to alcohol or not to alcohol

**Konicoz** · 06-09-2016

Good morning everyone.

In our small group of technicians a question has been raised that has left us divided and undecided. I need your experience and wisdom to settle this question
'Is using alcohol to clean rubber feed rollers on printers / copiers good long term?' we are talking normal use paper dust cleaning.......only one rule --not production machines.....

answers like -if you don't have anything else or if they have some kind of stuff on them doesn't count, we are talking everyday use..

Thanks guys and gals

**blackcat4866** · 06-09-2016

No to alcohol, especially on neoprene rollers (the transparent ones). Neoprene rollers absorb the alcohol, then over time get gummy, until they turn into used chewing gum. Alcohol dries out rubber rollers.

I prefer an orange oil based degreaser like Contractors De-Sol-Vit. It cleans the rollers well without damaging the rubber (or neoprene). For very damaged or worn rollers, a last resort is WD-40. You'll be surprised how much it improves rubber. But never spray WD-40 in a copier or anywhere else! It attacks most plastics! Spray a little into a towel, then wipe only the roller. =^..^=

**JPiek** · 06-09-2016

No alcohol use here either, on rubber rollers that is... i use Platenclene, PCL100...
Alcohol only for contacts, or in a glass in the evening

**eliaso** · 06-09-2016

try this
small garlic with a drops of vinegar and drops olive oil

**skynet** · 06-09-2016

Wd40 ftw

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

**mbolduc** · 06-09-2016

Over 30 years I have tried almost everything. Alcohol removes the moisture in the roller causing them to dry out. WD-40 is better because it replenishes the oils that have evaporated from the rubber. Rubber has an oil base. Good cleaners made for rubber rollers have a lot of oil in them. Cleaning with windex will make them temporarily sticky if you are going to return with new rollers soon, otherwise dries roller out as well.

**subaro** · 06-09-2016

The reason i stay away from oil based cleaners for the rollers are, if they are not completely cleaned off the rollers, then the oil can be transfered to the drum, dev, transfer belt and it make a simple cleaning job into a troubleshooting print quality problem. Most of the guys seem to like wd40, so i guess it works well. Has anyone tried KRUD CUTTER ?.

**mbolduc** · 06-09-2016

When I use WD40- I use windex or alcohol first to get dirt off. Then I apply the wd-40 like I am coating the roller. I let sit for 30 seconds or so to absorb what it needs then dry wipe the tire thoroughly to get any excess off. Works great. Ran out of wd-40 a few times and used tri-flow as a substitute, worked fine.

**qbert69** · 06-09-2016

Originally Posted by subaro

The reason i stay away from oil based cleaners for the rollers are, if they are not completely cleaned off the rollers, then the oil can be transfered to the drum, dev, transfer belt and it make a simple cleaning job into a troubleshooting print quality problem. Most of the guys seem to like wd40, so i guess it works well. Has anyone tried KRUD CUTTER ?.

Krud Cutter, I think, is an alkaline based cleaner...I would probably stay away from it. Alkaline based cleaners tend to attack and dissolve organic based materials....like your fingers! I like the idea of the WD-40 better. At our office, we use NA Trading Belt Cleaner:

http://www.natrading.com/catalog/uni...upplies?page=3

Shown at bottom of page.

It has a consistency and feel very similar to WD-40. So in a pinch, I could probably use WD-40!

PS--no alcohol except for glass cleaning and removing toner from fuser stripper plates and fuser entry points!