Storing spare hoods in the freezer will slow the vulcanizing and any other chemical process.
Joe B-Z Great Notch, NJ
"Now since I know that, why aren't my spare hoods in the freezer, duh."
speaks!
> Joel Dressner wrote:
>
> <<"I am interested in finding out the best way to care for and preserve
> gum brake hoods. Any suggestions on which products to use?">>
>
> Joel and All,
>
> I have just posed this question to my wife who, for 15 years or more,
> was a professional "objects" conservator.
>
> Here are her views. Unfortunately there is not a lot that can be
> done. There are steps that someone who knows what they are doing can
> take to slow the process but ultimately the problem is that the
> vulcanizing processes which go into producing the rubber continue to
> work throughout its lifetime. The rubber naturally gets harder and
> eventually crystallizes. This can take quite some time but it will
> eventually happen. And this goes for all rubber components, including
> tyres, brake pads, washers, etc.
>
> If in regular use, a number of factors can accelerate the degradation -
> these include: light, heat, cold, and sweat (in other words the acids
> from the skin).
>
> One way to extend the life of the brake hoods is to: keep them clean
> with
> water and mild soap to get the salts and acids off the rubber; not to
> let them get too hot or too cold; and don't leave them in unnecessary
> bright sun-light. This doesn't preclude using them but these are
> precautions to take when storing. Because of the on-going
> crystallization processes, one should also be careful not to take the
> hoods on and off too often as the stretching will also increase the
> degradation.
>
> For further excellent info on rubber - its history, production, care and
> conservation, she recommends looking at:
>
> http://www.bouncingballs.com
>
> Interestingly, she would expect white hoods and black hoods to last
> longer because of the type of fillers used to produce the colour - they
> will also eventually deteriorate but natural brake hoods will degrade
> the fastest (but then this has been discussed before on the list).
>
> By the way, the cleaning of salts and acids from the skin off all parts
> of the bike is something also to be recommended!!! If anyone is
> interested she can also tell us all we need to know about dealing with
> rust and other metal cleaning issues!!!!
>
> Paul "sometimes its very useful to be married to someone who knows
> everything about cleaning" Williams,
>
> Ottawa, Ontario, Canada