TheSamba.com :: View topic - rubber revitalizing Is there anyway to protect it

Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:05 pm

The rubber seals around the doors and windows. Is there anything that I can wipe on to help maintain the rubber from drying. And is it worth protecting the fuel lines with some type of sheathing to protect them from the heat. Thanks.

Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:41 pm

Glycerine is great for bringing crusty rubbers back to life; also good for vinyl upholstery.

And the best way to keep fuel lines new is to replace them annually.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:52 am

Boiled Linseed Oil is great for rubber. Not only does it 'moisten' the seals, but it also gives them UV protection.

You should be able to find some at your local hardware store, or try an art supply shop.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:48 am

Linseed oil will leave a film and never really dry. It will remain sticky and attracts dust like crazy.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 5:52 am

I have heard good things about a product called Vinylex.

http://www.lexol.com/vinindex.html

It is more expensive than your average rubber dressing, but I only use it for the important stuff. I have recently started usin it, so I can give a longterm report.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:00 pm

Mr. Loaf wrote: Linseed oil will leave a film and never really dry. It will remain sticky and attracts dust like crazy.

Makes sense. I'm oil priming a Cedar house right now with Linseed Oil primer and it dries very slowly!! Like in two weeks; and that's on raw Cedar... Of course it's very humid right now in Michigan.

I did however treat some of the few seals that I couldn't find new ones of for my '71 and they seem to be doing well enough.

But I think the real advantage to Linseed Oil is very good UV protection... I'm not sure about the other products out there.

Fri Aug 24, 2007 2:49 pm

I use 303’s Aerospace Protectant. Good stuff.. you can get it at West Marine..

Fri Aug 24, 2007 3:02 pm

I like to use F-21. Made by Turtle Wax. Bright green spray bottle wherevever they sell car wax usually has it and sometimes the F-21 car polish too...Has UV protectant.
It's kind of like Armor-All but I like it better.

Rob

Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:24 pm

Yeah, I use F-21 in between the Vinylex treatments

Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:14 pm

PB Blaster works miracles as well...

It will bring back weather stripping that is dried hard as a brick. Cleaning up the orange goo stripe is worth it for a few weeks after it rains...

Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:16 pm

Rocknrod wrote: PB Blaster works miracles as well...

It will bring back weather stripping that is dried hard as a brick. Cleaning up the orange goo stripe is worth it for a few weeks after it rains...
Thanks for the tip! I'll try that out.
FWIW, I wouldn't try anything on fuel hoses. Just replace them annually/semi-annually like fig said.

Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:28 pm

kevin77westy wrote: I use 303’s Aerospace Protectant. Good stuff.. you can get it at West Marine..
Some of our FLAPS in Portland carry it also, if you don't want to hike out to West Marine just to buy some.

Mon Aug 27, 2007 12:34 pm

Quote: I use 303’s Aerospace Protectant. Good stuff.. you can get it at West Marine..

Great stuff, a bit pricey but worth every penny, I find it works best on vinyl trim.

For rubber seals, I like one of Zymol's products for use on soft seals...

http://zymol.com/shop/sub-category.asp?CID=116

although like the 303, it ain't cheap...

Wed Aug 29, 2007 10:49 am

I'm currently trying silicon spray lubricant as a rubber revitalizer on my non-VW. The previous product suggestions sound like better options, but I think it is worth a try given its availability. Does anybody have any experience with this?

Regardless of which product is used, it would be prefererable to settle on something with no solvents. I'm suspicious of anything that says "cleans and protects"- cleaning can be done successfully with soap; the treatment is for protection only.

Fri Sep 14, 2007 8:01 pm

ho

big hardware store carry silicone calke its black its great

havnt tryed it on fuel lines but windoes greatm, anything rubber.

Sun Sep 16, 2007 8:21 am

i used a product (i think it was 3m brand) from my local autozone that was a liquid sealant. i put it in the cracks in my seals and on any of the areas that were getting dried out or bad. the window seals anyway. i replaced the rear hatch seal and will soon be replacing the door seals that need replacing. this was just a temp patch on the windows though. i will be replacing all of them this winter. i prefer new seals to a quick fix.

Tue Sep 18, 2007 8:44 am

Rocknrod wrote: PB Blaster works miracles as well...

It will bring back weather stripping that is dried hard as a brick. Cleaning up the orange goo stripe is worth it for a few weeks after it rains...

I have stripping that is dried and hard. What is PB Blaster and where can I get it?