Any ideas for getting rid of 1) powdery white coating on the old rubber 2) straightening them out to original shape?
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Well I just wash them to get rid of the white coating if it's there. Warming them up in the sun will help spring them back to shape. I'd suggest the oven, but you have to be careful.
Hair dryer and the stuff they sell for black car trim would do it as long as you’re patient and don’t melt it.
Aerospace 303 is an awesome plastic and vinyl cleaner / restorer. I use it mostly for car applications and it brings materials back to a nice supple matte finish.
Run hot water on them, then bend to desired position. The run them under cold water to stiffen them…
Tom
Two of mine were significantly distorted. I removed the diaphragms from the car. Then cut wood blocks roughly the size of the opening to hold their shape. I heated the oven to about 160 and turned it off. Put the diaphragms on a tray and left them in the over for an hour. Make sure they are cool before removing the wood block..
Not to go off on a tangent, but has Lionel or anyone made diaphragms that fully span and enclose the area between passenger cars?
@VJandP posted:Not to go off on a tangent, but has Lionel or anyone made diaphragms that fully span and enclose the area between passenger cars?
You may find something suitable / useful here:
