Does anyone know if it is possible to soften AF rubber roadbed. I just got a load of black wide tie in, and some of the straight sections are no longer flexible.
Jim,
Out of curiosity, I did a search on a car forum and found antifreeze as an answer. Why? Because it has rubber conditioners in it to help keep the hoses soft. I think it would be worth an experiment with one piece. I have also turned up brake fluid and diesel fuel on another search. Yet another forum recommended going to a sporting goods outlet for some silicone waterproofing spray; spray the rubber roadbed with it and place it in a plastic bag for a couple days to let it penetrate and rehydrate. They said that very brittle rubber may need multiple treatments with this method. Personally, based on this, I would try 3 pieces; one with antifreeze, one with brake fluid and one with diesel fuel. Heck, I would hose one piece down with good old WD-40 to see what happened.
Perhaps someone else will give you an answer from experience, rather than research.
Good luck!
Timboy
JIm,
Twelve views and no replies, maybe you have stumped the stars. I don't have an answer for you, but also have a few pieces of roadbed that are pretty stiff. They really don't seem to be a problem once put down on the layout.
If you are willing to try something I would try non-lemon pledge. This may work to soften the rubber a little bit and make it more pliable. It seems to work on seat covers that have seen too much sunlight. It probably wouldn't be good if you plan to paint the roadbed.
Also there was a post on this forum recently about throwing them in a washing machine. Search for this post, started on June 9 of this year. Jim, I see you replied to this one, but look at Azflyers response.
George
Tim and George,
Thanks for the replies. I'll report back.
I'd be a little cautious about using brake fluid and silicone around paint, or things that you might want to paint in the future.
You might check Eastwood Company to see if they have any products to soften/condition rubber. They specialize in car restoration tools and supplies. Another automotive source might be Steel Rubber - they specialize in reproduction door and window seals.
Both of these companies have web sites.
Good luck.
I wonder if armor all would work?
Jim
I have tired Armor All, it puts a shine on the road bed but does not soften it At least I saw or felt no difference!
Major I have tired Armor All, it puts a shine on the road bed but does not soften it At least I saw or felt no difference!
Last winter when I bought some rubber roadbed on eBay, i used Armor All to restore some life to the appearance of the dull black color. It shined it up too good making it shinier than my original rubber roadbed, creating a mismatch. Then, I could not remove the shine with soap and water.
My 62 year old rubber road bed is still very flexible and so is all of the stuff that I bought on eBay in three separate transactions. If your recently acquired roadbed is stiff, Jim, I would be concerned about its prior history and treatment.
Rich
Alton Junction
Rich,
This lot of roadbed was probably stored in an attic based on the dryness and smell. I should have enough usable black wide tie for one of the ovals under the tree this year. I have some black narrow tie that is in great shape for another oval.
I sprayed one section with silicone spray and placed it in a bag last night. No improvement yet. Brake fluid will probably be the next thing I'll try.
I like the way you think! You aren't afraid to experiment. That's how I learn. Hydration might be the operative word. How do I make my cornflakes wet in the morning? I add milk. How do we make rubber softer? Maybe we add some liquid that likes rubber and that rubber likes. However, it might be a wild goose chase. Maybe when rubber dries out, it isn't a drying process so much as it is a chemical change that is irreversible. I saw that on one search I did just a couple minutes ago. Hard to know what Internet searches are valid. Anyway, by experimenting with a few things that seem reasonable, you will at least eliminate some things. Keep in mind that whatever seems to work still has to be removed to the extent that it won't weep or bleed out and cause you problems later. You might try one control experiment by just soaking a piece in soapy water. The soap would break any surface tension and penetrate deeper, if it even will at all. I did a search through the messages on the S-List on Yahoo, and of course, all that turned up was where to buy it and how to clean it if it was (gasp) dirty. Good stuff, Jim.
Regards,
I see from Wikipedia that rubber is soluble in terpentine. That may mean that a little terpentine will soften it up--or not.
Bob Nelson
lionelsoni I see from Wikipedia that rubber is soluble in terpentine. That may mean that a little terpentine will soften it up--or not.
Or turn the surface to goo.
I always say that there is one way to find out and I think Jim is doing just that!
Jim:
Have you reached any conclusions yet on your efforts to soften up dried-up Flyer rubber roadbed?
Tim,
I haven't had much time due to work, but I'll get back to this asap.
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