If yours are MR/Hasbro sabers then, yes, sticky grips is a common problem. They normally have hard plastic t-tracks with a rubberized coating that breaks down over time. I've managed to remove the coating with a putty knife and hot soapy water. Obviously, I did this on stripped down hilts I was converting and not sabers with electronics inside. My suggestion would be to leave them alone unless you're converting them. If you try to use something to strip the coating you'll only make a huge mess that you'll regret. Thinners and goo-gone dry quickly and leave globs of hardened residue that are even more difficult to remove. I made that mistake once. Only once.