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Author Topic: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?  (Read 9847 times)

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Offline Trailbreaker77

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Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« on: December 02, 2016, 05:19:11 AM »
Yesterday I was replacing the batteries in some of my lightsabers and I noticed that most of the lightsabers that have rubber in the handle have become tacky to the touch.  Obviously just the rubber part of the hilt is sticky to the touch but it's really bad.  Has anyone else come across this?  I have them stored in a display case and I've figured I leave the case open for a while to see if the air circulation would help the problem but I'm not convinced it will.

Thanks in advance for any help provided.

TB77

Offline Scarecrow

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #1 on: December 02, 2016, 08:18:26 AM »
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. 

Offline jbkuma

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #2 on: December 02, 2016, 04:53:56 PM »
Would a buff wheel do better? I've used one to remove similar coatings.

Offline Onli-Won Kanomi

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2016, 05:56:10 PM »
Please be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling those 'tacky' grips - the Force alone knows what kind of perhaps toxic chemical residues are leeching out of that rubber as it breaks down so better to be careful handling it eh?
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Offline Trailbreaker77

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2016, 03:39:35 PM »
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. 

Thanks for the information and I will take your advice and not do anything.  I wonder if I try and put a clear coat of acrylic over top if it would help it?

My sabers are a mix of MR & Hasbro the Vader saber is the worse one of the bunch the Yoda & Anakin are better after the week of being out of my case.

Thanks again to everyone for the help.

Offline Scarecrow

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #5 on: December 12, 2016, 12:02:41 PM »
I don't think a clear coat would help considering the substrate is unstable.  Also, big chance of messing things up.  I'd just let it keep breaking down until it will come off with a plastic scraper.  Otherwise, just leave it be.   

Offline WEDGE ANTILLES

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2016, 04:13:22 PM »
it comes off with rubbing alcohol.  and elbow grease. ;)  I managed to clean it all off my Luke ESB a few months ago..  I just checked it again today and it's still clean, its not 'growing back'. (and yes the grips underneath are indeed hard plastic now that the rubberized coating is removed).

 
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Offline masteryogi

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2019, 06:50:43 AM »
I just cleaned my Starwars case and was worried that my room was getting too hot. But it sounds like this normal and I will leave my sabers alone. But if I choose the try and remove the coating with rubbing alcohol would it ruin my saber or just remove the coating and leave black plastic. I was also thinking what if I just remove and replace with windshield wiper blades. They originally used wiper blades on the sabers, just a matter of finding the right one to use.

Offline Keske944

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #8 on: August 21, 2023, 08:22:16 PM »
it comes off with rubbing alcohol.  and elbow grease. ;)  I managed to clean it all off my Luke ESB a few months ago..  I just checked it again today and it's still clean, its not 'growing back'. (and yes the grips underneath are indeed hard plastic now that the rubberized coating is removed).

Good info to have.  I have a Yoda that is doing the same thing

Offline Scorpion

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Re: Handles on Lightsaber becoming tacky?
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2023, 10:07:48 AM »
you can either clean it off or spray paint them, spray painting does work i did this yrs ago to a lighgun grip that was going sticky and its still good to this day


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