What to do when plastic becomes sticky?

[Fred McKenzie]

Over the years, I've had several pieces of equipment with plastic parts
that have become sticky. The latest is the rubberized part of a Sears
Craftsman High Temperature Infrared Thermometer. There is also the
rubberized case of a Radio Shack HTX-200 Two Meter Handheld radio.

Does anyone know of a treatment for these sticky surfaces?

Fred

 

[Rich Webb]

Over the years, I've had several pieces of equipment with plastic parts
that have become sticky. The latest is the rubberized part of a Sears
Craftsman High Temperature Infrared Thermometer. There is also the
rubberized case of a Radio Shack HTX-200 Two Meter Handheld radio.

Does anyone know of a treatment for these sticky surfaces?

Know? No, but a couple of ideas. A clear acrylic coating might work.
Mask off the unaffected areas and airbrush on a light coat or two of
Future acrylic. http://www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

Or, just try rubbing the sticky sections with talc?

 

[Boris Mohar]

Over the years, I've had several pieces of equipment with plastic parts
that have become sticky. The latest is the rubberized part of a Sears
Craftsman High Temperature Infrared Thermometer. There is also the
rubberized case of a Radio Shack HTX-200 Two Meter Handheld radio.

Does anyone know of a treatment for these sticky surfaces?

Fred

Try vinegar. Let us know if it worked.

 

[Fred McKenzie]

Methinks the plastic is slowly decomposing - so no treatment will
stop the problem.

Robert-

That is what I was thinking. I was hoping there was some chemical that
would "passivate" the decomposing plastic.

I have some 100% Isopropyl Alcohol (fuel line water remover) that I'll
try, just in case that works. If it does, I expect it will just be a
matter of time before the remaining plastic starts to decompose.

Fred

 

[Fred McKenzie]

i treated it to a bath in %91 Isopropyl alcohol and it disolved
and washed the sticky coating completely away exposing the hard
rubber or plastic under part.

Robb-

I liked the idea of using alcohol because it would probably not hurt the
underlying plastic. I tried some Isopropyl Alcohol (fuel line water
remover) on the Infrared Thermometer. Just as you said, it wiped away
the sticky coating.

I was surprised that the "rubberized" surface was actually a coating
that had been painted onto the plastic. The alcohol acted as a paint
remover. If I can disassemble the Two Meter Handheld radio's case, I'll
give it a try as well. It is just too intricate to clean without
getting sticky stuff inside the radio.

Fred

 

[timetraveler]

Thanks for posting. I have a hairdryer whose plastic-covered handle was sticky. I tried soap, oil, and Goo-Gone. Nothing worked until I found this thread. I cleaned it with 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol (because that's what I had) and no more sticky handle. I then applied the same treatment to the electric cord of my Kitchen Aide mixer that I thought for years was persistently gathering kitchen grease. No more sticky cord!