Shopsmith Forums

thainglo wrote:Charlese - please clarify on the Silicone you used. Is it WD40? I've got a couple of wheels with the rubber dried and cracked pretty bad ---
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Would like to bring life back into them and use your advise on the product you recommend.

Thanks!
Matt

I'm sorry Matt but I believe the only way those tires are going to come back to life is for you to buy new ones.

If Charlese can bring those back to life he should market his trade secrets.

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Matt - that tire is truly in tough shape. You can try silicone spray, but if it will cure that tire it will take a while. If you are going to try silicone, really wet down the tires, wipe them down to clean the tires, wait a day and then wet them again, then repeat until you see improvement. It would be very interesting to see if silicone can restore the wider cracks in tires that that dry. I'm thinking you will see some improvement, but to entirely close those wider gaps may be wishing. I'm sure the smaller cracks will close up after a while. The healing process takes a while. If you try silicone, you won't be alone, I'll still be around to read everyone's reactions.

If you get some improvement after a few days (a week or so) and can saw with them, then you are on your way to eventual smooth, softer tires.

I wouldn't saw with wet tires. You don't want wet silicone on the saw blade. The stuff has to penetrate and leave the tire a bit darker color, but dry to the feel, instead of greasy.

The brand of silicone spray is not important. Just ask at the hardware or auto supply store for spray silicone.

We (at least I) would be interested in what you plan to do.

P.S. I'd give it a try, you can only improve them with silicone. You can't hurt them! Your only loss would be a buck or two and some time.

Best Wishes!!

thainglo wrote:Charlese - please clarify on the Silicone you used. Is it WD40? I've got a couple of wheels with the rubber dried and cracked pretty bad...

charlese wrote:...The brand of silicone spray is not important. Just ask at the hardware or auto supply store for spray silicone...

Hi Matt,
If you choose to use silicone, be advised that WD40 is knot silicone. Whether or knot WD40 will work for you is another question...

I picked up some PB Blaster Silicone Spray this morning that I am coating both sets of wheels in. No big rush yet, but will monitor progress to see if the wheels are salvagable. If not, just slap some new ones on.

thainglo wrote:I picked up some PB Blaster Silicone Spray this morning that I am coating both sets of wheels in. No big rush yet, but will monitor progress to see if the wheels are salvagable. If not, just slap some new ones on.

If you are going to purchase new WHEELS because you need new TIRES, I will galdly help you find a place to dispose of the old WHEELS.

JPG40504 wrote:If you are going to purchase new WHEELS because you need new TIRES, I will galdly help you find a place to dispose of the old WHEELS.

I'll bet he plans to buy "new tires" and not new wheels but if wheels are being replaced there might be a bidding war going on for the old wheels.

dusty wrote:I'll bet he plans to buy "new tires" and not new wheels but if wheels are being replaced there might be a bidding war going on for the old wheels.

Actually he just needs new tires not new PULLEYS.

Po-tae-to, po-tah-to. Just the tires, folks. Sorry, no bidding war.

thainglo wrote:I picked up some PB Blaster Silicone Spray this morning that I am coating both sets of wheels in. No big rush yet, but will monitor progress to see if the wheels are salvageable. If not, just slap some new ones on.

That's what I was hoping you'd do. Plan 'B' is new tires. If it comes to that, remember that when you order a rubber tire, only one comes in a pack! If you need to replace two tires, you have to order two.

Here's a couple of snapshots I took of my lower tire this morning directly after sawing and opening it up. There is only fine dust from wood on the tire. The two little gold specks are brass that is a little embedded in the surface. The brass remains from sawing brass bars. I didn't brush or clean the tire before taking the pictures. I am surprised all of the edge checks show up in the photos. To my eyes, it looks a lot better than the picture, but photos don't lie.

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When loading the new shots, I found an old one that shows the edge of the upper tire.

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