Re: T&T: rubber armor failing on binoculars

[Michael La Porte via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Greetings all, has anyone else experienced having the rubber armor on their
binoculars or other similar tools get sticky and begin to deteriorate. This
seems to be related to sun exposure. Has anyone found a product to slow
this down or cure the problem?

Michael La Porte
Manattee Second Star #66
Lying Ft. Pierce, Florida


_______________________________________________
http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com

To unsubscribe or modify your subscription options (get password, change email address, etc) go to: http://lists.trawlering.com/mailman/listinfo/trawlers_lists.trawlering.com
Trawlers & Trawlering and T&T are trademarks of Water World
Productions. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

[Bob McLeran via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

We had that happen on a hand-held depth sounder (used on the dinghy).
The only solution we found was to liberally apply talcum powder which
removed the stickiness; the deterioration was slowed by keeping it out
of the sun.

<><><><><><><><><><><><>Mozilla Thunderbird<><><><><><><><><><>
Bob McLeran and Judy Young Manatee Cove Marina
MV Sanderling Patrick Air Force Base
DeFever 41 Trawler Melbourne, Florida
Blog: http://mvsanderling.net/Blog
Web: http://cruising.mvsanderling.net/

On 5/13/2015 8:41 AM, Michael La Porte via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote:
> Greetings all, has anyone else experienced having the rubber armor on their
> binoculars or other similar tools get sticky and begin to deteriorate. This
> seems to be related to sun exposure. Has anyone found a product to slow
> this down or cure the problem?
>

[Fred Sorensen via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

I had this happen on a pair of Steiner binoculars and also many years ago on some English aircraft windshield wiper blades. It's called reversion and results from a defective vulcanizing process. There's nothing you can do about it.

Steiner charged me about $175 and exchanged for an overhauled pair. At the time that struck me as pretty cheesy of them. It still does.

Fred Sorensen
OA 43
MTOA 3571

Sent from my iPad which is responsible for all grammar errors.

[G W via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

This is common on high end cameras. I have found that rubbing with rubbing
alcohol will remove the goo and restore the rubber. Its a heat related
problem coupled with humidity or so I've been told. All is not lost! Give
it a try.

George
SUBITO
Huckins 46'

[Peter Denton via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Hi Bob.
I had the same problem with a Canon IS, which I just loved. Since we are
boatless, we only use it for hiking and birdwatching. I tried talc powder
but it just didn't work. A rare species of woodpecker came to the
birdfeeder and I quickly wrapped a piece of paper towel around. So even
though it is ugly the paper towel has stayed. I've trimmed it a little but
I certainly would never bring it out if we had company.

I've had it over five years so I thought there was no point in trying to
contact the company, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
Even though I'm a scientist IS seemed like some kind of magic and a can't
begin to imagine how it's done.

Glad to hear you are still on the water.

I have just written a short piece about a passage through the roaring
forties from Mauritius to Perth. Maybe you'd be willing to read and make
suggestions. (or for that matter anyone else who's made a long passage
through troubled waters)

Peter Denton

[Randy Pickelmann via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

Hi Mike!
You don't say what kind of binocs you have.
I have a pair of West Marine binocs that seem to have a no questions asked warranty. I went into a WM one day to inquire as to where to send my damaged binocs and they gave me a new pair out of stock.
I also have a good pair of binocs which have a "lifetime" replacement warranty, what ever that means. Fortunately I've never had to test Nikon's warranty program.

Regards,
Randy Pickelmann
Morning Star
lying Hampton, VA

Sent from my iPad

[Rich Gano via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

If the rubber is not really all that thick and is really a sprayed on
coating, you can do what I did with my Canon 10X stabilized binocs. Rub all
the sticky stuff off with a rag and acetone and then spray paint with satin
black paint. Maybe skip the acetone paint and just spray paint to
encapsulate the sticky if you don't want to mess with the removal process.


Rich Gano
Calypso (GB-CL42 Hull 295)
Panama City, FL

[Rudy and Jill via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

I wonder if that brush on stuff that is sold that is put on the grips of tools would work if it was brushed over the deteriorating rubber?

Rudy and Jill
Jacksonville, Fl
Briney Bug- a 34 foot sail-assisted trawler
850-832-7748

[Hangreg via Trawlers-and-Trawlering]

I had some success with a cleaning concentrate called Zclean. It is in most Marine suppliers. It isn't magic and requires some persistence but it does dissolve the plastic mess on binocs, power cords, poluform fenders etc. it is not a solvent and is water soluble. It's my new all purpose cleaner for the boat. I had some success in cleaning my Canon is30 binocs but then I dropped them down companionway and they were never the same.


Gregory Han