Dennis Carpenter mat

[34fordy]

I think this new mat has been rolled up for a long time. It was in the original wrapping. Should I put it in the bathtub with very warm water to soften it up to unroll it?

[glennpm]

That would work but just putting it out under the sun will work as well.

[petehoovie]

Originally Posted by 34fordy

I think this new mat has been rolled up for a long time. It was in the original wrapping. Should I put it in the bathtub with very warm water to soften it up to unroll it?

[John Gibson]

Old rubber becomes quite brittle with age and will break easily. Letting it sit outside in the sun on a nice warm/hot day will give you a good chance of it not breaking up when you unroll it.

[34fordy]

I set it in the sun for an hour and carefully unrolled it. It seemed pliable so I spread it out and put some weights on the bends. Then back into the “oven” I am quite hopeful! Thanx all !

[petehoovie]

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Originally Posted by 34fordy

I set it in the sun for an hour and carefully unrolled it. It seemed pliable so I spread it out and put some weights on the bends. Then back into the “oven” I am quite hopeful! Thanx all !

[glennpm]

Hang it over a railing in the Sun contrary to the present curl..

[ford38v8]

You’ll want it warm from the sun while you install it also.

[alchemy]

Should the rubber be “nourished” with anything before it’s installed? Like Armorall or something similar?

[ford38v8]

Originally Posted by alchemy

Should the rubber be “nourished” with anything before it’s installed? Like Armorall or something similar?

That seems like a good idea, but think it through and maybe experiment some. I have washed and rinsed, then a wipe-down with silicone, and very disappointed with the results. The silicone becomes blotchy, and shiny in spots. Over time, it goes back to natural, but is unsightly till then.

[nelsb01]

I'm going to suggest that there are better products than Armorall.

[Christopher Salty]

You may not want to put something slippery on a floor mat.

[alchemy]

I was thinking since it’s older and been rolled up for a long time, that softening it might help it last longer.

[Kens 36]

Softening if good. The sun will do it better than any snake oil you put on it.

I had a Dennis Carpenter front mat for my '50 that was in the box for 7 years. Rolled it out in the sun and it laid out perfectly in an hour or so.

[TJ]

Amorall would be a big "no no" in my book. It's greasy and slippery and would get on the soles of your shoes with the potential of your shoes to slip off the clutch and brake pedals.

[pistonbroke]

Contrary to what they claim Arorall and all other sillicone based treatments are the WORST products to put on any ruber or vinyl.

[tubman]

A quick Google search produced this :

"To restore old, hardened rubber, use a chemical rejuvenator like MG Chemicals Rubber Renue for belts and rollers, or a penetrative conditioner like 303 Products Rubber Seal Protectant for automotive and weather seals. These products replace lost plasticizers and soften the material to restore flexibility"

[Randy in ca]

Off topic, but does anybody have a recommendation for softening up pre-WW2 rubber parts? Apparently at that time, due to large shortages, a change occurred from natural rubber content to synthetic compounds being used.

[ford38v8]

Randy, I’m not aware of any rubber products of that time frame that are not synthetic by definition, but in any case, heat from the sun is effective to a moderate degree, but nothing will soften enough to prevent damage caused by the stresses of installation or removal. sunshine, extreme care and patience are your friends.