How to make old rubber enlarger cords pliable?

[chip j]

I have an old Durst M35 Micromat whose electrical cords are stiff.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

Just replace it Chip. Not worth the aggrevation. Home Depot or Lowe's will have replacement cords.

 

[Arklatexian]

Just replace it Chip. Not worth the aggrevation. Home Depot or Lowe's will have replacement cords.

Good advice! Also, I would replace the old cord with a 3 wire cord so the enlarger can be grounded. That helps drain static electricity from the enlarger which might help if you have a "dust" problem.......Regards!

 

[GRHazelton]

Good advice! Also, I would replace the old cord with a 3 wire cord so the enlarger can be grounded. That helps drain static electricity from the enlarger which might help if you have a "dust" problem.......Regards!

Do check that your electric sockets are properly wired. The big box stores have a little widget which plugs into the socket and will tell you the status. A ground fault interrupt device (GFI) would also be a good idea in any darkroom, what with highly conductive solutions abounding.

 

[voceumana]

If the cord is not pliable it is probably cracked and presents a safety hazard. Replace it.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yes, replace it. I tried to make some cords more pliable in the past but they all just started losing chunks of insulation and needed to be replaced in a very short time.

 

[AgX]

I have an old Durst M35 Micromat whose electrical cords are stiff.

I very much doubt that enlarger still has rubber cables.
They should be from PVC.

Whereas there is no way to soften rubber again, in theory that might work with PVC. In theory...
Best to have an electrician exchange your cable for a brand new one.

 

[Fujicaman1957]

Which makes more sense...spending 5-10 bucks for a new cord or having your house burn down because of the electrical fire the patched cord caused?

 

[BobMarvin11225]

The easiest and cheapest way to buy a replacement would be to purchase an extension cord and cut off the female end. That way you'd have a nice molded plug.

 

[neilt3]

The easiest and cheapest way to buy a replacement would be to purchase an extension cord and cut off the female end. That way you'd have a nice molded plug.

WOW !
That's a bit extravagant , I'd re-use the old plug .

 

[bence8810]

I restored a few old Focomats and I always start by ripping all the cables out and replacing them with new ones. Every single wire, under the baseboard and in the column and column to head.
I always keep all the plugs and sockets original and just replace the wire itself.

Good luck,
Ben

 

[AgX]

That's a bit extravagant , I'd re-use the old plug .

It already has a moulded-on plug.

 

[DWThomas]

The easiest and cheapest way to buy a replacement would be to purchase an extension cord and cut off the female end. That way you'd have a nice molded plug.

Yes, I often do that. For some reason a complete extension cord in the various big box and hardware stores is often notably cheaper than a "replacement cord." I have even been known to buy a longer extension cord and a plug, to wind up with a replacement cord and a shorter extension cord.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I had cables made for my Speed Graphic and flash gun. I ordered them from Paramount Cords. http://www.paramountcords.com/

 

[M Carter]

Yes, I often do that. For some reason a complete extension cord in the various big box and hardware stores is often notably cheaper than a "replacement cord." I have even been known to buy a longer extension cord and a plug, to wind up with a replacement cord and a shorter extension cord.

I needed to make a head cable extension for an HMI par, which used Powercon connectors. It was much cheaper for me to buy a 12g. 50' extension cord and chop the ends off, than to buy the raw cable. So I bought a 75 footer and made some short ext. cords from the ends with a couple spare plugs.

 

[neilt3]

It already has a moulded-on plug.

I buy just some flex of the type and length I need and re-use the plug of the original item .
Buying an extension lead is more expensive from what I have found .

Anyhow , cut the plug end off an extension lead and your left with an ( shorter !) extension lead without a plug !
You'ld then have to spash out for a plug for a very short extension lead !

Extravagance !.....

 

[Martin Rickards]

I found that a spiral cord keeps out of the way much better than a straight cord.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Just replace it Chip. Not worth the aggrevation. Home Depot or Lowe's will have replacement cords.

talcum powder istypically used to keep rubber smooth and flexible.

 

[AgX]

Talkum by no means diffuses into rubber. If rubber got brittle then it is done.

Talkum applied on a rubber surface only can act (due to its crystalline structure) as dry lubricant or release agent.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Talkum by no means diffuses into rubber. If rubber got brittle then it is done.

Talkum applied on a rubber surface only can act (due to its crystalline structure) as dry lubricant or release agent.

it works on my car-door seals.

 

[chip j]

My cords are not cracked--just stiff. They seem to be a plasticy rubber.

 

[jim10219]

Whenever I have an electronic device break on me, before I throw it away, I always clip off the cord. Sometimes I'll salvage a few other parts as well like switches, jacks, and sometimes high voltage capacitors or other hard to find/expensive, but sometimes useful components. That way I can reuse the parts on other projects or repairs later on down the line. Power cables also make excellent speaker wires, by the way.

I also keep power supplies and AC/DC converters. They often come in handy for things, and since the input power and output power is almost always written on the label, you don't have to worry about what it went to or anything. I just store stuff like that in a box in my garage. They don't take up much space, and they can sure save your butt in an emergency late at night or on a Sunday.

 

[AgX]

That is the `One day I shall need it´-Syndrome !
I know...

 

[ic-racer]

When I get an old tube amplifier, frequently I clip off the ratty old cord. Partially as a reminder not to be tempted to plug it in without complete examination and replacement of old components, etc.

 

[Sirius Glass]

When I get an old tube amplifier, frequently I clip off the ratty old cord. Partially as a reminder not to be tempted to plug it in without complete examination and replacement of old components, etc.

That sounds a little extreme. Most people would put a note on it at most.