Off Coloured Tubes

MAHA · 28 August 2007, 21:50

I have just bought a 7.5M Cobra with Dark Blue hypalon tubes.
The tubes are off colour in many places, what do I need to do to get the colour back?

Any advice.

Thanks

codprawn · 28 August 2007, 22:34

Traffic film remover and a soft scrubbing brush - get the TFR from machine Mart. Get the concentrated one and dilute it 50/50 with water. After a good scrubbing they will be like new - keep it that way with 303 aerospace protector or similar.

Don't worry about the water going blue when you scrub - that's normal..........

JABS · 28 August 2007, 23:35

Toluene is your friend. It will work wonders. It is what the experts use and is safe on hypalon but pretty obnoxious otherwise!

And the smell..... Well! What can I say!!

codprawn · 29 August 2007, 02:25

When I used thinners I found it was great on a small area but the rag started to "drag" as the hypalon softened - got me worried!!!

oxboy · 29 August 2007, 06:40

I have cleaned RIBs using Spray 9. that had tubes that looked "off colour".

One of them was blue and the guy was going to replace the tubes because he thought they were beyond saving, but after a spray and a light scrub using a light scourer they came up like new and he has been very happy with them.

I have some left so I will try some on a RIB I know is particularly dirty (belongs to a local dive club) at the weekend and I will post some pics so you can see the difference.

Ribshop · 29 August 2007, 08:10

It is not necessarily the cleaning of the tubes that is the key to getting the colour back. We have found the 3M conditioner is by far the best product available.

http://www.rib-shop.com/prodtype.asp...ageHistory=cat

MAHA · 01 September 2007, 10:34

Thanks for the advice.

Spent all yesterday afternoon scrubbing..............now very knackered ! !

I ended up using RIB revive & then 3M UV protector as suggested.

It has transformed the tubes, they now look like brand new.

Thanks again.

Jon Brooks · 02 September 2007, 08:23

Well have to say I have been advised of one of the best cleaning products for RIB tubes.

The othe good thing is it is cheap as you like!

Whilst chatting to my local RNLI Cox the other day I found out what they use and has been tested by Poole and it what most stations use.

My local life guards have a number of small ribs and suggested it to them for their 4m Humber, it was very faded.
After a treatment of this new wonder cleaner it looks like a new boat!

The product is.............wait for it..............normal washing powder, like persil!!!

Apply with a wet brush, work in, wash off!

oxboy · 02 September 2007, 20:49

I went to my local Dive Club on Saturday and used a small amount of Spray 9 on the tubes, as you can see the results are amazing.

With very little effort the tubes came up like new, in the past when I have used it I certainly was not knackered or up to my elbows in soap suds!!!!!!!

Dan (ex Top Banana fame) introduced me to it, and those people who know Dan and Top Banana will remember how good it looked.

Once cleaned with Spray 9 I used Once Over, I just wiped it on and this gives it UV protection.

Biggles · 02 September 2007, 22:02

any links to spray 9 ?

oxboy · 02 September 2007, 22:34

They have a European Office in Plymouth.

The guy I have spoken to in the past is Trevor, his tel number is
01752 231931, website: www.spraynine.com

David G · 03 September 2007, 08:16

Googled this:

http://www.spray9.co.uk/

Orve

oxboy · 03 September 2007, 08:43

Best to speak to Trevor at Spray nine first. He is the European distributor and can point you in the direction of your local supplier. He is very helpful and will give you all the info you require. Taskers get it from Trevor so you will be paying retail for it, why pay more than you have to.