Binos - soft rubber has gone sticky

[MoodySabre]

This a pair of binoculars I keep at home. They have soft rubber/plastic body which has gone sticky - not left out in the sun. How can I get rid of the stickyness?

 

[ColdFusion]

I'd be interested in knowing if it can be removed too, as my Minolta binoculars are similarly affected.

 

[Cheekybrat]

I can't say whether it will work but I had some sunglasses (somewhat cheaper than Binoculars-maybe?) and they went all sticky. SWMBO was for binning them but I put them in the dishwasher and they came out back like new, so maybe washing with normal washing powder may cure the problem?
Nick Heath

 

[Searush]

I'd be inclined to try putting Talc on 'em.

 

[Giblets]

I'd be inclined to try putting Talc on 'em.

I would agree with SR there. Some years ago I had a gas leak detector that had a rubber bellows (similar to the bulb on an outboard fuel line) to suck air through the unit. This went all sticky over a short period of time but a liberal dosing of Old Spice talc soon cured it.

 

[jfkal]

Its annoying isn't it? Reason is the use of low grade unstabilised rubber (mainly from China [AGAIN]). I had brand new Motorola Headsets, never used them but kept them on board. After one year I looked at a nice headset dangling from bare copper wires with a gooey blob attached to it. The whole wire insulation has disintegrated. I could also talk a bit about the state of my SOLAS approved China made lifering after one year but that is a different sad story.
Anyway there one way to mitigate the problem by sprinkling it with (industrial) talcum. Dont use the scented drugstore type as it may contain camphor amongst other ghastly things which may worsen the problem. You may have to re-apply once in a while until all the sticky stuff in bound. Happy Bird Watching

 

[mawm]

French chalk (the stuff gymnasts rub on their hands) works to prevent rubber perishing, but I don't know if it cures it. Is it the same as industrial grade talcum?

 

[nedmin]

Had the same prob with mine and scraped it of with a kitchen knife.It was only a few thou.thick on mine.sounds drastic but worked for me.Talc no good on mine.Try a bit first out of sight.