Camera grip turns "sticky"

[D3s_Man]

My D70 and F65, with 2 lens, were kept in an airtight container with silica gel put in for humidity control. Call it my home made dry box. Last month, I found all the rubber grips on the camera and lens have become "sticky". No amount of cleaning could fix it. Took all of it to the Nikon Service Centre in PJ and was told all the grips had to be replaced. It's costing me a bomb!

Need some advice from the sifus out there: what's causing this "sticky rubber" (or is it really polyurethane, PU), and how to prevent it from happening to my other camera and lens? Could it be PU degradation?

Thanks.

[bkhong]

Erm...I have had the same problem. My PS2 controller (black plastic) turned sticky and oily, as if it is melting!
CAP...cheap a$$ plastic...

[FXtom]

my Microsoft Optical Mouse 5000 became sticky on the black-coated area...its simply a cheapo type of application made in China!

[vovozz]

as i bought my d70s (2nd hand) i found that the grip is already sticky especially at the CF card cover.. then i use a damp cloth to sental all the "sticky" surface then store it inside the diy drybox oso (using giant brand thirsty hippo)... after a week using the camera and store it in that kind of drybox, the sticky thinggy vanish...

i dont know wich trick do the result, or it just my feeling...

[bakrihafizhisham]

i think it's because of the cilical gel that cannot contain anymore water,
taht it starts to give out moisture to the surrounding environment (in this case,the box)

[macdaque]

I also had a problem with my older D80 once, happens when the storage place is warm and humid. Keep the air sufficiently dry and cool, and this problem shouldn't occur. Make sure the silica gel is not saturated with water.

[wan]

Had the same problem with F80 years back, also after I opened container after few months. I suspect the coating was degraded due to too dry

[chekai]

Did you put in a place with high temperature? heat could be the issue here. IMO, if left in a cold location, this sticky issue shouldn't happen. Even if left inside the drybox, the dehumidifier would also emit some heat. So don't put your gears too close to it.

[chickenriceboy]

Did you put in a place with high temperature? heat could be the issue here. IMO, if left in a cold location, this sticky issue shouldn't happen. Even if left inside the drybox, the dehumidifier would also emit some heat. So don't put your gears too close to it.

IMHO, it shld be due to the silica gel being too dry and tearing into the structure of your battery grip, causing it to degrade.. If it's saturated, it'll release moisture, and you'll get fungus on your mirror

[aGirl]

I don't think silica gel releases moisture upon "saturated". It just does not work.

[zane222]

how much does it cost when you send in to Nikon?

[D3s_Man]

Thanks for all your comments. I'll look into all the advice given. Need to research more into why the grip degrades, and the temperature factor may be the issue. I've got a small hygrometer and thermometer in it and the humidity is about 52% with temp at 25 - 30 deg C.

It's costing me about RM 850 to get all the grips on the cameras and lens changed. No choice la. That's why prevention is better than cure!

[beetlebug]

... It's costing me about RM 850 to get all the grips on the cameras and lens changed. No choice la. That's why prevention is better than cure!

Alternatively you might consider pulling out the camera grip covers, take them to Central Market & ask one of the leather craftsmen there to cut out an identical shape from new PVC or leather. Then glue it back on the camera yourself. Should be a really cheap & easy fix.

When polyurethane degrades (usually due to prolonged UV radiation), it turns powdery & staining, so the grip covers are not PU. It is likely PVC (polyvinylchloride) and if it's relatively low grade, the plasticizers in the material tend to migrate to the surface & forms an greasy sticky feel after some years.

Just my 2 cents

[m|ng]

I have the same bloody problem with my F80 and my Logitech MX510, and a few other stuff I could remember.

The thing is, I took the F80 to Australia.. and it wasn't sticky anymore! not even 1 bit. It was as good as new. Now that Im back here.. its sticky.

Can I get it changed? I emailed Nikon Malaysia, but no replies from them yet.
Now im worried for my D80 and D90 >.<

[macdaque]

I have the same bloody problem with my F80 and my Logitech MX510, and a few other stuff I could remember.

The thing is, I took the F80 to Australia.. and it wasn't sticky anymore! not even 1 bit. It was as good as new. Now that Im back here.. its sticky.

Can I get it changed? I emailed Nikon Malaysia, but no replies from them yet.
Now im worried for my D80 and D90 >.<

Do the same thing you did with your F80, keep the air around your D80 and D90 as dry as Australian air. Also, you can 'revive' your F80 by doing the same thing.

[m|ng]

Yes, when its in my drybox, the grip will be alright, BUT once it is out in the open for a while, it gets sticky again.

Cause australian air is dry all round, but here, it is dry only in your drybox

[pok dek]

i use dry box, never faced that problem, so, better invest in dry box rather than replacing the not so cheap cheap china rubber!

[noordin]

Dry box has controlled humidity. Silca gel in a box does not. You saved on the drybox and now you have to pay dearly for it. I feel sorry for you.

[Radeon]

this is because
the silica gel is not control it will just suck everything
even your rubber

[xmlrpc]

i called j-one to ask about rubber grip replacement for D200. they will send to Nikon and the damage is RM 280 for the whole body.

other model should be around that price range i suppose?