I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

On Sunday, 14 April 2019 15:43:32 UTC+1, Expiring wrote:

I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

AFAIK that stuff isn't fixable, once it goos it just deteriorates. Temporary improvement can be had by dusting it with talc or cornstarch. Repair requires removal, which is not easy. Usable softeners include toluene, xylene, neat washing up liquid, and old brake fluid seems to be the best. Most of those have their hazards.


NT

On 4/14/2019 10:44 AM, Expiring wrote:
I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles.Â* I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?



I just repaired a pair of needle nose pliers that I like.
Enter the following in eBay search window and work out the details.

(1 FOOT) 3/4" Red Heat Shrink Tube 3:1 Dual Wall Adhesive Glue Marine/to
0.75"

Good Luck!!

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 11:48:50 AM UTC-4, ABLE1 wrote:
On 4/14/2019 10:44 AM, Expiring wrote:
I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles.Â* I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

I just repaired a pair of needle nose pliers that I like.

And o you have good medical insurance? That''s what I want to know.

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 11:48:50 AM UTC-4, ABLE1 wrote:
On 4/14/2019 10:44 AM, Expiring wrote:
I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

I just repaired a pair of needle nose pliers that I like.

And do you have good medical insurance? That''s what I want to know.

On 14-4-2019 16:44, Expiring wrote:
I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

Shrink tube.

Expiring wrote:

I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.


Somebody makes a liquid handle dip coating exactly for this. You remove the
old coating, clean, and dip the handles in the stuff, let dry, then repeat
until the desired thickness is built up.

Jon

In article ,
Jon Elson wrote:

Somebody makes a liquid handle dip coating exactly for this.

.... Plastikote? Er no, .... Plasti Dip!

https://plastidip.com/


--
--------------------------------------+------------------------------------
Mike Brown: mjb[-at-]signal11.org.uk | http://www.signal11.org.uk

plasti dip is great, I have tool handles I dipped decades ago, but gasoline takes it right off. Just an FYI.

On Sunday, April 14, 2019 at 7:43:32 AM UTC-7, Expiring wrote:
I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

Yeah, flexible polymers age poorly sometimes. If you can remove the rubber
entirely, and clean the handles, there's rubber fusion tape (made for
electrical splicing, but more widely useful) that can be stretched/wound around
the handles and it cures to a good rubbery grip.

If you want it to last forever, instead of just a decade, it's available
in silicone, too, though that might be more slippery

https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/company-us/all-3m-products/~/3M-Wrap-Repair-Silicone-Tape/

On Sun, 14 Apr 2019 07:44:15 -0700, Expiring
wrote:

I have a few almost new usage-wise, but very old, tools with rubber
handles. I want to keep using them.

The rubber surface has become gooey and sticky and comes off on my hands.

I cannot easily cover it with tape.

Is there some way to fix this. ?

Some chemical to solidify the rubber goo ?

Is it only the surface that I can somehow clean off ?

Maybe freezing at low temps (dry ice?) might make
the stuff brittle so a whack with a hammer will
shear it off.
Replace with refrigerant foam insulator tube. Or
bicycle grips.