Rubber Restorer...

From: Richard Erlacher <edick_at_idcomm.com>
Date: Mon Nov 5 19:50:42 2001

I think what causes most paper transports to stop transporting is that they
acquire paper dust in their porous rubber belts and rollers and thereby lose
their ability to grab the paper. The "restorer" probably allows these tiny bits
of paper to be removed, thereby restoring the stickiness to the rubber surfaces.

I have the same sort of problem albeit on a somewhat larger scale in the
socket-liner on my prosthesis. While soft, clean, and compliant, it sticks to
the skin and forms a suction-based bond that hold the thing onto the remaining
portion of my leg just fine. After a few days' use, it picks up skin particles
and other forms of debris, which makes the surface inadequately smooth, soft,
and compliant, and so, it doesn't work any longer. Of course, unlike printer
and tape drive parts, that can be cleaned easily with soap and water.

As far as tape drive rollers are concerned, it's quite easy (provided you have
access to and experience with machine tools, to remove the rubber from the base
material after measuring the outside diameter with a dial caliper, and then
build up a layer of silastic (the type you get for $2 a tube at the hardware
store) let it cure in more or less round shape, and then apply a toolpost
grinder with the roller in a lathe. Silastic machines quite nicely and cleanly
with a fast grinder, and if you are careful not to take it down too fast and if
you're careful not to get it too hot (let it cool between cuts) it is quite
accurately machinable, and also allows you quite a bit of freedom to shape it
once cured.

Dick
----- Original Message -----
From: "Roger Merchberger" <zmerch_at_30below.com>
To: <classiccmp_at_classiccmp.org>
Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 12:01 PM
Subject: Re: Rubber Restorer...


> Rumor has it that Bryan Pope may have mentioned these words:
>
> >Does anyone know where I can get "Rubber Restorer"? I know it comes in a
> >spray.
> >
> >I thought I had bought it before at Radio Shack, but they didn't have any or
> >a clue.
>
> Not sure what kind of rubber you're trying to restore, but if it's printer
> rollers you're trying to "re-stickify" what works good for me is "Marvel
> Mystery Oil." Put some on a t-shirt rag and hit all the rollers in your
> inkjet or laser printer - I've "refurbished" several printers this way,
> some more than once.
>
> HTH,
> Roger "Merch" Merchberger
>
>
Received on Mon Nov 05 2001 - 19:50:42 GMT