dried out rubber parts

Darth Sparky · 06-11-2009, 09:06 PM

Does anyone know why rubber parts dry out? I ask this not because it happens to me but rather that it has not. Well at least my magic fingers and cup seals are both still originals.

I live in Canada where we do not have intense heat all year round. My marker has lived half of it's life with and half without humidity too. It has also lived in one basement or another as well. I know that sunlight will kill rubber but what else does it? Why have your magic fingers died?

Sly1 · 06-12-2009, 12:10 AM

I have absolutely no input whatsoever, other than that uv, and some chemicals can wear at rubber, but.. I had to post because the title of this thread is awesome.

Sir, be glad your rubber parts haven't dried out, as well as your magic fingers.

Jordan · 06-12-2009, 07:58 AM

Ground level ozone - at least, that's what kills tires. That, and sitting around - most people don't seem to know this, but tires have wax in the rubber, and when you drive your car, the tire gets warm and the wax "melts" and spreads. If the tire sits for a few years, it "dries out" and cracks.

I'm not sure why rubber seals do the same - my guess is that it's a similar phenomenon, where if the seal is not lubricated and "used", but instead sits and isn't lubed, then it "dries out". I just a VM-68 that's been sitting for who knows how long, and the same deal - cup seal and fingers are ok, but the valve o-rings were hardened, so I replaced those. Other than that, I gassed it up and shot a few rounds through it no problem.

Jordan

Darth Sparky · 06-12-2009, 12:35 PM

Interesting.

I wonder if my habit to clean and lube my marker before putting it away has had an effect on this. Even my o-rings seem fine. Mind you my magic fingers see no lube so that makes no sense. Perhaps I've been lucky.

Jordan · 06-13-2009, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darth Sparky

Interesting.

I wonder if my habit to clean and lube my marker before putting it away has had an effect on this. Even my o-rings seem fine. Mind you my magic fingers see no lube so that makes no sense. Perhaps I've been lucky.

If you put oil on the bolt, then they would see a little lube.

Or maybe just luck - at least we don't have to pay $10 plus shipping from PPS for a ball detent.

Jordan

06-11-2009, 09:06 PM	#1 (permalink)
Darth Sparky Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calgary	dried out rubber parts Does anyone know why rubber parts dry out? I ask this not because it happens to me but rather that it has not. Well at least my magic fingers and cup seals are both still originals. I live in Canada where we do not have intense heat all year round. My marker has lived half of it's life with and half without humidity too. It has also lived in one basement or another as well. I know that sunlight will kill rubber but what else does it? Why have your magic fingers died?

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06-12-2009, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
Darth Sparky Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Calgary	Interesting. I wonder if my habit to clean and lube my marker before putting it away has had an effect on this. Even my o-rings seem fine. Mind you my magic fingers see no lube so that makes no sense. Perhaps I've been lucky.