Softening rock hard rubber
 

I've watched all of the U-Tube videos and read/heard all of the sales pitches of various products and am understandably thoroughly confused, which at my age ain't unusual. What have YOU used and with what short/long term results?

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Counselor....Sometimes, you have to be ready to accept the fact that you just CAN'T make chicken salad out of chicken dookie! DD

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Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

My Daddy always told me "Can't never did anything". He was a wise man. (Picture a laughing emoji here)

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Soaking in automatic transmission fluid works occasionally.

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Back in the time when we used to use gasoline as a lubricant to sand lacquer
color coats prior to buffing and polishing, rubber squeegees were used as part of the process.
If you left a squeegee in a bucket of gas overnight, the next day the squeegee was like a limp noodle. :D

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Do you recall if the squeegee returned to "normal" after it "dried out"? I'll have to give that a shot. I've got to drain the tank on Apatchy anyhow, so I'll give it a shot.

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The squeegees were, after soaking, rendered useless for the purpose but
as I recall remained softer than they originally were.

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Picture a frowning guy who CAN'T post pictures, here.

DD

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I have just been trying to follow your lengthy dissertation to me about posting pictures, DD. 'Nuff said.

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

It must be remembered that any and all of the products mentioned in this thread are solvents, and as such, will break down the composition of rubber as manufactured. In that less than stable condition, rubber becomes soft and gummy. Some solvents are better than others for use with rubber. The rubber industry uses toluene, which freshens up cured rubber that is to be rebonded, such as tires with recaps. If to be bonded, heat and pressure is used. If used only to freshen the surface, the end result will initially appear and feel as new, but is in fact a degradation of the original surface.

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Some good tips here > https://homeguides.sfgate.com/chemic...-13414995.html

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

What Alan said in post #10.
Common bleach (sodium hypochlorite) works sometimes. We used to soak our qualifying tires for the midget in it before it was illegal.

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

We used to use brake fluid to make tires blacker, not sure what it does to rubber though

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have you ever put a brake cylinder cup in a gasoline bucket. next day as big as a jar cover

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Best analogy yet. LOL

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Just the reverse:
If you have something soft, how do you get it hard.:)
John

Re: Softening rock hard rubber
 

Lawson


Make an accurate sketch of what you need to show. Base od, Height, od 1/4 up from base, od 1/2 up from base, od 2/3 up from base, id and height of hole you need for mounting. Post, pm, or email.


I will make a 3D model and print in hard plastic. You should be able to paint it flat black and epoxy onto your pump and make it look as good as new yet "for display purposes only".

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I've heard that Model A guys will soak NOS radiator hoses in boiling water to soften them to be able to install them. Doesn't mean they won't leak, though.

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Thanks Karl. I will do that. Give me a few days. I am deep into finding out what my problem is with Apatchy. My Avatar. Trash in the gas. I have drained the tank and filtered the gas through a pillow case. Pretty good bit of black stuff. This is a relatively new Drake reproduction tank. I'm going to put the filtered gas back in the tank, slosh it around good and do the same all over again till it comes out clean. Charlie NY has my carb and fuel pump, cleaning them out. I am replacing all rubber gas lines with ethanol safe hoses and new filters at the electric pump, fuel pump and carburetor. It is challenging my 90 year old body, but I WILL[ get it done and post the results. Check your PMs as well. Lawson

Re: Softening rock hard rubber