Anyone know how to keep rubber soft after 20 years? One of them broke already. I'll have to glue it for display.
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The original Apple watch... wristbands cracking
- Thread starter reallyrandy
- Start date
Rubber straps age and dry out, the cheaper the quality, the quicker It happens.
You can use a silicon spray on the straps to prolong the life. Here is a product that might help you for the future: http://www.ebay.com/itm/262594253982
You can use a silicon spray on the straps to prolong the life. Here is a product that might help you for the future: http://www.ebay.com/itm/262594253982
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I am sorry, please be not offended, but I would recommend to keep away any kind of oil, spray, grease or plastics cleaning or conditioning agents containing silicone. Stay away from Armor All and similar products for vintage collectibles. Silicone oil has the nasty tenendency to weaken the tensile strenght of many plastics. Silicone present on a surface makes also sure that it can not be glued or painted with a reliable result anymore. Once applied, chances are low that silicone can be removed completely. Also silicone oil spreads in your working area, leaving contaminations on other parts one touches.
However, the product omidimo kindly recommends is advertised to be free of silicone, so you might try it with confidence.
In this case of a broken watch strap there are several options to choose from. If you want to glue it, some kind of superglue might work temporarily. Please do not attempt to acually wear a watch with a superglued watch strap, as the strap might break again in the wrong moment and cause a total loss. Preferably identify the kind of plastics you want to repair and choose the glue accordingly. Polyurethane would not become brittle, usually. The wrist straps might be made of PVC or synthetic rubber. To actually use that watches, just use a matching new strap, without the original lettering. Or make your own straps from liquid Polyurethane rubber or Silicone rubber, cured in a casting. You could detach the straps from the watch and remove the clasp to create a casting mould and use a rubber casting compound. Or you could use synthetic rubber, ready avalable as a rubber mat of a few miilimetres in thicknes, heat it up and stamp it with a plaster cast of the original watch strap. This is a common technique to make new rubber parts for old cars and motorcycles.
However, the product omidimo kindly recommends is advertised to be free of silicone, so you might try it with confidence.
In this case of a broken watch strap there are several options to choose from. If you want to glue it, some kind of superglue might work temporarily. Please do not attempt to acually wear a watch with a superglued watch strap, as the strap might break again in the wrong moment and cause a total loss. Preferably identify the kind of plastics you want to repair and choose the glue accordingly. Polyurethane would not become brittle, usually. The wrist straps might be made of PVC or synthetic rubber. To actually use that watches, just use a matching new strap, without the original lettering. Or make your own straps from liquid Polyurethane rubber or Silicone rubber, cured in a casting. You could detach the straps from the watch and remove the clasp to create a casting mould and use a rubber casting compound. Or you could use synthetic rubber, ready avalable as a rubber mat of a few miilimetres in thicknes, heat it up and stamp it with a plaster cast of the original watch strap. This is a common technique to make new rubber parts for old cars and motorcycles.
