Older plastic controller "desintegrating"

[Stahlmann]

I just took an older controller from the PS3 era out of storage. Then I noticed the surface of the plastic is getting sticky, it kinda feels like it was drenched in soda and then left out to dry. It was clean when i stored it away a year ago. I think it's the plastic breaking down.

 

Is there any way to save the device?

 

It's an adapter to use MIDI signals from electronic instruments to play Rock Band, Guitar Hero, etc.

So it's not easily replaceable.

 

[Kilrah]

if it was soft-touch/rubbery then yeah it's degrading, almost everything that uses this is done for in 5-10 years.

It is possible to scrape it off if you take the whole thing apart and use some solvents like "glue residue remover" that will help soften that without attacking the plastic underneath, but it's a royal pain.

[Average Nerd]

I had a similar problem with a PC case, the only solution I found was to take it apart, soak it in some agressive glue remover and go to town with a stiff brush, and even that took several hours.

[Stahlmann]

Looks like i found an alternative after all. There is a guy on reddit who sells a device that basically has the same functionality. The only problem is, it costs $100 + shipping and import costs. Gonna have to think about what I'll do.

 

For anyone else stumbling across this post, this is the alternative device: Roll Limitless - Roll Limitless

[Average Nerd]

1 minute ago, Stahlmann said:

Gonna have to think about what I'll do.

Depends on where you live, but a 250ml bottle of glue remover should be fairly cheap.

Here's the one I used: https://mellerud.de/spezial/aufkleber-und-klebereste-entferner

[Stahlmann]

35 minutes ago, Average Nerd said:

Depends on where you live, but a 250ml bottle of glue remover should be fairly cheap.

Here's the one I used: https://mellerud.de/spezial/aufkleber-und-klebereste-entferner

It's cheap but idk if i want to take the hours taking it apart and cleaning it, potentially also breaking the device or if i'm gonna order the other one and use the current adapter in it's sorry state until it arrives.

[Stahlmann]

I did some more research and scrubbing the surface with Isopropanol seems to be the best solution for this problem. I'm gonna try this first.

[GarlicDeliverySystem]

Can support the isopropyl alcohol, doing that on my 6 year old MX Ergo. It is a mess, but the funky rubber will literally rub off. Takes a few minutes though and you will remove a lot of material.

[da na]

To get rid of icky sticky rubber I use isopropyl alcohol/isopropanol, actually gasoline works very well too.

[Kilrah]

23 minutes ago, da na said:

actually gasoline works very well too

That dissolves a lot of plastics too, not just the rubber so you could ruin what's underneath.