Remedies for Sticky Rubber Covers on Camera Bodies?

[Hugh_3170]

I have a Nikon D40 and a D200, both of which now have sticky covers.   

New replacements for such covers are virtually unobtainable and the idea of treating the existing covers with something to curb the stickiness may not be too good if it involves dusty substances such as talcum powder or the like.

This must be a common issue for older cameras with rubberised covers.

Has anyone came up with a workable remedy that is kind to the camera body and the lenses that might be attached to it?

Thanks in advance.

[Bent Hjarbo]

A lot of plastics and rubber are treated to be less slippery. This surface interacts with our atmosphere and get sticky.
I have used a dish soap to remove the stickiness, but you will now have a more smooth surface.
Take care not the water into the camera 

[mxbianco]

I have a Nikon D40 and a D200, both of which now have sticky covers.   

New replacements for such covers are virtually unobtainable and the idea of treating the existing covers with something to curb the stickiness may not be too good if it involves dusty substances such as talcum powder or the like.

This must be a common issue for older cameras with rubberised covers.

Has anyone came up with a workable remedy that is kind to the camera body and the lenses that might be attached to it?

Thanks in advance.

I have several D70's, a D40X and a D200 which were affected by the same problem. Of course talcum is out of the question...

I have solved using isopropyl alcohol on cotton wads, please make a test on a small section before treating the complete body.

The tackiness disappears completely, make sure you make the final passage with new wads without a trace of the sticky stuff removed in previous passages.

Ciao from Massimo

[Hugh_3170]

Many thanks Bent and Massimo.

I will try out your remedies this week end and report back.

[pluton]

My more heavily used D800 is showing permanent stickyness on the inside of the front grip, where the fingers curve in to grab the body tightly.  The 'rubber' feels like it's slightly wet and soft. Wiping with isopropyl alcohol and household spray cleaners (which use butoxyethanol as an aggressive but dilute surfactant) lessens the stickyness, but it comes back strong after a while.
It could be a chemical reaction with the contents of human perspiration, and possibly also a physical reaction to being squeezed (compressed).  The remainder of the camera body, and the entire other D800 body which gets used much less, do not have the sticky rubber.

[CS]

My more heavily used D800 is showing permanent stickyness on the inside of the front grip, where the fingers curve in to grab the body tightly.  The 'rubber' feels like it's slightly wet and soft. Wiping with isopropyl alcohol and household spray cleaners (which use butoxyethanol as an aggressive but dilute surfactant) lessens the stickyness, but it comes back strong after a while.
It could be a chemical reaction with the contents of human perspiration, and possibly also a physical reaction to being squeezed (compressed).  The remainder of the camera body, and the entire other D800 body which gets used much less, do not have the sticky rubber.

I'm wondering if there's  a connection to the deteriorating rubber sections on my Gillette razors over the years.

[pluton]

I'm wondering if there's  a connection to the deteriorating rubber sections on my Gillette razors over the years.

Another decomposing synthetic rubber product where the human touch is implicated?  Hmmm...Is there a pattern afoot?

[Anthony]

Lots of rubber products become sticky after years of use.  It is irritating.

[CS]

Lots of rubber products become sticky after years of use.  It is irritating.

WRT to the razors, they get sticky and softer, with a feel similar to modeling clay, as time goes bye. Yes, very irritating!

[Anthony]

WRT to the razors, they get sticky and softer, with a feel similar to modeling clay, as time goes bye. Yes, very irritating!

Fortunately razors are cheap to replace, unlike cameras!

[Ann]

I have read of people using plastic-restorative products (such as Armor All) to restore the surface of camera rubber coverings after first cleaning them with alcohol but have never tried that myself.

DEET is reported to be death to camera coatings so if you use DEET (insect repellent), you need to wash your hands with soap before touching the camera.

[CS]

I have read of people using plastic-restorative products (such as Armor All) to restore the surface of camera rubber coverings after first cleaning them with alcohol but have never tried that myself.

DEET is reported to be death to camera coatings so if you use DEET (insect repellent), you need to wash your hands with soap before touching the camera.

I would hesitate to use Armor All on my camera gear. While it does good work WRT the appearance of vinyl, leather. and probably rubber, it leaves a particularly slippery surface behind. That would make it fairly easy to have the gear slip through your fingers.

[Ann]

Useful to know about slippery finish after using Armor All!

I have never bought or used that product so was only repeating what I had read on line.

Apparently people who are selling used cameras are inclined to dolly-them up by using such products so it seems Buyer beware — and buy a strong camera strap at the same time?!

[CS]

Useful to know about slippery finish after using Armor All!

I have never bought or used that product so was only repeating what I had read on line.

Apparently people who are selling used cameras are inclined to dolly-them up by using such products so it seems Buyer beware — and buy a strong camera strap at the same time?!

In the interest of full disclosure, I have not used Armor All on camera bodies, and would not because of my experience with using it in other applications. If someone reliable has here has tried it with success, I stand ready to be corrected.  As for what unknown sellers might say, IMO, you're right on with caveat emptor. 

[pluton]

I would hesitate to use Armor All on my camera gear. While it does good work WRT the appearance of vinyl, leather. and probably rubber, it leaves a particularly slippery surface behind. That would make it fairly easy to have the gear slip through your fingers.

Armorall is a very slippery, slimy product that, IMO, should never be deposited on anything that people are going to come into contact with or handle in any way. The slimy coating migrates onto whatever touches it and can be nightmare to clean up, even from non-porous surfaces.