Stabilising a rubberised casing

[waddycall]

my brilliant Zoom H4n recorder has recently started getting sticky on the rubberised casing. It’s really horrid to handle. The recorder works like new so it’s a real shame.
Any ideas how to stabilise the rubber to stop it going sticky?
Cheers

 

[Wallace]

I think its a coating, awful stuff. I have a small pair of binoculars and I cleaned it off as best I could with alcohol.

 

[Robotstar5]

I had a pair of pliers with a similar problem, tried cleaning with IPA which worked for a few weeks then tried drying it with Talcum powder, again it only worked for a few weeks so that's 2 methods not to bother with.

 

[Lazurus]

Acetone seems to clean most things, just check it doesn't react with the rubber first

 

[RonA]

Had a similar problem with the mast trigger mechanism on a double headed guitar stand (thread elsewhere on forum) , it started exuding a sticky substance. Cleaned off with iso propyl alcohol, had suggested to me it was Phalates leaching out the plastic.
RonA

 

[slim_boy_fat]

just check it doesn't react with the rubber first

Just don't let it come into contact with any plastic parts, just to be on the safe side . It's good at melting certain kinds of plastic [i.e. most ] - ask me how I know......

 

[waddycall]

Thanks for the suggestions. Just been over it with surgical spirit which has taken the stickiness off. No idea how long it’ll stay that way though!

 

[awemawson]

I had a sticky mess to remove this morning, left from a custom printed label I'd removed from a Versatool cabinet. I tried IPA (NOT the beer!), Acetone, Lighter Fluid (which usually works fine for labels) and eventually genuine Turpentine (not 'white spirit'). The Turpentine worked spiffingly AND smelt superb

 

[pedrobedro]

Talcum powder it.

 

[Alan Reynolds]

I have a Marksman impact wrench and drill and the rubber grips ooze an oily liquid when they're left in the case. i use brake cleaner but it still comes back.

 

[wristpin]

It's the plasticiser leaching out of the "rubber" . Not a lot you can do other than clean it off . Eventually it will stop but then the "rubber" may be brittle or crumbly.