63 replies to this topic

[gotboostedvr6]

I've been experimenting with different chemicals that either soften or firm up the rubber.

After ruining a few I felt its best to ask the populace what type of chemicals I should target for use, including expose time.

Thanks, guys.

-Dave

[Cheater]

Good luck on this question, Dave.

In my experience, the chemicals and processes used to treat slot car tire rubbers are the most closely-held secrets in slot racing.

[John Miller]

Dave,

Maybe you could get the ball rolling and explain your experiments and results.

Personally, I like Sticky Fingers and have had great results and have seen an increase in traction.

[hjames]

The best place to start with this process is to start with a few pairs of donuts and try a chemical. Take measurements of tire before treating. If donut shrinks tire will be firmer. If after drying tire expands tire will be softer

[Cheater]

John,

Maybe we should divide tire treatments into two main categories.

I think what David was asking about concerned tire makers treating foam rubber sheets to change the rubber's characteristics prior to punching out tire donuts to be used to manufacture finished tires. AFAIK, these treatments are typically organic solvents.

Your reference to Sticky Fingers concerns the second type of tire treatments, those used by a racer to treat finished tires (hopefully) to increase traction.

[RichKraft]

Here in the northeast there is a man of great reknown, good/evil, who produces a tire compound that many adore. His formula is secret, yet the main ingredient is no mystery. Avon makes it and it makes your hands very soft.

It also has a touch of a household cleaner, which he once put way too much in by mistake, making it smell extremely piney if you know what I mean.

These magical bottles have the words Dick P tire conditioner. Rumor, innuendo, and speculation has it, that it may contain a touch of its title in its contents, so beware...

I agree with cheater, most creators of these are secretive, but a dash of this and a dash of that starting with a diluted Avon handcream will give you a start.

Edit: Oooppss. I, too, like John misunderstood. Chemical treating as in treated tires... sorry.

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Team CORT Love Lotion:

75-80% SPF 50 or greater suntan lotion (Rite Aid brand SPF 70 works great).
15-20% food grade wintergreen oil (I get mine at the Rite Aid pharmacy).
5% Prestone Power Steering with Stop Leak as this has rubber conditioners in it.

Put a couple drops on and squeeze around the tire... wipe off! Cleans and softens the rubber for more grip.

[Gator Bob]

Go, Barney -

The secret "treated tire" recipe is worth at least a buck a pair.

Kind of like trying to find out how Busch's Beans or Cornmeal Sanders Kentucky Fried is made.

Even Cheater doesn't know.

[gotboostedvr6]

I'm not looking for the exact ratio of chemicials used, I'm just looking for some info on where to get me started.

[HarV Wallbanger III]

Love Lotion is just a tire cleaner and rubber conditioner not a treatment like what "treated tires" use.

Do not get Love Lotion on anything but rubber tires... I don't care what the name implies!

[Gator Bob]

[pilmat]

I love the way topics ping-pong around the net!

[Phil Smith]

Even Cheater doesn't know.

I imagine there are members that do know (probably even Greg) but nobody's going to say. Same with glue. I've always wondered about both and have read a few threads about them over the years. Ain't nobody talkin'.

I understand about glue, but tires... you still have to buy tires even if you treat your own. Why all the secrecy?

[Rick]

What and how the tire makers treat their rubber is proprietary info. Why would they want to give their process to the masses? It's their bidness, you want treated rubber, buy treated. They offer treated donuts to DIY people. Same with glue, they figured it out and it's available across the counter for anyone to purchase.

BTW, you would not want to put up with the mess and PITA of making glue. Same with treated tires, the chemicals are pretty harsh...

[Gator Bob]

... with treated tires, the chemicals are pretty harsh...

We are getting closer.

[Ron Hershman]

I know, but I ain't telling about hardening tires and making glue... LOL.

One can soften rubber when it's mounted on or off the wheel.

Hardening the rubber/tire HAS TO be done off the wheel and before it's mounted and trued.

[Phil Smith]

BTW, you would not want to put up with the mess and PITA of making glue. Same with treated tires, the chemicals are pretty harsh...

I'm not interested in making either. Like any person that's curious about how things are made/done, it intrigues me.

[Gator Bob]

I know, but I ain't telling about hardening tires and making glue... LOL.

One can soften rubber when it's mounted on or off the wheel.

Hardening the rubber/tire HAS TO be done off the wheel and before it's mounted and trued.

Ron,

Then you should run in the hand-out tire classes only.

If the secret is helping provide the the profit that helps keep the hobby alive... who cares?

But... we ARE getting a little bit closer.

[pilmat]

Just look up rubber on wikipedia: two natural solvents are turpentine and naphtha. This would explain why it has to be done before mounting, as the solvents break the glue bond...

After you leave tires out, they dry up. Find an oxidizing chemical and you accelerate the process (and do it evenly through the tire).

[Ron Hershman]

Just look up rubber on wikipedia: two natural solvents are turpentine and naphtha. This would explain why it has to be done before mounting, as the solvents break the glue bond...

And neither of those two are used in the industry.

[Tim Neja]

A very good tire softener is toluol - a chemical solvent used in nearly all glues!! It's in the cancer causing benzene class though - and would NOT be something you should be working with. It will melt the rubber completely with prolonged use!! But it worked very well in the '80s for R/C car foam tires!!

Barney's "Love Lotion" works very well - and is not dangerous - for cleaning and treating the tires just before racing.

As far as getting the tires a little harder - "treated" -- I'm not sure how to do that. Maybe just leave a couple of sets "out in the air" for a month before you want to use them??

T

[Cheater]

As an aside, the chemical toluol is now called toluene:

Toluene

[PCH Parts Express]

What some racers do is figure out, or find out what tire hardness they need. Then, just buy the tires (or donuts) that have the correct hardness. A good investment may be a tire durometer.

[Gator Bob]

As an aside, the chemical toluol is now called toluene:

Toluene

Very good read, thanks, Greg.

[Ron Hershman]

Good stuff to run in a real race car... just remember to remove the foam in your fuel cell.