sticky plastic help

Buzzard Bait · October 26, 2012, 10:51 PM

My bushnell range finder has turned sticky. Just pulled it out of my hunting box and the plastic has turned supper sticky don't know if it is age or maybe bug repelant has gotten on it, but it feels like glue. Does anyone have a cure for this? Some chemical that might re-cure the plastic so to speak? I know it's an el chepo but it works and gives me some idea of the range.
bb

**4V50 Gary** · October 26, 2012, 10:53 PM

Write Bushnell and complain.

wpsdlrg · October 27, 2012, 07:32 AM

I had the same happen to a pair of compact binoculars. It is the outer "soft" coating that has turned sticky (partially dissolved).....probably from heat. The only cure is to use a petroleum-based solvent (I used carb cleaner) and clean off all of the guck - that is, take off all of the coating. It will be a messy job - and take awhile to get it all off.

Once the coating has been removed, you'll have a serviceable unit, but it won't look very good. So, you could paint it, or something like that.

mete · October 27, 2012, 08:57 AM

It's probably made in China crap with a coating that deteriorates in time .An Improper formulation.Yes complain.

dieselbeef · October 27, 2012, 11:09 AM

my binoculars did that too...i used a towel w/wd40 on it...made em unsticky..took some off but it worked out ok

Buzzard Bait · October 27, 2012, 11:32 AM

Thanks, that sounds like an easy fix I will try the WD 40 sure won't hurt
bb

dieselbeef · October 27, 2012, 12:35 PM

yeah i just saoked a small towel with it and rubbed and rubbed...theyre better this way now i think. and the lube wont harm any of the lenses or anyhting

Slopemeno · October 27, 2012, 02:02 PM

Sun screen does it too, and to a number of plastics.

Keepin_Jeepin · October 29, 2012, 10:51 PM

Goof off is the hard stuff and goo gone works really well and is safe for most finishes. Read the bottles but for anything sticky you cant go wrong

Buzzard Bait · October 31, 2012, 07:41 PM

I was going to use WD40 but the can was empty, so I took a coarse cloth and put some paint thinner on it did some rubbing and the top coat just peeled right off no more sticky. I followed up with some armor all and it looks good. I think the top coat was something that gave it sort of a soft non slip feel. Its one of the lowest cost models but works well for me. I only have sight in one eye and depth perception for me is very poor. I don't range everthing that comes along like the hunters on tv. When I go to a stand that I'm not used to when I first get there I range different objects, that stump or tree and different objects. Then if a deer or something walks out I can look at it and know that its about half way to something or twice as far to something I messured and I'm good to go.
I did get a personal message from someone inside Bushnell offering to help and offering me sugestions on fixes, I will remember that.

Thanks
bb

October 26, 2012, 10:51 PM	#1
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	sticky plastic help My bushnell range finder has turned sticky. Just pulled it out of my hunting box and the plastic has turned supper sticky don't know if it is age or maybe bug repelant has gotten on it, but it feels like glue. Does anyone have a cure for this? Some chemical that might re-cure the plastic so to speak? I know it's an el chepo but it works and gives me some idea of the range. bb

October 26, 2012, 10:53 PM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,829	Write Bushnell and complain. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

October 27, 2012, 08:57 AM	#4
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 6,575	It's probably made in China crap with a coating that deteriorates in time .An Improper formulation.Yes complain. __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

October 27, 2012, 11:32 AM	#6
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	WD 40 to the rescue Thanks, that sounds like an easy fix I will try the WD 40 sure won't hurt bb

October 31, 2012, 07:41 PM	#10
Buzzard Bait Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Republic of Texas Posts: 502	Thanks to everbody I was going to use WD40 but the can was empty, so I took a coarse cloth and put some paint thinner on it did some rubbing and the top coat just peeled right off no more sticky. I followed up with some armor all and it looks good. I think the top coat was something that gave it sort of a soft non slip feel. Its one of the lowest cost models but works well for me. I only have sight in one eye and depth perception for me is very poor. I don't range everthing that comes along like the hunters on tv. When I go to a stand that I'm not used to when I first get there I range different objects, that stump or tree and different objects. Then if a deer or something walks out I can look at it and know that its about half way to something or twice as far to something I messured and I'm good to go. I did get a personal message from someone inside Bushnell offering to help and offering me sugestions on fixes, I will remember that. Thanks bb Last edited by Buzzard Bait; October 31, 2012 at 07:49 PM.

October 27, 2012, 07:32 AM	#3
wpsdlrg Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2009 Posts: 826	I had the same happen to a pair of compact binoculars. It is the outer "soft" coating that has turned sticky (partially dissolved).....probably from heat. The only cure is to use a petroleum-based solvent (I used carb cleaner) and clean off all of the guck - that is, take off all of the coating. It will be a messy job - and take awhile to get it all off. Once the coating has been removed, you'll have a serviceable unit, but it won't look very good. So, you could paint it, or something like that.

October 27, 2012, 11:09 AM	#5
dieselbeef Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2011 Location: myakka city fl Posts: 312	my binoculars did that too...i used a towel w/wd40 on it...made em unsticky..took some off but it worked out ok

October 27, 2012, 12:35 PM	#7
dieselbeef Senior Member Join Date: November 3, 2011 Location: myakka city fl Posts: 312	yeah i just saoked a small towel with it and rubbed and rubbed...theyre better this way now i think. and the lube wont harm any of the lenses or anyhting

October 27, 2012, 02:02 PM	#8
Slopemeno Senior Member Join Date: January 19, 2007 Posts: 2,663	Sun screen does it too, and to a number of plastics.

October 29, 2012, 10:51 PM	#9
Keepin_Jeepin Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2007 Location: Chelan Posts: 161	Goof off is the hard stuff and goo gone works really well and is safe for most finishes. Read the bottles but for anything sticky you cant go wrong

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