Yes the rubber, or synthetic material, leaches out after a while. Things
that have gone this way here are
Pressure rollers on some cassette decks
Shoe soles
Electric shaver covers
some tv fly lead covers
Likewise 1970s tv camera cables.


It seems that the plasticiser eventually leaches out turning the material
to a collection of dusty bits covered in gunge.
Brian

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From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
wrote in message
...
On Friday, August 17, 2012 8:06:46 PM UTC+1, HellyB wrote:
We have a nice pair of "rubberised" binoculars, but the "rubber" has

recently become quite sticky to the touch. Washing up liquid and other

gentle cleaners have had no effect.



Any other possible ways of removing the stickiness? (Apart from angle

grinders, of course).



--

Ian

I had same problem with Sigma. Used surgical spirit to remove coating
altogether - took a while but binos now useable albeit minus rubberised
coating.