Date:         Sun, 16 Feb 2003 17:06:13 -0800
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@UVIC.CA>
Subject:      Re: glycerol for rubber, was O ring making kit
Comments: To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <F1128doPHXvrMjydqYe000326de@hotmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

I said it was an old trick :)

Back in my youth, when life was simpler and I was entranced by model
aeroplanes, I would "dope" my rubber band that powered my glider with
glycerol.

It reduced friction and seemed to keep the the bands from drying out and
cracking. People had their own special recipes, secret, shared only to a
few. Additions included castor oil and green soap (boy did I have a hard
time figuring out just what green soap was).

I understand that nowadays, enthusiasts keep their rubber bands in plastic
bags with a spritz of Armor-All.

I DO know, nowadays, using O-rings a-plenty, that they DO last a heck of a
lot longer if they are greased with silicon grease, or as the Germans call
it, silicon fat.

These are O-rings subjected to temp cycling from 20 - 121 C, used to seal
stainless steel interfaces.


BTW, I believe talc works well on many rubber objects, from door seals to...

Alistair

--
'82 Westy -> diesel converted to gas in '94
albell@uvic.ca
http://members.shaw.ca/albell






on 16/2/03 4:46 pm, Mark Dorm wrote:

> Old fashioned glycerol treatment for rubber bands? What? Does that work?
> Have you ever tried to dye rubber bands.. they're impossible... red wine...
> no effect...
>