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how to soften plastic strip

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SS

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Mar 6, 2011, 5:24:05 AM3/6/11
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I have a plastic strip, its a seal between a sliding shower door.
I took it off to clean but cant get it back on as it has lost its
flexability.
Only other way is dismantling door which I dont want to do.

The strip has a couple of ridges that slide into a groove to keep it in
place.

Any ideas on how to soften the plastic? I have tried hot water and also
lubricating it to no avail.


Mathew Newton

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Mar 6, 2011, 6:26:35 AM3/6/11
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On Mar 6, 10:24 am, "SS" <nonens...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

> Any ideas on how to soften the plastic? I have tried hot water and also
> lubricating it to no avail.

Hair dryer?

Mathew

Ian Jackson

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Mar 6, 2011, 8:24:55 AM3/6/11
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In message
<cdb5de7c-8815-43d0...@p3g2000vbv.googlegroups.com>,
Mathew Newton <use...@newtonnet.co.uk> writes
I was thinking 'hot air gun', used carefully, at a distance, with (if
necessary) something to deflect the heat from whatever is behind the
plastic.
--
Ian

newshound

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Mar 6, 2011, 12:18:22 PM3/6/11
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"Ian Jackson" <ianREMOVET...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ZqQGhgAn...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk...

Very hot water (i.e. near boiling point) should work, and be safer for the
plastic if not for you.

Mathew Newton

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Mar 6, 2011, 1:11:55 PM3/6/11
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On Mar 6, 1:24 pm, Ian Jackson
<ianREMOVETHISjack...@g3ohx.demon.co.uk> wrote:

> >Hair dryer?
>
> I was thinking 'hot air gun', used carefully, at a distance, with (if
> necessary) something to deflect the heat from whatever is behind the
> plastic.

I'd be inclined to move up to that only if necessary... too much scope
for overdoing things I would've thought! I suppose it depends on the
type of plastic but I've had success with a hair dryer on the type
used for UPVC double glazing - indeed the first time I almost overdid
it as I didn't realise it was going to be so effective!

Mathew

robgraham

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Mar 7, 2011, 4:42:56 AM3/7/11
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Have you tried lubricating with washing up liquid?

One of the best tools for all sorts of applications is a hot air gun
with a variable heat output. I'm always diving under the bench to get
it out - everything from bee-keeping, melting hot glue wax, drying out
metalwork before painting, and finally paint stripping.

Rob

SS

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Mar 7, 2011, 6:07:59 AM3/7/11
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"robgraham" <robkg...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:298b921f-8b72-4bf7...@n18g2000vbq.googlegroups.com...

Rob

Yes I have tried lubricating it didnt help.

Thanks for all the tips guys I am going to try the hairdryer later today and
see how it goes.

thanks


SS

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Mar 8, 2011, 4:29:53 AM3/8/11
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"SS" <none...@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:k03dp.108398$OU.9...@newsfe02.ams2...
Now sorted.


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