My Larbel Lightsaber MELTED!!!

[jhusel]

So I was dusting my collection cases the other night, and I noticed there was a blob of black "tar" underneath one of my lightsaber stands. I was like "WTF"?? I looked under the stand and nothing.........then I began to look over the lightsabers that were over it. When I looked at my Larbel Obi lightsaber, I noticed the black "tar" was leaking from a joint where the main body is attached to the emitter section (that has the brass valve on it). It was all around that seam. So it took me forever to clean it up, but was able to do so without messing up the finish. I thought it would be loose afterwards, thinking that it was some sort of "glue" that was used.

Then after I had it all cleaned up, I noticed something didn't look quite right. Like it was missing something.......then it hit me. It was missing a black "O" ring. I was like "WHAT? The "O" ring descentegrated??" And that was what happened. It doesn't get hot in my cases, the room has A/C and there is an MR Maul Lightsaber right above it with "O" rings that were fine.

Has anyone else had this happen? I assume that Hong Kong uses a different type of "O" ring, or at least maybe Larbel did? Can anyone explain this crazy incident?

Jhusel

 

[Art Andrews]

We have O rings dry up, crack, and break all the time but I have never heard of one melting!

 

[acerocket]

O-rings come in a variety of different materials. Perhaps those on your Larbel reacted with something you cleaned it with before, or just something in the air. I have never heard of one melting, but that doesn't nean it couldn't happen.

 

[CeSquared]

It happened to one of mine too.

I bought it off a member here and was like that when it arrived. I don't know how it was stored, but it was strange.

 

[Darth Detroit]

I'm a hydraulic specialist.
I see O-rings melt all the time. Usually its caused by a chemical reaction. Usually they will swell first, then come apart or melt.

 

[Force Commander]

It happens in toys sometimes. The o-ring interacts with the plastic in the toy and melts.

 

[corranhornjje]

Mine did the same and i never used any sort of cleaner on it, just sat on the shelf in a nonsmoking environment. The search is on now to find a replacement.

 

[motivealloy]

I've seen colored rubber bands melt before, but that's only after prolonged exposure to heat above 110deg. They get all gooey and nasty.

I'll have to check my Larbel to see if the o-ring is still ok.

 

[Luke Skyvader]

We have some shelves in my study that hang with cables & stuff kinda modern looking anyhoo...the shevles rest against the wall and have some rubber feet on the edge to protect the wall about 1/2" dia. x 3/16" thick black rubber (or something) One day I look up at one of the shelves and it's a wtf moment all three of the feet had melted. My very first thought was "the heating oil is leaking through the wall" (seriously). My second thought was "Don't be an idiot". I had to use laquer thinner to clean up the "runs" and repaint the wall. I replaced all the feet on all the shelves and cut one in half "cause I thought the were some kind of gell filled feet but they were solid

They just melted, no heat no nothing. Mabey they were from a bad batch that weren't properly cured?

Pete

 

[rmschneider104]

Wow. I think I had better go check my Larbel O. Good luck finding a replacement.

 

[jhusel]

This is funny, I thought I was the only one who had this type of problem. I first thought I had a serious wiring problem in the wall behind my cabinet that heated it up. lol

Jhusel

 

[Cenobyte]

Mine did the same and i never used any sort of cleaner on it, just sat on the shelf in a nonsmoking environment. The search is on now to find a replacement.

Possibly it was some sort of cleaner or polish Larbel used before shipping?

Maybe different climates react differenyle.

 

[nash]

from my understanding O-rings are easy to replace and find. that would be the last of my concerns, the main thing is the rest of the saber is fine.

 

[lonerthx]

Same thing happened with mine, goo-gone cleaned it up nicely.

It was stored in a warm garage for a few weeks after a move though.

 

[motivealloy]

Wow. I think I had better go check my Larbel O. Good luck finding a replacement.

My thoughts exactly, as the Larbel O-ring has a square-cut "[]" cross section instead of a circular "O" cross section.

 

[Jack Knight1979]

mcmaster.com

they have everything for sale. they'd have to have a square cut o ring.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

:lol My Larbel O did the same thing. I was like WTH? How did I get paint up there. I thought I somehow flung black paint on it because it's in the same room I paint. I posted about it here and someone said it was the O ring.

 

[superjedi]

It's the mutated form of the Andromeda Strain!! Run for the hills. :lol

 

[stormpath]

I think you have to replace a o-ring. some kind material o-ring may melted by time and weather. :sleep

 

[cheech9898]

mcmaster.com they have everything for sale. they'd have to have a square cut o ring.

McMaster does sell them, but only in large packages of 100 starting around $9. Just do a search for " square buna-n rings " on their site. Alternatively many modern automotive brake calipers use square o-ring seals so you may check the local auto parts stores too and see if they carry a selection (or can find the right size in a brake caliper rebuild kit)