I have some carbine magazine dust covers...

[Charlie in NC]

that are dried out and keep getting a white “mold” like growth on them. It washes off with soap and water but keeps coming back over time. Any suggestions on some kind of “treatment” to restore the pliability of the rubber and stop the “mold”?

Thanks for your help.

[Dan In Indiana]

Works on dust covers, and old rubber recoil pads. The rubber on my 40X small bore from the CMP was getting cracked, dry, and coming apart. Took it off, put it in a Zip Loc sandwich bag, sprayed Armoral till it was soaked, sealed it shut, put it up for a few days, took it out, wiped it off, put it back on, darn near like new. HTH

OFC

[phil441]

Ditto on Dan's post.

ArmorAll works on a bunch of stuff.
I keep one or two spray bottles of it in the garage for refreshing dashboards, tire sidewalls, steering wheel covers and anything else exposed to the sun and heat.
I also keep a container of the wipes in the house for refreshing such things as camera cases, belts, holsters and anything else that can dry out and start to deteriorate.
It seems to work on rubber, leather and Naugahyde equally well.
Been a long time fan of it.
Phil

[JimF4m1s]

I used it on the seats of my "59" Corvette, Mistake. After that all I did was slip all over the seat. Works, almost too well.

[Tired Retired]

Really off topic BUT I will say it anyway.... do not use ArmorAll on the front seats of any cars... but maybe it would have been nice to have to use on the BACK seats of cars when we were all younger - and more agile!!!! :headbang: ok, back to the guns based question....

I seem to remember somewhere that a very light rubbing of a silicone grease will help re-mosturize the rubber.

[Charlie in NC]

Thanks for the idea guys. They are in the bag now being treated.

I appreciate your help!

[phil441]

I used it on the seats of my "59" Corvette, Mistake. After that all I did was slip all over the seat. Works, almost too well.

Jim, I once had a joker in the lab where I worked use either regular silicone spray or ArmorAll on my work chair. I never even noticed it. At quitting time I mounted up on my motorcycle which I very seldom rode to work and took off. Excitement is not descriptive enough for my experience. A very interesting ride home....Hands tired from hanging on to the handlebars for dear life and sore legs from trying to grip the tank.

It's not appropriate for all possible uses.

[JimF4m1s]

I have had a motorcycle of one kind or another for 45 years now. Luckily the only thing I have used on the seat was the button my levis. And it has left the seat a few times too, ouch.

[Lemming]

I am retired from the US Forest Service as a firefighter. Back in the early 80s many of our frontline firetrucks were 60s and early 70s International crew cabs with a front bench seat. There was a firecall soon after one of the firefighters had detailed the interior of the truck. The engineer was off duty that day so the Captain jumped in the driver seat and took off with 3 firefighters in the back. The Captain did not use a seatbelt. They took off and were soon on twisty Wildcat Canyon Road....the captain found himself sliding towards the passenger position or slamming into the driver door on turns. Yes, the firefighter had Armoralled the seat (and incidently, the gas and brake pedals, fortunately the truck had an automatic tranny, no clutch). Also, luckily for the firefighter, the Captain needed to keep both hands on the steering wheel (NOT armoralled). Best of all, no injuries but a severe toungue-lashing and word went out to all stations to prevent future incidents of the same.
-Lemming

[Dan In Indiana]

Thanks for the idea guys. They are in the bag now being treated.

I appreciate your help!


Be sure and let us know the results, would hate to have given you bad advice.

OFC

[phil441]

Charlie, it's probably time to take 'em out of the bag and see how they're doing.
Once the Armorall has soaked in as far as it's gonna go it's probably done what it's gonna do until they're exposed to UV and Ozone. Then a light refresh spray will keep 'em good.

Let us know the results.

Phil

[Charlie in NC]

The covers came out of the zip lock bag looking like new (after 24 hours)! They are still a little stiff, more so than I remember those issued to me 50 some years ago, but that may be good as long as they do not tear when put on a mag. Do you think I should let them soak a little while longer or is this as good as it will get? I am more concerned about the "mold" not forming on them again than keeping dust/dirt out of my magazines. Don't have them on the mags anyway. No dust/dirt inside the safe. Wife won't allow dirt in her house. The covers were in an outside storage room but will now be kept in a conditioned environment. Would appreciate more thoughts about further "softening" of the rubber. Thanks to all...

[phil441]

Charlie, you can put them back in the bag, but don't expect them to ever be as pliable as they were 50 years ago. I doubt that any of us are that pliable either......
Rubber that is 50 years old just can't be rejuvenated, otherwise we'd be seeing old-timers bragging about driving on tires they salvaged from a 1947 Ford found out in the woods.
All you can do is protect what is left.
Sounds as if you've done that.
Phil

[Charlie in NC]

Thanks for your help Phil.

[B.East]

Like our skin, rubber has pores. The white is mold spores. Don't use bleach, it won't kill the spores. Try using either applecider or white vineger. It's a light acid and should do the job. You might have to do multiple applications, then relube with ArmorAll.

Got a top quality saddle that was mildew ruined,dirt cheap. Wife said I was wasting my money. After three applications of applecider vineger followed by LeatherNew oil. No More Mildew! Learned this trick from my late grandmother.

[Charlie in NC]

B. East-Interesting about the mold spores. Had never heard or thought of that before. Will keep an eye on them and use the vinegar if it comes back. Thanks for your input. I appreciate your help.