Dirty black rubber mains cable

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I've got a long length of high-spec rubber(?) sheathed mains cable that is in perfect condition in every respect other than it makes your hands filthy when handling it. It is a heavy cable and will cost a lot to replace, harming both my wallet and the environment.

Does anyone know of a way to stop the black from coming off on hands, clothes, etc.? I would happily 'polish' it once a year.
 
I wouldn't know what to call that in Spain, any ideas what it's called in the UK?
 
David
I suspect this is UV degradation of the 'mix', and that the carbon (or equiv) content is spoiling out. Not sure if anything will sensibly cure this, but thinking laterally . . .
a) Some black duct tape around the bits that do the most marking (e.g where it rubs up against topsides)
b) An old/cheap garden hose to sleeve the whole length
c) Pair of gloves
/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif
 
Tung Oil

. . . never heard of the stuff, so Wiki'd . . .
" As the penetrating power of tung oil is excellent and able to adhere to porous minerals, it is often the “secret” ingredient that traditional stonemasons apply to granite or marble that is destined to serve duty in kitchens, bathrooms and other staining fluid environments. Applied at a 1:5 ratio (oil to naphtha), it seals the surfaces permanently, while also giving a finish like that of wet stone to the product. Often several thin layers are applied at the high solvent-to-oil ratio, in order to build up the durability and permanence of the coating. The non-yellowing nature of tung oil is vitally important for its satisfactory use in these applications. Clean up, especially of hands, may be difficult without a solvent. "
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tung_oil

Hmm, interesting! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

And Eroski sell it (I think)
http://www.consumer.es/web/es/bricolaje/carpinteria/2005/08/17/144560.php
 
Re: Tung Oil

Marvelous stuff.. even paint me deck shoes with it lol... great on the petrol genny to seal against corrosion...

Its also, primarily.. teak oil !!.. but not the crappo linseed oil stuff that goes black.. a real product.. from the tung tree...

Often wondered what a tung tree was like.. but, hey.. stuff it.. it works as the best sealant ever...
 
[ QUOTE ]
I've got a long length.......................it makes your hands filthy when handling it. harming both my wallet and the environment. [/you bet...!]
/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know of a way to stop the black from coming off on hands, clothes, etc.? I would happily 'polish' it once a year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Nuff said...
 
Tell me 'bout it, Joe, trauma after trauma.... twelve and three-quarters days in the UK for a start. I don't suppose I have to say any more, do I?

Thanks for the tung oil tip. We have a local Eroski so we'll pop over next week and get some.

Edit:- Thanks, guys for the help. Much appreciated. This place is a bottomless pit of infomation or should I call it an endless fountain?
 
Definitely sounds like degradation of some sort. Due to UV or weather..or both. As for applying an oil to sort it.... worth a try I guess, but personally I wouldn't hold my breath. You could wind up with a black oily mess on your hands.
I think replacement might the end result, but v interested to know how you get on with the oil treatment.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Definitely sounds like degradation of some sort. Due to UV or weather..or both. As for applying an oil to sort it.... worth a try I guess, but personally I wouldn't hold my breath. You could wind up with a black oily mess on your hands.
I think replacement might the end result, but v interested to know how you get on with the oil treatment.

[/ QUOTE ]Let's give the Cap'n a chance. If he's wrong I'll have custard pies thrown at him and tie him down over a nest of red ants /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Thanks, that looks interesting - wouldn't be much good after tung oil, though.

Cap'n, have you actually used tung oil on old black cable or is it a theory?
 
The other thing you might try is 303 Aerospace Protectant. I haven't tried it on my own cable which suffers the same problem as yours (but I don't use it much) however it certainly does a good job on the clutches, winch tops etc. www.303products.com will give you Spanish distributors if they don't stock it in the local chandlery. It's really a preventive than a fix, but it's worth having on board anyway, so worth a try.
 
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