIL IS THE ANSWER- ??

I would like to hear from those who used it on old dry

rubber cracked weatherstripping and what were the results.

[Guest synthman]

PICTURES OF BEFORE AND AFTER WOULD BE GREAT TOO!!!

[vergil]

Am anxious to try this on two spare tires. It seems to be unknown in these parts. A relative from up North is willing to send me some. Can this be mailed (shipped) or is it listed as hazardous material?

[1936 D2]

Here is the company link to the product's MSDS. This info may help.

http://www.thecloroxcompany.com/testfiles/lestoil/lestoilconcentratedheavydutycleaner.pdf

[vergil]

Thanks, 36D2. I asked because of the sodium hydroxide. If I read this correctly, it is DOT not restricted. I'm assuming that the % of sodium hydroxide in the product does not override this DOT regulation.

[Guest sbboudreau61]

Interesting. I read all of the comments and threads. I am not a car restoration guy, though my ideal oldie would have to be a 1954 Willy's Truck (I had a 72 Wagoneer that I loved), 48 Dodge Power Wagon or a 1970 Corvette Hardtop. I found this topic through google researching "Rubber Restoration" and it brought me here so I thought I'd join. I do however own many Antiques including a Circa 1889 Mill Home that was occupied by the Mill Doctor. One of my past times is Golf, though I am really bad at it, I also collect vintage Clubs and related items. I searched this topic to try and restore/rejuvenate some rather old original rubber grips and found this thread. I preemptively shall thank all of you for your input on this subject. Happy Motoring.