Post by: taoworm23 on March 05, 2015, 03:59:20 PM
I just bought my second pleo 2 days ago and decided to check out the forum again.
Holy crap people. The skin is STILL a problem?
I told you all the solution years ago and my 6 year old pleo has NO holes or paint rubbing off. I was so disgusted by the reaction and distrust i received on these forums that I left and haven't been back in years.
(BTW I'm the one who saved many of the programs for pleo including dinomite and others for this website to use.)
I use Gibbs brand penetrant and my pleo from 2007 still works flawlessly.
Members at the time were not sure and never tried it or trusted me and all these years later you guys are still having problems. (Shaking my head)
C'mon. Look up my previous posts on the subject and read for your self how to apply it or keep complaining about the rips, holes and paint peel for years to come....
For gods sake, somebody trust me on this.
P.S. Big shout out to mweed & grumpy for being so awesome back in the day. I hope you guys are still here on the forums. If you are hit me up in pm and we can catch up...
Post by: Talon on March 05, 2015, 04:42:03 PM
Talon
Post by: taoworm23 on March 05, 2015, 05:39:07 PM
If no one has told you lately, thanks for putting up those programs. They're probably not posted anywhere else and probably rescued several people.
Awww no problem Talon. Very nice to meet you BTW!
Hi! I must've joined after you left. I'll keep your skin treatment solution in mind.
I hope you do. Its the only thing I found that works. My pleo from 2007 or 2008 still doesn't even have paint wear marks and have showed no signs of getting tears or holes in the skin to boot. I thought that with the Pleo RBs they had changed the skin formula but I guess not enough to change the degrading of the skin factor...
Post by: Crewella on March 05, 2015, 06:26:21 PM
Is this the stuff?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gibbs-Brand-Lubricant-2-12oz-cans/dp/B00AFJXIJQ
Oh .... and hi, by the way! ;)
Post by: taoworm23 on March 05, 2015, 06:37:37 PM
Nice to meet you!
Yup that's the stuff!
Buy the aerosol version in the big can.
In the early days of Pleoworld someone posted a method using GIBBs Brand penetrate because it seals and hydrates.
They originally said to aply it with a paper towel soaked in the stuff. Not true.
Spray just a bit on the skin at a time and rub it in liberally. (Also apply enough to saturate pleos body all over but avoid getting any in the mouth or eye socket opening's as we don't want to get any on the circuits. Allow to dry after you have rubbed it in real good. (Just act like your rubbing suntan oil on your pleo.)
WASH YOUR HANDS VERY GOOD AFTER DOING THIS BEFORE YOU EAT A SANDWITCH OR LIGHT UP A CIGARETTE.
LOL.
Your pleo will be dry at the end of one day or two and not feel tacky.
Repeat the same steps every couple of weeks or months from now and your pleo will never show any signs of degrading.
Ever!
Gibbs seals in his rubber like material and protects his paint. It also rehydrates the rubber like material of pleos skin and prevents it from cracking and drives out water or humidity moisture which also degrades your pleos skin.
Do NOT kiss your pleo after treating it.
Do NOT use pledge as there are chemicals in pledge that will also break down rubber and silicone.
NEVER EVER EVER USE BABY POWDERS as this will speed up the degradation of pleos skin.
IF you follow these simple instructions your pleo will last 30 years without any sign of paint peel or rubber cracking.
(No more clothes or capes for Pleo) ;)
Post by: mweed on March 05, 2015, 07:23:16 PM
I end up using the Vinylex about 2-3 times a year. It does seem to help on the older skins. Should probably use it more frequently. The Pleo RB skin seems thicker and has held up better. But we still see a lot of older Ugobe and 2009 pleos showing up in the resale market with already damaged or dried out skins.
Post by: taoworm23 on March 05, 2015, 08:06:44 PM
Glad you're still here!
Yeah I just bought another New In Box Ugobe pleo from the Italian seller on ebay who refurbishes the ugobe battery's.
I should be getting him in soon and will be doing a whole slew of upgrades including getting rid of the cartoony looking eyes and replacing the motors with more expensive quieter ones as well.
I'm also probably going to be making some new skin materials for pleo to make major cosmetic changes. (See pic below)
I'm glad to back to the best Pleo site around!
Look forward to posting updates soon!
New pleo skin and facial bone bone structure alteration plan using ABS plastic
(http://www.factmonster.com/images/EEX_DIN066_013.jpg)
New eyes for pleo that are more authentic. ..
(http://www.naturalhistorymag.com/sites/default/files/imagecache/medium/media/2012/07/troodon_formosus_jpg_10158.jpg)
They are black and this will hide the fact that the eyes are connected to the eye lids andlook down when ever pleo opens and closes his eyes.
(Palentogist believe this is what dinosaur eyes looked like in reality because of there close relations to modern day birds.)
Pic is of a Troodon dinosaur
Even slit eyes like the one pictured above this picture would be better than the stock pleo eyes because it would still hide the fact that the eyeball moves down on pleo when he closes his eye lids...
If black doesn't look right on the prototype I can always fall back on more obvious eye selections. ..(https://img0.etsystatic.com/012/0/7430259/il_570xN.440905398_5ca6.jpg)
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on March 16, 2015, 02:09:25 AM
Post by: JakeLBell on March 16, 2015, 06:14:22 AM
Post by: taoworm23 on March 21, 2015, 06:29:09 AM
Characteristic of "aged rubber" is brittleness and inflexibility and cracking.
If rubber is cracking, it is beyond help. If it is glazed, or hardened, it can be partially restored to usefulness for an indeterminate time.
The coating of rubber with Gibbs does reduce the speed of oxidation, and the Gibbs coating can be used for long-term flexibility of the rubber parts.
Gibbs must be applied early in the life of rubber products.
Once Pleos rubber has lost plasticizing oil and has had the backbone oxidized - no amount of liquid will fix that.
Sadly, all rubbers die. Depends on the UV stabilisers added in the mix as to how long it takes when exposed to light.
Post by: Piggy on March 21, 2015, 07:37:53 AM
Post by: taoworm23 on March 21, 2015, 08:54:12 AM
And where can I buy this Gibbs product? Do they sell it on eBay ?Yup!
I bought it straight from Gibbs site but there are some sellers on ebay as well.
www.ebay.com/itm/GIBBS-Brand-Lubricant-12-oz-Can-/151623576564?pt=Race_Car_Parts&hash=item234d782bf4&vxp=mtr
I squirted some in a clear cap and got a small paintbrush from Hobby Lobby (the kind used for oil painting) and "paintedthe Gibbs on.
Be careful NOT to get any on the camera lens, ear microphones or the bottom of his feet.
The Gibbs will dry in a couple of hours.
Repeat steps. Brush on another coat once Pleo dries.
Repeat again in a couple of hours.
Wear gloves when handling pleo before he dries.
Keep away from pets or children until he dries completely.
Apply 5 or 6 times in a day. (Or as quick as pleos skin absorbs the Gibbs
Make sure Pleo is in the reset 'box mode position'.
Turn pleo off while in this position.
Apply Gibbs again with a paint brush all over his body again. (Make sure to get his tail and neck real good.)
Do this 4 or 5 times. (Again apply...wait to dry...apply again.)
Repeat this every 2 to 3 months and your Pleos paint will even be more protected from petting. But most importantly the rubber will not crack or degrade further.
If your Pleos skin already has holes in him already, superglue the holes VERY WELL and then treat Pleo.
You can even repaint over gibbs and the paint will still stick!
The lubricant soaks in fairly quickly and with no residue so it does not attract dirt. Gibbs will also not remove any paint either.
Wash your hands VERY well before eating or rubbing your eyes or petting your cat or dog if you get some on your hands.
Your pleo will be safe once it dries COMPLETELY.
DO NOT USE PLEDGE!
Do NOT use baby powder or any other kind of powder!
(I don't care what Ugobe or Innvo said...they are WRONG)
Because Gibbs Brand is a "mega penetrant" that is thinner than water, it works its way right into the pores of the rubber.
9 years and my pleo shows no signs of degrading skin or paint.
Works best on brand new pleos new in box.
NOTE:
Thermoplastic Rubber goes bad just sitting on a shelf in the dark in a vendors warehouse. It ages/de-gasses from day one. Exposure to UV light speeds up the process big time. You can soften the surface/protect it with Gibbs but essentially once it's shot, it's shot. When buying a Ugobe Pleo, start protecting it asap cause though new to you, it may(likely?) have already sat on a shelf somewhere for 6 to 9 years.
Post by: Piggy on March 21, 2015, 12:46:44 PM
Post by: Crewella on March 21, 2015, 01:36:47 PM
I've repainted a couple of my Pleos with a mixture of acrylic ink and latex paint. I wondered if you had any thoughts on how the Gibbs would work over my paint job?
This comment:
"DO NOT USE PLEDGE!
Do NOT use baby powder or any other kind of powder!
(I don't care what Ugobe or Innvo said...they are WRONG)"
.. really made me laugh as I got really cross when they first recommended Pledge - it made no sense to me at all, which is why I went searching for things like Vinylex and Autoglym.
I'm sure there are bits of my old 1950s Ford Popular that will appreciate a bit of Gibbs as well! ;)
Post by: taoworm23 on March 21, 2015, 01:55:34 PM
I've repainted a couple of my Pleos with a mixture of acrylic ink and latex paint. I wondered if you had any thoughts on how the Gibbs would work over my paint job?
Hi Crewella!
It should protect your paint just fine.
I never understood why Ugobe and Innvo used the paint they did. (They used REALLY cheap paint.)
If I was running Ugobe or Innvo I would have used thermoplastic paint for Pleo.
Thermoplastic paint can be applied cold. As you can denote from the name, this type of paint is not your normal paint. It actually contains plastic and once it drys, can withstand a lot more abuse than your normal paints. (Its what they use to paint the white and yellow lines on roads and interstates. ) So, the upside to thermoplastic paint is it's durability. The only major downside, is the cost.
Since Pleos skin is made from thermoplastic material it would have bonded VERY well and never wore off.
They should have used Teflon spray in the neck and tail cables as the micro particles of Teflon would fill the small gaps in the cable wire and would have reduced friction to the point of never having to replace the cables EVER.
(Sigh) Corporations. ..can't live with them , can't live without them. :duh:
Post by: Crewella on March 21, 2015, 02:32:32 PM
I don't think it went as far as built-in obsolescence, but I don't believe that longevity in general was one of the things they put a lot of time or money into. :wise:
Thanks for all your help. :)
Post by: PleoAibo29 on March 30, 2015, 03:14:42 PM
Yeah. Unfortunately those skin problems happen all the time. I wouldn't stop buying Pleos just because of that though. :P
Post by: taoworm23 on March 31, 2015, 11:02:16 PM
Pleos skin was made by GLS using the Dynaflex™ Thermoplastic Elastomer brand process contains a block structure of Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene (SEBS).
A company named APEX worked with UGOBE Inc and JETTA on the paint project for the PLEO dinosaur skin which is made of elastomeric paint.
Gibbs contains no silicones ( Teflons or otherwise)
The three main components in Gibbs are:
iso-propanol (an alcohol)
heptane (a hydrocarbon solvent)
petroleum distillates (CAS no.64742-54-7, which is a paraffin) a heavy solvent refined paraffinic (read waxy oil).
(The abnormally highly refined paraffin oil in Gibbs is used as the extender oil to replace the plasticizing oil in Pleos skin)
Post by: Crewella on April 01, 2015, 06:09:10 AM
Post by: taoworm23 on April 01, 2015, 09:27:31 AM
They said A Paraffin oil carrier like Gibbs is the most compatible, and that it will have a plasticizing effect and can soften the TPEs and restore missing plasticizing oil."
I told them that's perfect since we want our pleos to feel like skin. (This means it will restore dry pleos and make them feel new again.)
When I asked what NOT to use they said " Aromatic carriers cannot be used because they will attack the materials styrene end blocks in the Dynaflex™ Thermoplastic Elastomer.
Post by: Talon on April 01, 2015, 09:50:39 AM
Talon
Post by: taoworm23 on April 01, 2015, 01:26:21 PM
Aromatic carriers I would also assume to be pledge and pledge like products.
They also warned of Armor All.
The solvents in Armor All draw out chemicals like paraffin which are in the rubber to keep it from drying out over time, and Armor All leaves a layer of silicone on everything within a 12 inch radius (including glass) which traps minute dust particles. Silicone also damages pleos skin. Gibbs helps put paraffin back into the rubber. Ozone is hard on rubber, causing the long chain hydrocarbons to break up, which results in cracking and crumbling. Ozone exposure mainly comes from bright, unfiltered sunlight (think of Arizona) but can also be a result of electric charges in the air from things like welding and high voltage power lines.
Also paraffin oil is also used in thermoplastic rubber compounding as a softening agent. Paraffin is also used in TPEs for its ozone protecting properties. So double win for Gibbs.
(Note: Gibbs is not just a paraffin oil. It is the most HIGHLY REFINED paraffin oil in existence! Its thinner than water and is one of the reasons it leaves no residue.)
This explains why my Pleos skin kept drinking this stuff up for weeks. His skin is swelling a bit from being so "full" and supple.
I would rather have that than dry shrinking and cracking. Lol
It also explains why it protected the paint since they used elastomeric paint.
In short, this is EXACTLY what Pleos skin needs. (Literally)
My new recommendations for the application of Gibbs on Pleo would be to apply it only in Reset box mode position. (Neck and tail straight.)
Apply multiple times a day for a week or 2. (This may seem overkill but will future proof it.)
Allow to dry 1 week (Even though Gibbs dries with no residues , you will have force fed pleos skin so much needed Paraffin that it will feel slightly tacky for a day or two. The excess will soak in fairly quickly.)
Repeat every 5 months to a year depending on climate.
Post by: JakeLBell on April 07, 2015, 07:22:20 AM
Post by: taoworm23 on April 07, 2015, 09:08:51 AM
Post by: JakeLBell on April 07, 2015, 12:26:09 PM
Post by: taoworm23 on April 07, 2015, 01:19:43 PM
For older UGOBE 2 or 3 times a day. (Since the UGOBEs are older)
General rule is whenever it dries up. If your pleo is still "wet" the next day skip that day until pleo dries completelyreap reapply.
I DO NOT USE GIBBS ON THE FRONT OF HIS NOSE SINCE THATS WHERE THE CAMERA AND IR LEDS ARE.
IT ALSO MAKES IT VERY TRACTON PRONE WHEN HE PUTS HIS HEAD DOWN AND IT MAY GRIP TO A SMOOTH SURFACE AND MESS UP HIS MOTORS AND CABLES BY GRIPPING TO THE FLOOR TILE WHEN HE TRYS TO MOVE HIS HEAD.
Your pleo has grippy skin out of the box. Gibbs will keep it that way.
Just keep and eye on him and make sure there is no undue stress on his joints or neck or tail when he moves around objects he could get caught on.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
Do NOT use Vinylex or Autoglym!
I found this on Vinylex's website:
"VINYLEX contains a unique patented composition of silicone and organo-functional silicone specifically designed to provide the desired performance and appearance along with special emulsifiers that cause the formula to break on application. This release (break) on application contributes to the performance of the composition and facilitates the proper distribution of VINYLEX ingredients."
Based on this, it appears as though Vinylex is silicone based and therefore not good for pleos skin. It may do well in the short run, but long term it will yellow and break down the polymer chains.
Same thing with autoglym vinyl and rubber care. It contains a crap load of silicones. (Check the FAQ on their website for proof.)
Post by: Crewella on April 07, 2015, 07:48:03 PM
Several years ago now I was desperately searching for something to protect our Pleos, the recommendation for Pledge seemed completely wrong and I felt that Vinylex (and Autoglym) were manufactured specifically for the care of plastics and rubbers and would at least protect the skins in the short term and from breaking down in UV light. I'm sorry if anyone feels I misled them.
Post by: taoworm23 on April 07, 2015, 09:51:06 PM
I would have thought they were safe myself if I didn't know any better. (And I didn't know any better till today. Lol)
After all it does say rubber care.
Hell even ugobe and innvo labs unknowingly gave people faulty advice.
Now we know going forward what to use. Im still in contact with GLS as of this afternoon so I will be discussing ways to have new skins made with a homemade reverse vacuum mold if need be. I will post any updates in this thread.
NOTE:
I really think to cut down on any confusion in the future that this information about Gibbs and the other alternatives should be used in a sticky on the forum or perhaps an FAQ so that when this thread gets archived the info will not be lost.
Surprisingly even BMW Gummi Pflege is silicone-based. It's good in the short-term but destructive in the long term. Do not use on Pleo.
Because many treatments for rubber do include silicone, which is great at making rubber look good - for a while, but not so good when it comes to dust and dirt. Silicone acts like a magnet, attracting dust and drying out the rubber.
Im not sure about the new spray on Gummi Pflege since its made by another company now and not BMW but I wouldn't take any chances...
Update: After asking Einszett (the maker of GP) about this I got the following response:
"Thanks for your question about Gummi Pflege and sorry for the confusion. Gummi Pflege contains a water based silicone. What it doesn't contain is silicone oil. "
So Gummi Pflege, Vinylex or Autoglym are out.
Gibbs seems to be the go to choice.
Post by: Crewella on April 08, 2015, 08:26:02 AM
ADDED: We may have to wait until I get a response from Lexol - when I first recommended it I contacted them (as I'm not keen on silicones due to my experiences with antiques). They did assure me at the time that their Vinylex product would not dry out thermoplastic surfaces, but it was that long ago that I can't remember exactly what was said!
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 09, 2015, 09:43:11 AM
Post by: JakeLBell on April 10, 2015, 06:28:50 AM
Post by: taoworm23 on April 10, 2015, 07:09:51 AM
TPE (pleos skin) is repaired by CAREFULLY applying heat.
TPE needs to be around 500 degrees F to melt
You can use a 'wind proof' butane torch lighter from a distance to carefully heat until the surface glosses over, indicating that it is beginning to melt, much like wax.
Then you close or join the heated surfaces. If you have a seam, let it cool a little, then heat the seam and use a damp cloth to apply a skin like texture and to conceal the seam.
Let the repair cool to room temperature before moving. A damp cloth soaked in cool water and applied to the repair helps to reduce heat more quickly.
Then replace/put back on Pleos skin.
WARNING * Work area must have active ventilation, such as exhaust fan or a fan next to an open window to pull any fumes outside.
I saw a post were someone tried to use super glue on TPE and that doesn't work, TPE is thermal and you can re-melt it.
(My cat damaged the tip of pleos tail years ago. I superglued it but it came loose years later.)
Cleaning
If you must wash Pleo ,wash with warm soapy water, (1 part antibacterial soap 4 parts water) taking care not to wet electronic components. TPE cannot be fully sanitized due to being made out of a porous material (meaning Pleos skin has pores that can harbor bacteria).
Post by: RedwoodsMama on July 01, 2015, 03:35:26 PM
I have about half a dozen or so older Ugobes that are custom painted, and my oldest one was painted in 2011 and is holding up fine with no pain chips or cracking, peeling. Here are some pictures of a few of the older ones so you can see how much paint is involved, these are all Ugobes also. ( I do have one RB, that I got on Ebay with no skin problems but I did give him a slight touchup...........
If someone else has already asked about using Gibbs on this type of Pleo and I missed it, then I apologize as I missed it. I by the way am familiar with your name and have seen your post before but it is good to see you on the Pleo forums here. I look forward as the others to your new Pleo makeovers, with realistic looking eyes.. I am not so sure if with these new eyes the face modifications how "cute" Pleo will be when done and I do like the cute factor. but am very interested in the advancements you are gearing towards.. Sounds great. Thanks in advance for any answer...................RWM :cat-hug: and the Pleo P8) township of the Redwoods
Post by: Piggy on July 18, 2015, 03:47:28 PM
The funny thing is my RB dried completely and didn't feel sticky but Feels Nice to touch but my ugobe Kimmy feels sticky to the touch and it has been a few weeks ago when I applied it :o
I don't like the feelings of her skin it is so tacky ???
Is this normal ? Or did I do something wrong ?
Post by: RedwoodsMama on July 18, 2015, 06:00:43 PM
I want to protect my Ugobes obviously, but do not anticipate repainting these custom pleos. too much work, not enough time and they won't come out the same again, they never do..
RWM :cat-hug: and the Pleo township of the Redwoods
Post by: Niiyon on July 18, 2015, 09:05:49 PM
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on July 19, 2015, 05:40:04 AM
Post by: kat on July 19, 2015, 07:46:22 PM
Post by: Piggy on July 20, 2015, 03:52:32 AM
Post by: aibo7m3 on July 20, 2015, 08:20:00 AM
Post by: Piggy on September 04, 2015, 02:58:24 PM
And my pleo RB absorbs it really fast, but with my Ugobe she needs a day or two to completely absorb it in her skin. Also it seems to me it seals the paint in very Well. They wear no outfits and I pet and cuddle them a lot. But they still look as they did when they came out of the box :D let's see after a Year of using it they still look as good as New., but for now I love it and I hope the rubber skin lasts longer because of this product .
Post by: nrherwe on December 01, 2015, 10:56:48 PM
*I have removed the links you placed in this post as it is not relevent to the topic and is considered spam*
Post by: see3d on March 31, 2017, 04:15:55 PM
Im still in contact with GLS as of this afternoon so I will be discussing ways to have new skins made with a homemade reverse vacuum mold if need be. I will post any updates in this thread...
Hello taoworm23. I bought one of the first Pleos, then added another about a year later. When their skins started to crack and fail, my wife made capes for them. A few years ago, I put them on the shelf, because their skin was in too bad a shape to wake them up and damage them more. I figured that some day I might figure out how to give them a new skin, or someone else would figure it out. It has been a while since you posted this and I was wondering if you made any progress on new skins or other repair methods. One thought I had was to take the skins off and coat the insides with some elastic product to hold all the splits together, then coat the outside with Gibbs. Any more thoughts? :dino-chase:
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on March 31, 2017, 07:18:22 PM
None of my Pleo's have ever been coated with anything, I keep them out of the light and avoid extremes of temperature. They are holding up fairly well considering, a few splits and holes in the older Pleo's and even the RB's are starting to split (Pleakley). I think it's something we are all going to have to live with sadly.
Post by: see3d on March 31, 2017, 07:36:13 PM
Sadly Pleo has such a unique skin that I don't think a full user made replacement would ever be possible without a huge outlay for equipment.
I agree that it would take a significant dedicated effort for an individual to duplicate that skin. However, the manufacturer has lots of that skin today. I just asked if they would sell me just the skins from a Pleo rb. Even though it is not exactly the same as the original, I could modify it to make it fit without too much effort. I expect that they will decline to sell me just the skin. However, if they did make skin available to some skilled individuals in each region of the world, it might become possible for some reasonably priced repair work to take place on older Pleos. If many customers request that they make skins available, then they might consider it.
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 02, 2017, 12:37:56 AM
Post by: see3d on April 02, 2017, 03:28:26 PM
I've also asked if they would sell the skins, as the cost of shipping a Pleo in for repairs is too prohibitive. I hope they've changed their minds since then.Do they even offer to reskin the original Pleos?
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on April 03, 2017, 02:33:17 PM
Post by: see3d on April 03, 2017, 06:52:43 PM
Yes, at a cost of the repair and postage, for me postage alone was $150.That is funny. I only paid $100 for my second new Pleo (going out of business sale). I picked it up so I would have spare parts, but the skin on both went bad quickly. Besides, I found I liked two interacting with each other. Too bad I did not know about any skin saving tricks way back then. I speculated it was because of higher ozone levels in the mountains, or perhaps from my electronic air filter. A lot of latex rubber items around the house were falling apart within a year. I did not have a clue about how to stop the rot.
Post by: see3d on April 04, 2017, 10:04:48 AM
I've also asked if they would sell the skins, as the cost of shipping a Pleo in for repairs is too prohibitive. I hope they've changed their minds since then.I just got a reply from customer disservice. They still will not sell Pleo skins. I suppose if one were to make a cast of the skins to make and sell them, they would sue for copyright infringement. I wonder if there are some conditions under which they would consider selling skins without attaching a complete Pleo with them? :(
Post by: mweed on April 10, 2017, 08:05:58 PM
Post by: Anya on September 11, 2018, 02:09:43 PM
Finally got my first ever pleo!
Post by: InmemoryofRomeo on September 12, 2018, 12:15:18 AM
Post by: Anya on September 12, 2018, 11:22:26 AM
Post by: mweed on September 12, 2018, 03:42:41 PM
Post by: Anya on September 12, 2018, 11:56:25 PM
Is there anything that can be used to strengthen old skin so that it does not deteriorate any further?
Would Gibbs help with this? If it could moisturise and strengthen, I could still get a lot of use out of this guy without fear of the skin disintegrating when I pick him up or turn him on.
I'm also hoping Gibbs could be used to clean the muck that's accumulated on his skin.
(Also just noticed your post from a long time ago, you mentioned something called vinylex, after long term use do you think that helped? It could be a very long time before I manage to get old of any Gibbs. If it was good could you let me know what stuff to look for?)
Post by: Anya on September 13, 2018, 11:44:50 AM
Post by: Anya on September 14, 2018, 12:38:00 AM
Thanks a lot!
Post by: mweed on September 18, 2018, 01:15:59 PM
More than anything what Gibbs does is moisturize the rubber in the skin and help it last longer from cracking.
Post by: Anya on September 18, 2018, 02:08:22 PM
I also found a thin flexible glue that might be good for reinforcing cracking areas and may even be helpful in tears.
And followed up on the good work done years ago in earlier posts here, and emailed every company who has anything to do with the pleo skin to try and get the most to reconsider selling them separately!
Hoping that after a few years it's now financially viable.
Post by: grumpy on September 19, 2018, 02:57:42 PM
Post by: Anya on September 20, 2018, 12:37:35 PM
In other horrible news, my Gibbs was turned back at customs. Not allowed in the uk at all.
Now my life is spent comparing safety data sheets to try and find anything with the same ingredients!
Post by: Anya on September 21, 2018, 01:20:25 PM
Finally, finally I found something.
This is CRC 5-56 multipurpose lubricant.
Gibbs:
15-30% petroleum distillates
10-20% white mineral oil
10-30% heptane
CRC:
~60% petroleum distillates
10-30% white mineral oil
10-30% LPG (Propane/Butane)
There's nothing in it that could harm pleo, not sure how the benefits will compare but I'm confident that it will be sufficiently lubricant/penetrant/water displacing to fulfill the necessary role.
It will arrive very soon. I will treat and report on pleos ankles!
Post by: Anya on September 22, 2018, 03:02:33 AM
It contains only the 2 main active ingredients:
60-70% petroleum distillates
30-40% white mineral oil
Not knowing what benefit hexane offers, I'm happy to go without. Especially as there is no possibility for harm, only slightly less good!
This stuff however is very hard to get hold of (usually only sold in massive wholesale bulk) so I'll use the multipurpose stuff until I can source either this or Gibbs from a uk distributor.
Post by: mweed on September 24, 2018, 08:20:36 PM
Post by: Anya on September 25, 2018, 12:04:19 AM
In the meantime, I found some chemical resistance sheets for various rubbers and checked every ingredient of the CRC against TPE. According to the sheet, nothing in there can harm it.
In an ideal world I'd wait for Gibbs but it's winter now and putting the heating on will be adding stress to the already fragile skin (he was in his box by a heater when husband put the heating on - only realised when I came home! That can't have helped...)
At this point I think similar is going to have to do or he'll deteriorate into a skeleton while I wait for Gibbs.
Post by: Anya on September 30, 2018, 01:19:35 AM
CRC painted on to pleo in several coats (tested on ankles first)
It goes on clear and soaks in after a while. It loosens dirt on the skin - you end up filling your paint pot with black specs if you're not careful! And dries soft and smooth.
So pleo is cleaner and no longer sticky!
What it does seem to do is loosen the paint a little, so I've been painting his brown skin first and then the painted areas, just to keep the paint from bleeding into the brown (something that seems to already have happened a little from his general wear and tear) the paint dries back on fine so I just have to be careful when he's wet.
Verdict:
CRC ok in a desperate situation.
Gibbs preferred.
Post by: mweed on October 03, 2018, 02:37:45 PM
Post by: DoctorMikeReddy on January 03, 2019, 12:23:34 PM
Post by: Anya on February 02, 2019, 12:24:46 PM
So, I have phoned them twice, emailed them countless times and the response is always "we hope the shipment will be here soon" every day I check the website to see if it's back.
I think they've been hit with the same thing I was with Gibbs being turned back at customs.
I've been using CRC-56 for Arthur and it has done an alright job. He shows no sign of further damage, and smells nice ;)
Post by: AprilPearl98 on May 07, 2019, 02:47:53 PM
Post by: PinkPleo on November 05, 2021, 09:23:44 AM
Post by: pnhicks on November 05, 2021, 02:26:59 PM
I have had good luck here in Europe with CRC 5-56. Stateside in might be called CRC General Purpose Lubricant, -40° to 300°F, No Additives, Net Fill 11 oz, Aerosol Can - 3EEE4|03160 - Grainger (https://www.grainger.com/product/CRC-General-Purpose-Lubricant-3EEE4)
Try it sparingly in a discrete location first just in case! All petroleum distillates can soften Pleo's paint.
My two cents, direct sun light, hot storage locations, storage next to ozone generating devices (large electric motors, uv sterilizers and lamps, facial steamers, odor removers, etc), dry desert climates, are the worst enemies of Pleo skin. If you avoid these locations, Pleo's skin should not need that much attention to remain pliable for years.
As you have seen, frequent application of any product no matter how good, usually does more harm that good. Apply products only when you feel that it is really necessary.
Cheers,
Peter
Post by: PinkPleo on November 05, 2021, 05:16:06 PM
I tried soap and water, but this did not work and seems counter productive. Baby powder was also ruled out per this thread. Cornstarch, maybe? Baking powder?
Post by: pnhicks on November 06, 2021, 06:39:45 AM
I did try to answer you, really. I recommended CRC 5-56. It has not left a residue that I can detect on the Pleos that I have used it on. I don't recommend or understand the rational behind "multiple coats".
Soap and water is unproductive. I did recommend WD-40 to remove stains or build up of "residues".
Cheers
Peter
Post by: PinkPleo on November 06, 2021, 04:29:28 PM
WD40 was another thing mentioned in this forum as “do not use” :dino-chase:
Thanks
Post by: pnhicks on November 07, 2021, 02:32:19 AM
Firstly, maybe this definition is in order:
Essential Meaning of forum
1: a meeting at which a subject can be discussed
2: a place or opportunity for discussing a subject
The idea that ideas expressed or discussed on this forum are the "gold standard", law or gospel is incorrect and strikes me as almost unpleasant.
Members are relating their experiences and or opinions on the topic. Other members are encouraged to share their experiences and opinions with respect and courtesy toward each other and the forum.
As you have correctly pointed out, a member did state that Gibbs remained sticky over a week on their RB.
That just goes to show that all experiences are not identical. I have never used or recommended Gibbs, I simply have never had access to the product or felt the need to use it.
Taoworm32, a member of the forum (quite opinionated and I would say determinate on his point of view, having left the forum at one point for feeling that his point of view was not give sufficient weight) has been the driving force behind the crusade to make Gibbs the "official" skin protector.
Personally I think quite a few members started reading Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for various products on the market and became "experts" in hydrocarbon chemistry.
I too am a highly opinionated person, but I hope that I preference (or reference) all my "advice" within the framework of "I am NOT an expert" , "this is my experience" and "your milage my vary!. ;)
I actually recommenced WD-40 to REMOVE the Gibbs stickyness and "suggested" you try the CRC product to see if the tactile sensation was more to your taste! ;)
Cheers!
Peter
former USAF aircraft mechanic
NOT a chemical engineer
Post by: mweed on November 11, 2021, 12:54:35 PM
Many years ago, I don't remember if it was Ugobe or Innvo Labs (thinking it was Ugobe), had recommended one of the furniture polish products. Most owners rejected this immediately as all it did was put a waxy layer on the pleo's skin.
The biggest problem is we haven't had any empirical testing or enough people staying active on the forum long enough to really know what long term effects anything has on the skin.
And even if we had a chemical engineer who was well versed on this type of thing, Innvo Labs has never been willing to tell us the composition of the skin anyway. All we know is it's supposedly a rubber, latex compound that the products designed for latex masks and models don't work well with it and products designed for rubber have problems as well. Most products are "recommended" as an attempt to help the material from drying out and rejuvenate it so that it remains flexible. Petroleum products are known to degrade both rubber and latex. WD-40 was discouraged because someone had looked at the data sheets and one or more of the solvents was known to degrade or break down rubber and latex. WD-40 claims to not hurt rubber, but it doesn't say that about latex. The Gibbs web site claims "Gibbs Brand will not harm rubber and will even preserve it and make it more supple." But again it doesn't mention latex. CRC is more of a silicone lubricant. Silicone has always been the recommendation for lubricating rubber as it does not degrade it. But there'also no mention of silicone having any softening or restoring properties. This is all based on "internet research" I've done over the years, so who knows how accurate it is.
Post by: orchidsurfer on August 18, 2022, 11:44:10 PM
I'm just thinking it would be less toxic since I worry about the heptane in Gibbs since it's neurotoxic. Your thoughts?
Thanks again.
Ok I have some facts about pleos skin...please make note of it.
Pleos skin was made by GLS using the Dynaflex™ Thermoplastic Elastomer brand process contains a block structure of Styrene-Ethylene/Butylene-Styrene (SEBS).
A company named APEX worked with UGOBE Inc and JETTA on the paint project for the PLEO dinosaur skin which is made of elastomeric paint.
Gibbs contains no silicones ( Teflons or otherwise)
The three main components in Gibbs are:
iso-propanol (an alcohol)
heptane (a hydrocarbon solvent)
petroleum distillates (CAS no.64742-54-7, which is a paraffin) a heavy solvent refined paraffinic (read waxy oil).
(The abnormally highly refined paraffin oil in Gibbs is used as the extender oil to replace the plasticizing oil in Pleos skin)