Clod tyre mold release -arghh

[Tamiya_addict]

My NIB TXT-1 tyres are covered in a white sticky substance []. I assume it is mold release []. Some rubber parts excrete a white powder after 20 years, but this is complety different. I scrubbed the tyres in warm water with a toothbrush and liquid dishwashing detergent. Something mild so as not to attack the rubber. After scrubbing each tyre for 5 minutes and twice over, most of the gunk is gone, but some persists. Is there a safe-to--the-rubber more effective way of removing the release agent?

[blakeatron]

car tyre foam? silicone spray? take them in the shower with you?

[adam1973]

Not come across this problen either. Also shouldn't the thread be titled as TXT tyre problem, instead of Clod as it's a TXT that you're refering to not a Clod?

[Tamiya_addict]

Clod and TXT-1 tyres are the same. None of my other Tamiya rubber tyres exhibit this problem. Due to the size, Tamiya must used alot of mold release with the TXT-1/Clod tyre.

[billg4]

simple green does an excellent job of cleaning tires. Won't hurt them if you spray and wipe.

 

And if you let them soak a bit they actually get sticky-er which makes them great for crawling or racing. I've had old dirty hard tires sit overnight in a 50/50 water SG mix and they were like new, and softer.

[Tamiya_addict]

Thanks for the tip. Who makes 'simple green'? As the tyres get softer with application, I hope it's just not the rubber bonds breaking down!

[billg4]

in the US many grocery stores, and department stores carry it.

 

Racers swear by it, and some classes outlaw it's use

[Rabiedmushroom]

My NIB Superclod tyres have the same white stuff coming off in flakes. Its weird - they looked fine and black in the box and when mounting them, but after the truck's first run, white stuff is appearing like dandruff ! I've had several Clod-type kits over the years and agree that its the worse I've seen so far. Perhaps Tamiya have changed the rubber compound and mould release?

Its easy to rub off though. My solution is going to be drive it hard and bash the flakey bits off [6][][6]

[racer1]

I work for a rubber company and we see this allot in older compounds. It's worse in colder climates but happens everywhere. In the industry the white it's commonly call bloom. When bloom first appears on the surface it's typically a power form but repeated heating and cooling form moisture and the power eventually becomes a paste like film. The good news is the condition is completely reversible. Simply take an old pillowcase and put the tires in the case, tie it up and throw them in the dryer on HOT for about a half hour. The bloom will be gone and the tires will be good as new. This blooming is more common is certain compounds of rubber. Specifically EPDM and Neoprene are bad but I have seen slight cases with some of the softer Buna Nitrile's

[Tamiya_addict]

Racer1,

Thanks for the tip. I suspect what you are talking about is the white powder that comes out of the rubber after some years. The stuff I'm talking about seems to be mold release (very sticky and balls together, like glue). It has been on the tyres since new. I've had fine white powder released from Fox parts made in 1985, where 22 years later the opowder is present, and simply wipes off.

[racer1]

You are correct. The Bloom i'm refering to is the white power that appears. Over time it will create a paste like film on the rubber.  I bought re-re Hornet and had the same problem you're having. The tires where covered in a sticky white film. A few mins in the dryer made all the difference. Give it a try. Nothing to lose.

[Tamiya_addict]

Yep -  nothing to lose. I'll try it. Thanks. Just need to find someone with a clothese dryer  - Corpsey??? I see you've one in your showroom there.

I only have a drying cupboard (under floor central heating outlet in laundry cupboard), that I must says works remarkably well... for drying clothes that is. When my wife designed it into our houseplan she did not intend it for my Clod tyres LOL.

[Tamiya_addict]

Well, one month later I've got off my sorry *** (sorry I just wanted to say that, as I'm a very active busy type a guy), and dropped my four clod tyres into a zipped tied pillow slip and chucked them in the dryer at the laundret. Met up with a nice hot blonde doing her laundry, just starting to get to know one another and... 'BING' - times up. 'Sorry love - my first love is TAMIYA, and my second my wife', and I took off with my shiny new tyres.

Sorry, that did not happen - the imagination runs at the laundret. Anyways, I spun them for 30 minutes on 'permanent press' (medium heat) and 98% of the gunk is gone. FANTASTIC. Just don't chuck them on high (for cottons) - might get suspiciously smelly. Thanks for the tips rubber molding man! I was dubious as I thought it was mold release but it was in the rubber all along.