Gooey sticky rubber on tools

[Sumboodie]

Before I put tools away, I generally wipe them down, at least the stuff that got dirty in use. I'm not getting crazy with "polishing" anything, but it's nice to be able to grab something the next time and not have grease or oil from the last project all over.


I've been using mineral spirits aka Stoddard solvent for years, it's what I have in my parts washer, so I just fill a sprayer from it, put a little on a rag and get to wiping.

For some reason this week I found the rubber on an IR thermometer and a Dremel I've had for 20+ years has turned sort of gooey/sticky.

I don't know why they were fine for years, and just recently this happened, nothing has changed with how they are stored.

Think it's the mineral spirits, or just age?

 

[Sumboodie]

Photo

 

[The Cobbler]

sounds like the polymer is breaking down.
i had that happen to a set of wireless microphones . they are unusable now

 

[bas157]

I've had this happen to a bunch of things, some cheap china **** (like flashlights), but also better stuff like an Altec Lansing clock radio and a decent pair of binoculars. No idea how to prevent it, but wish I did.

 

[CoogarXR]

Yeah, it just happens to certain plastic coatings.

I've successfully buffed it off with Goof Off followed by buffing with WD40. It's a lot of work, but its doable.

 

[mikedodge]

It could well be the mineral spirits caused it and had an effect on one of the chemicals in it especially if it happened shortly after.

 

[cody1325]

I had it happen with a Logitech G502 HERO--it literally crumbled off. I suspect it was because of hand sanitizer and other such things. It was partly why the replacement was a Razer without rubber inserts.

 

[PelicanPines]

I've attacked it with Goof Off and such... I have multiple grades of Goof Off... one is medical grade for the human body... I don't remember which one I used. BUT I hate hate hate that gloppppy coating on some of my plastic things.

It can be cured... do not believe it was caused by using any chemicals... but not sure if it speeds the glop factor.

 

[Sumboodie]

It could well be the mineral spirits caused it and had an effect on one of the chemicals in it especially if it happened shortly after.

10+ years

 

[kbuhagiar]

10+ years

I don't think the mineral spirits had anything to do with it.

I've had this same thing happen to me with several diverse items - tools, small appliances, even the steering wheel on my 1997 S10 truck.
It's nasty and disgusting and it renders the item practically useless. I installed a nice leather steering wheel cover on the S10 which remedied that situation, but there's not much you can do with the other stuff.

 

[Lassen Forge]

I think it't both age related and what it's been exposed to over the years.... it's like that grey mange that attacks the steering wheel and shifter on the car, the "soft grip" handles on the tools, and armrests on office chairs. I kinda wonder if it's not the oils/acids in your skin that trigger it as well... I know some solvents seem to exacerbate the problem; I;ve also tried to remove it and it's the actual "rubberized coating" that has changed....

Maybe this is why they make those personal key keepers out of chrome rather than plastic....

 

[redwrench60]

All my Snap-on 14.4V cordless tools developed this issue after I started wiping them down with the “Tub-O-Towels” wet hand cleaner wipes. They clean really well but something in them attacks that rubber and now it oozes that nasty sticky goo. My Milwaukee don’t seem to do it nearly as badly.

 

[tak1313]

+1 on thinking mineral spirits is NOT the problem. Over the years, I have had many products, not just tools (computer mouse, other instruments, etc.) where no solvent, alcohol, etc. was ever used and there was a similar degradation of rubber/plastic "grip" surfaces.

I PERSONALLY think it's a matter of inferior/cheap rubbers/polymers just breaking down over time and exposure. Another possibility was that it was caused by body oils causing the breakdown, but from my recollection, the breakdown also occurred where my hand never touched, but I'm not sure.

 

[txvwnut]

It's a combination of things... age, the oils in your skin, exposure to the elements and possibly the solution you use to clean the item.

 

[mikedodge]

I wouldn't rule out age, have had lots of those sort of things degrade but some of that rubbery stuff lasts a long time until it gets a chemical reaction to something that was put on it. I have rubber grip screw drivers with the same problem. Clean a couple with the wrong stuff because it's whatever was within reach and they've become softer or sticky the rest are still good. So if it's lasted for years and then suddenly changed shortly after being cleaned with some new chemical that's what I'd be avoiding to use again.

 

[RTUmark]

Had same IR thermometer. Probably 15 to 20 years old. Never wiped down, never cleaned it. Over time black/rubber plastic basically melted. Had to throw it away because it was such a mess to handle.

 

[Shiftless]

The rubber tape on aluminum baseball bats does the same thing. Never wiped with mineral spirits.