On Thu, 21 Aug 2008 21:15:48 +0100, "Spamlet"
wrote:


[1] My local Bambi dealer doesn't carry a spare valve so I've got a
bit of time to play. Also it seems a shame to throw away a perfectly
good, nicely machined and chromed brass fitting for the sake of a 10p
rubber valve. :-(


If you haven't already tried the suggestions - the fiddly part with rubber
being finding a piece as hard/soft/solvent proof etc. as the original; if
you can find a piece of the right stuff, I find an old set of lab
technician's cork borers often comes in useful for making washers/bungs and
the like - you might find that your original can actually be *revived*.

Ooo, no I haven't tried anything as yet as I have been busy elsewhere
and was waiting for a call re how much a replacement was. Good news,
£19 for the part, bad news £50 minimum order and £20 postage!

We used to sell 'blanket reviver' for rubber printing blankets.

Ok

This was
basically a mixture of white spirit and a solvent like dry cleaning fluid or
paint thinners. This swells the rubber and takes off the glaze. The right
mix can make rubber double or treble in size or more with soaking. In your
case you only need to soak it long enough to take out the ridge. Note that
while the rubber is swollen full of solvent it will be weak so let it dry to
a 'no smell of solvent' state before you put it back.

Oooo ..

Academic as you've probably finished by now...

Not at all, so, where do I find said potion please or are you saying
it is simply white spirit and dry cleaning fluid (or was that just a
guess / example) and we don't know the ratios etc?

All the best ..

T i m