[NTLK] Saving/Restoring/Cleaning Newton Surfaces?

[Andrei Chichak]

I have a pair of binoculars that HAD this same rubberized surface. Not being too precious I cleaned it off with isopropanol.

IT REMOVES THE COATING DOWN TO HARD PLASTIC.

If you don’t want to remove the coating and just get it less tacky, isoprop is not what you’re looking for.

Andrei

> On Aug 27, 2026, at 13:28, Gene beaird <bgbeaird at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> You probably need to get a concentration that’s stronger then what’s on the pharmacy store shelves, though.  The 5% that’s usually marketed (in the US, at least) does little more than just smell like Isopropyl alcohol.  You’ll want 70% or better.  They make 99%, but availability may be limited, depending on your home country.  
> 
> And I’ve found ’Skin So Soft’ to do NOTHING for the mossies.  Here in the swamps of Texas, anyway.  All it does is makes you smell purdy, and gives me a raging headache.  DEET-containing repellant, or you can her them laughing at you as they land to bite.  But that’s another query.  
> 
> Removing the coating is still going to be a mess, though.  
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Gene Beaird,
> Pearland, Texas
> 
>> On Aug 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM, newtontalk-request at newtontalk.net wrote:
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:43:37 -0600
>> From: Grant Hutchinson <splorp at mac.com>
>> To: NewtonTalk List <newtontalk at newtontalk.net>
>> Subject: Re: [NTLK] Saving/Restoring/Cleaning Newton Surfaces?
>> Message-ID: <0A67DA64-F433-496E-A695-6370F20F4085 at mac.com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>> 
>> 
>>> On Aug 23, 2026, at 12:11 PM, apenultimate <apenultimate at fastmail.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I have a few Newtons that have been in storage and whose "rubbery" surfaces have started to degrade and feel sticky
>> 
>> This topic pops up on the list every once in a while and I?ve been meaning to add the following suggestions to the Newton FAQ:
>> 
>> Isopropanol
> 
> 
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