How to remove permanent marker from yellow Fluke rubber case? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 07:21:16 pm
content: I bought some gear on eBay and it has writing on it on the yellow rubber case. I tried 10 diff chemicals but the yellow rubber seems to be deeply saturated with black marker. I took my oscillating sander to it to measure the depth of penetration. Lo and behold, the ink was as deep as 1mm in the rubber. So remember kids, if you write on your DMM, there is no [unnecessary inappropriate word removed] way it's coming off. My plan is to use UV light to see if I can break down the marker paint.Does anyone have any experience on how to remove the permanent marker out of that yellow rubber?

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 08:53:44 pm
content: Excessive UV might do more damage to the rubber than to the ink. Probably you should just learn to live with it.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:05:35 pm
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on July 23, 2011, 08:53:44 pmMy OCD will kill me if I don't remove it.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:05:38 pm
content: Is this holster made by Fluke ?

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:06:23 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on July 23, 2011, 09:05:38 pmYes, it's the same yellow rubber casing you have on any Fluke multimeter.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:07:19 pm
content: Dye the whole boot black?Get a replacement?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:36:18 pm
content: Quote from: Wartex on July 23, 2011, 09:06:23 pmOk, I think that I have one crazy suggestion for you, it looks that you did try all the logical ones, all ready.Get a big bowl with hot water at 45C .Set it in for 10 minutes to get really hot.Take it off and wash it with shampoo for dish washing, soft moves like doing massage to it.keep doing it for three minutes.Check the results.If nothing happens, you move to step No2.Again in fresh hot water 45C for another 10 minutes,but now when it will get hot again, you will have one cloth really soaked with purified alcohol ( The expensive one).Set the cloth on it and let it for five minutes, Yes you have to hold it on the spot all that time.And in all that time you have to gently push the cloth on the holster, like the cloth to was some sort of pump.No rubbing !! just push it in and release.If you do it with style ..you will get some results back.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:54:38 pm
content: I tried both, it's has fainted to 50% of it's brightness from other chemicals and abrasion but not beyond that. I need something that breaks down that black paint.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 09:55:49 pm
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on July 23, 2011, 09:07:19 pmI'm thinking of coloring it black. Which brings us to an interesting question, does fluke sell those yellow cases separately?

author: grenert
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 11:43:00 pm
content: Saturation reported cleaning the yellow covers in the dishwasher:https://www.eevblog.com/forum/index.php?topic=3415.0

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 23, 2011, 11:48:17 pm
content: Prep-Sol cleaning solvent works. I wouldn't be using it too often and expecting the rubber to keep it's integrity. But yeah its worked for me a few times, and rumours to the effect I wished to murder those responsible remain rumours.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 12:01:04 am
content: Quote from: grenert on July 23, 2011, 11:43:00 pmTrust me, it's 1mm deep in rubber, no dishwasher in the world would get it out.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 12:16:44 am
content: No more tips.. show to us a picture of it .

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 01:00:49 am
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on July 23, 2011, 09:07:19 pm1mm deep penetration? dishwashing not working? yeah! this is the solution. if you dont want to paint the whole, overlay it with fancy shapes like stars, sky or telletubbies.and can someone make the correction to the topic? it sounds funny.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 01:44:26 am
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on July 24, 2011, 12:16:44 am

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 01:52:40 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on July 24, 2011, 01:00:49 amThank you for asking the moderator to edit my post because it's *personally* "funny" to you. Do you order around like that all the time, or just when you are on your high horse?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 02:13:40 am
content: There is no need for pillow wars.The high grade alcohol ( with clear color for medical use ) it should had remove it.In the worst scenario high grade alcohol + an metallic sponge ( dish washing).You last chance is to get an special spray called as ink remover, I was using it when I was repairing cashiers.The cashiers was using ribbon tapes soaked with ink.The punching needles in the printing head, needed occasionally a good cleaning, as the ink and the dust of the paper,was creating a sticky cream that was blocking the operation.

author: Mechatrommer
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 02:18:40 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on July 24, 2011, 01:52:40 amif you intentionally do that, just say it and the reason. there are 7bil human on this planet which not only you and me. i dont mind if its "markez" or something else other than "market". but then this is not my blog who cares?

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 02:32:42 am
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on July 24, 2011, 02:18:40 amWe all care about this forum, and the topic it should be moved to the General chat too.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 03:06:17 am
content: He could have pointed out that I made a typo in the topic title, because I can edit my own posts.PS: Kiriakos, thanks for the tips. BTW it's very difficult to get real alcohol in north america.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 03:08:23 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on July 24, 2011, 01:44:26 amIf that's the solution best never consider getting a tattoo

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 03:10:33 am
content: Quote from: Uncle Vernon on July 24, 2011, 03:08:23 amTattoos being covered by new tattoos with solid coloring? That's unheard of! /sarcasm

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 03:37:35 am
content: It's a bit aggressive but.. 1000grit sandpaper and then polish it up again.You risk losing the shine forever or it becoming rough. but at least it should remove all the black, then you can worry about the next step, getting it smooth again.Worst case you can sand everywhere, over the entire case, and it will look uniform and somewhat normal.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 03:48:36 am
content: Quote from: Psi on July 24, 2011, 03:37:35 amAs I said in the first post, i DID remove 1 mm layer of rubber by sanding it, and the ink was still there! The ink soaked almost ALL THE WAY thru the rubber, to the other side. It is not a simple surface stain.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 04:03:55 am
content: If the ink has soaked all the way into the rubber, you have only two choices. Either flow the ink out by diffusion (like chromatography), or bleach the color away. I think I would try bleach first as it's easier; try hydrogen peroxide first, and chlorine bleach second. You would have to soak it in bleach overnight and see what happens.If bleach doesn't work, you need to place the ink surface against an absorbent material like a wad of paper towels and then apply solventto the back surfaceso it soaks through into the towels and carries the ink with it. You will need a solvent with small molecules and good dissolving power; you might try acetone or methanol (which is poisonous by skin absorption--wear gloves and don't breathe the fumes). If the ink has bonded to the rubber molecules this won't work. There is a reason it is calledpermanentmarker.

author: slburris
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 04:30:31 am
content: Isn't naphtha commonly used to remove permanent marker?Not sure if it will attack rubber though.Scott

author: Psi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 04:36:27 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on July 24, 2011, 03:48:36 amIf the ink is all the way though then i don't see it being removable no matter what you try. At least not enough to be satisfactory to look at.

author: ejeffrey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 08:54:35 am
content: To repeat: if the ink has soaked all the way through and the things he already tried haven't worked what you now have is black plastic. Alcohol, napatha, UV, acetone, sand paper, and whatever else are not going to work. The purity of your solvents doesn't matter at all. Anything that you do that manages to get the ink out will probably do more damage -- at least cosmetic if not functional to the plastic. You might be able to get (more of) the top layer clean, but the deeper levels are not coming out. It will just make it look older and more worn.Just email Fluke and ask them if they sell replacements for your model.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 10:47:46 am
content: Quote from: ejeffrey on July 24, 2011, 08:54:35 amWell this looks to be the only solution, but the Fluke pricing would be near to 25$ plus shipping.Wartex..Send one email on their web shop about it, and tell us the news.

author: ivan747
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 02:03:00 pm
content: Quote from: Mechatrommer on July 24, 2011, 01:00:49 amStick a Fluke sticker over itOr maybe some sort of "pocket reference" like a resistor color chart or SMD package sizes or something like that.Quotethat should have been his first chance. Jeez.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 04:00:21 pm
content: Quote from: ivan747 on July 24, 2011, 02:03:00 pmNop.. this stuff works for metals.I have no idea of what effect it will have on rubber.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 24, 2011, 04:55:30 pm
content: Quote from: Kiriakos-GR on July 24, 2011, 04:00:21 pmSent them an email. If it's $20+shipping I'll pay it not to have an eyesore. The item itself is $340 and I got it for $177.

author: Wartex
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 10:59:39 pm
content: QuoteExcellent. The tool is over $400 and if you break a $0.25 button or lose a battery cover you are shit out of luck. Thanks Fluke.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 26, 2011, 11:14:55 pm
content: I was expecting your reply so to find out how it goes.Interesting turn out.If there is a something to be learned from this lesson, would be, never buy anything expensive before checking parts availability.

author: Unknown
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 02:08:44 am
content: Just a piece of info, Fluke's 'industrial wipes for DMMs wont fully remove the ink. The porous nature of the holsters calls for mechanical means as mentioned, or you could try paint stripper which is a strong base or acid, not sure.

author: Bored@Work
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 06:22:39 am
content: Quote from: Wartex on July 26, 2011, 10:59:39 pmBut at least they keep the appearance up of having some service. A former colleague insisted on buying some Taiwanese crap. Then he broke it. Then he left the company. I am left with dealing with getting it repaired. Don't ask.

author: Kiriakos-GR
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 27, 2011, 07:39:35 am
content: There is something that I could not understand by looking this specific rubber case,but today I think that I found the true problem.This item was having some sort of identification on it with marker, and some else use the ink on it, so cover up the identification markings.This item must be stolen, there is no other excuse.Either way, for using it as is there is no problem, but definably it can not be resold.