"Bob Villa" wrote in message
...
On Jun 22, 10:03 pm, Judy Zappacosta zappajNOS...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
My kid wants to use my dad's vintage US Divers circa 1970's black scuba
fins in the pool but I won't let him until we solve the problem of the
oily
rubber coming off in our hands.

We bought new straps and soaked the fins themselves for days in a bucket
of
pool water, but still the oily black inky rubber comes off as you rub the
fins in your hands.

Is there a "coating" or some way to stop old scuba fins from smearing oily
black rubber on everything it touches?

There are many naysayers here...I think this is only oxidation.
Someone mentioned a toilet flapper (which I have encountered) with a
similar problem.
Although I have not seen anything I would call oily? It appears to be
the black pigment separating from the encasing material, neoprene
rubber.
I would try a non-chlorine abrasive cleanser and then silicone.
Good Luck,
bob

reply: How well does that work on toilet flappers?

Steve

visit my blog at http://cabgbypasssurgery.com watch for the book

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:22:05 -0700 (PDT), Bob Villa
wrote:

On Jun 22, 10:03*pm, Judy Zappacosta zappajNOS...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
My kid wants to use my dad's vintage US Divers circa 1970's black scuba
fins in the pool but I won't let him until we solve the problem of the oily
rubber coming off in our hands.

We bought new straps and soaked the fins themselves for days in a bucket of
pool water, but still the oily black inky rubber comes off as you rub the
fins in your hands.

Is there a "coating" or some way to stop old scuba fins from smearing oily
black rubber on everything it touches?

There are many naysayers here...I think this is only oxidation.
Someone mentioned a toilet flapper (which I have encountered) with a
similar problem.
Although I have not seen anything I would call oily? It appears to be
the black pigment separating from the encasing material, neoprene
rubber.
I would try a non-chlorine abrasive cleanser and then silicone.
Good Luck,
bob

Neoprene, (polychloroprene) is produced from "divinyl acetylene, a
jelly which firms into an elastic compound similar to rubber when
passed over sulfur dichloride."

Neoprene itself is inert, doesn't oxidize readily and has unique
elastic properties that make it useful in a wide variety of
applications.

The problem Judy is experiencing is from decay and separation of the
Neoprene from the compounding agents used to fabricate the fins. Those
compounding agents can be hazardous. To quote Wikipedia on the
subject:

"Although neoprene itself is not a skin contact sensitizer, certain
neoprene adhesives contain 4% rosin (CAS No. 8050-09-7, previously
known as "colophony"), which is a skin contact sensitizer under the
European Union Dangerous Preparations Directive 1999/45/EC.[1]

Lead-containing compounds, such as litharge (lead(II) oxide), are used
as compounding agents to prepare finished products made of neoprene,
and these can have a toxic effect on human blood, kidneys, and
reproductive systems."

If the smell of the degraded fins exhibits a turpentine odor, the
compounding agent was resin and it is a skin and inhalation hazard.

If the smell is "metallic" or nearly odorless then the compounding
agent is lead-based and it is a direct hazard to your children's
health.

In any case, you are FAR better off for the sake of your children to
buy them new fins and toss these old ones in the trash.

"Geoff" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 06:22:05 -0700 (PDT), Bob Villa
wrote:

On Jun 22, 10:03 pm, Judy Zappacosta zappajNOS...@Use-Author-Supplied-
Address.invalid wrote:
My kid wants to use my dad's vintage US Divers circa 1970's black scuba
fins in the pool but I won't let him until we solve the problem of the
oily
rubber coming off in our hands.

We bought new straps and soaked the fins themselves for days in a bucket
of
pool water, but still the oily black inky rubber comes off as you rub
the
fins in your hands.

Is there a "coating" or some way to stop old scuba fins from smearing
oily
black rubber on everything it touches?

There are many naysayers here...I think this is only oxidation.
Someone mentioned a toilet flapper (which I have encountered) with a
similar problem.
Although I have not seen anything I would call oily? It appears to be
the black pigment separating from the encasing material, neoprene
rubber.
I would try a non-chlorine abrasive cleanser and then silicone.
Good Luck,
bob

Neoprene, (polychloroprene) is produced from "divinyl acetylene, a
jelly which firms into an elastic compound similar to rubber when
passed over sulfur dichloride."

Neoprene itself is inert, doesn't oxidize readily and has unique
elastic properties that make it useful in a wide variety of
applications.

The problem Judy is experiencing is from decay and separation of the
Neoprene from the compounding agents used to fabricate the fins. Those
compounding agents can be hazardous. To quote Wikipedia on the
subject:

"Although neoprene itself is not a skin contact sensitizer, certain
neoprene adhesives contain 4% rosin (CAS No. 8050-09-7, previously
known as "colophony"), which is a skin contact sensitizer under the
European Union Dangerous Preparations Directive 1999/45/EC.[1]

Lead-containing compounds, such as litharge (lead(II) oxide), are used
as compounding agents to prepare finished products made of neoprene,
and these can have a toxic effect on human blood, kidneys, and
reproductive systems."

If the smell of the degraded fins exhibits a turpentine odor, the
compounding agent was resin and it is a skin and inhalation hazard.

If the smell is "metallic" or nearly odorless then the compounding
agent is lead-based and it is a direct hazard to your children's
health.

In any case, you are FAR better off for the sake of your children to
buy them new fins and toss these old ones in the trash.

Or, as I suggested, nail them to a fence as a decoration. A messy one.

Steve

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:02:12 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

Or, as I suggested, nail them to a fence as a decoration. A messy one.


Not advisable since you are still exposing people to the products of
the fin degradation and run-off as the sun, wind and rain erode them.
Then you'd have a mess in the soil around the fence and black streak
running down it. Better off to toss them in the recycle bin where
people who know how to handle polymers can deal with it.

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:16:02 -0700, Geoff
wrote:

:Neoprene, (polychloroprene) is produced from "divinyl acetylene, a
:jelly which firms into an elastic compound similar to rubber when
assed over sulfur dichloride."
:
:Neoprene itself is inert, doesn't oxidize readily and has unique
:elastic properties that make it useful in a wide variety of
:applications.
:
:The problem Judy is experiencing is from decay and separation of the
:Neoprene from the compounding agents used to fabricate the fins.

These fins are made of neoprene?

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 18:41:42 -0400, Dan Bracuk
wrote:

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 11:16:02 -0700, Geoff
wrote:

:Neoprene, (polychloroprene) is produced from "divinyl acetylene, a
:jelly which firms into an elastic compound similar to rubber when
assed over sulfur dichloride."
:
:Neoprene itself is inert, doesn't oxidize readily and has unique
:elastic properties that make it useful in a wide variety of
:applications.
:
:The problem Judy is experiencing is from decay and separation of the
:Neoprene from the compounding agents used to fabricate the fins.

These fins are made of neoprene?

Most likely. Neoprene dates from the 1930's and is the most widely
used synthetic rubber. Wetsuits and dry suits are made from
nitrogen-foamed neoprene.

"Geoff" wrote in message
news
On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:02:12 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

Or, as I suggested, nail them to a fence as a decoration. A messy one.


Not advisable since you are still exposing people to the products of
the fin degradation and run-off as the sun, wind and rain erode them.
Then you'd have a mess in the soil around the fence and black streak
running down it. Better off to toss them in the recycle bin where
people who know how to handle polymers can deal with it.

When I tossed the pair I bought in 1969, it was tough. But I got over it by
going out and buying some long ones that had infinitely softer rubber, and
were way more comfortable than those old stiff ones.

Steve

http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

On Jun 27, 7:09*pm, "Steve B" wrote:
"Geoff" wrote in message

news
On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:02:12 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

Or, as I suggested, nail them to a fence as a decoration. *A messy one.

Not advisable since you are still exposing people to the products of
the fin degradation and run-off as the sun, wind and rain erode them.
Then you'd have a mess in the soil around the fence and black streak
running down it. Better off to toss them in the recycle bin where
people who know how to handle polymers can deal with it.

When I tossed the pair I bought in 1969, it was tough. *But I got over it by
going out and buying some long ones that had infinitely softer rubber, and
were way more comfortable than those old stiff ones.

Steve

http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

Long/soft better than short/stiff...not sure where you're going with
this one...but check with the wife for a better opinion!

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:52:02 -0700, Geoff
wrote:

:Most likely. Neoprene dates from the 1930's and is the most widely
:used synthetic rubber. Wetsuits and dry suits are made from
:nitrogen-foamed neoprene.

But these are not wetsuits or drysuits. These are fins. I just don't
see fins being made of neoprene.

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 21:29:25 -0400, Dan Bracuk
wrote:

On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 15:52:02 -0700, Geoff
wrote:

:Most likely. Neoprene dates from the 1930's and is the most widely
:used synthetic rubber. Wetsuits and dry suits are made from
:nitrogen-foamed neoprene.

But these are not wetsuits or drysuits. These are fins. I just don't
see fins being made of neoprene.

Nearly all "rubber" today (and since 1940 or so) is neoprene. The fins
are hard molded neoprene made from "chips" of the stuff mixed with
"compounding" agents for color and elasticity or durability. There are
about a dozen different kinds of neoprene from DuPont. Pure neoprene
chips are a yellow-white or cream color powder, much like coffee
creamer.

Many composite airframes or structures use neoprene compounds in
addition to the carbon fiber laminations.

"Bob Villa" wrote in message
...
On Jun 27, 7:09 pm, "Steve B" wrote:
"Geoff" wrote in message

news
On Sun, 27 Jun 2010 12:02:12 -0700, "Steve B"
wrote:

Or, as I suggested, nail them to a fence as a decoration. A messy one.

Not advisable since you are still exposing people to the products of
the fin degradation and run-off as the sun, wind and rain erode them.
Then you'd have a mess in the soil around the fence and black streak
running down it. Better off to toss them in the recycle bin where
people who know how to handle polymers can deal with it.

When I tossed the pair I bought in 1969, it was tough. But I got over it
by
going out and buying some long ones that had infinitely softer rubber, and
were way more comfortable than those old stiff ones.

Steve

http://cabgbypasssurgery.com

Long/soft better than short/stiff...not sure where you're going with
this one...but check with the wife for a better opinion!

reply: My current wife does not dive. She has no knowledge of diving, but
probably could figure it out from simple math and physics that long fins
produce a different thrust than short ones. Most reasonable people come to
that same conclusion. I thought my Jet Fins were top of the line until I
wore some of those really long ones. They sure do a number on your thighs
and calves until you adjust your leg movements, and they sure keep your
tendency to bicycle down. But for ease of movement, and economy of motion,
particularly for spearfishing and free diving, I really liked them.

Steve

visit my blog at http://cabgbypasssurgery.com watch for the book

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult.