Re: Dash Care

["Al Powell" <APOWELL@agcom.tamu.edu>]

The esteemed <randrews@post.smu.edu> (Robert Paul Andrews) quoth:
 
> I heard that you should NEVER use Vaseline.  It eats rubber and the like.
> It may look alright but I'm sure it collects dust and fingerprints
> like anything.

You may be right.  (Literary types, remember Mark Twain??)

However, the dash is vinyl.   The early Z-car dashes have a tremendous 
problem with losing the oils which make up the vinyl, then becoming 
brittle and cracking.  I have used both Vaseline and good old Mineral 
Oil as dash treatments.  Of the two, Vaseline left less residue, and was 
actually less prone to collecting dust and fingerprints.  I did note that 
at the end of the day, one wipes it off.  (I did not add "vigorously", but 
that is not a bad idea.)

I suspect the Mineral Oil is actually a hair better treatment and 
might begin using it by preference.  The Vaseline caused no visible 
problem and was less messy.  One thing I will *NOT* use is Armorall 
or any similar silicone-derivative treatment.


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Al Powell, Ph.D.                 Voice:  409/845-2807
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