How do you make sticky rubber normal?

Answer 1

baby powder.

Once the rubber deteriorates, there is no satisfactory method to "cure" it, except to have the component replaced. The following, however, are some suggestions that are commonly put forward:

1. Strip away the rubber coating altogether, if you can live with that! Some have reported success in using alcohol to strip away the rubber, taking care not to damage the surfaces on surrounding components. Or simply peel it off bit by bit.

2. Use talc or baby powder to apply to the sticky surface (Caution: this will not work for long! And don't use on cameras with sticky rubber backs--the powder will get into the camera and spoil it).

3. Use diluted ammonia or Windex to wipe the sticky surface away (but result is not permanent).

4. Check those who sell supplies for rubber boats, and get a special paint that will coat over the rubber to treat it.

5. I had success using a little paint thinner to remove the stickiness on some rubber cables. The thinner is applied onto a cloth and using it to rub on the sticky surface until the stickiness is gone. The stickiness, I suspect, was due to contact with masking tape, which reacts with the rubber after being on it for a long time. This was the most successful experience with treating sticky rubber surfaces thus far.