Best way to store diaphragms?

[chef1366]

Factory packing for new slides...

What did that set you back Ed?
Silicone is evil I tell ya!

[Nessism]

What did that set you back Ed?
Silicone is evil I tell ya!

Bought them off ebay for something like $15 each. Only have two new ones though (for BS32's) but have a four good uses ones from a set of 34's.

[81gs1100]

If wondering what type to use, Yamaha has a great protectant;

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outdoor/apparel/apscitemdetail/3/124/all/1/348/detail.aspx

We use it all the time when winterizing watercraft, spray over everything in the hull to protect the rubber and metal.

[Nessism]

I work for a company that makes commersial aviation parts, and we use tons of O-rings and rubber gaskets. We won't stock anything without the "cure date" due to shelf life concerns. These parts typically come in sealed plastic bags for the most part and the rubber is dry, no goop of any sort on the outside.

[Dave8338]

Either way (silicone or not) if they're sealed up kept in the dark and cool...they'll last longer than most members on this fourm.

I use silicone on all EPDM, Rubber, Plastics, and even on the glove box door of the 'Bird (when a freon can with seal conditioner exploded inside the car) and have VERY good luck. You'de be amazed what can be done to 25+ year old weather stripping, it is new again. Also Meguiars have a rubber/vinyl treatment in the Mirror Glaze line http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-car-care-products.html
that will do wonders with oxidized felxible ruber/plastic parts. Been using it for years and am VERY impressed. All you need is a little elbow grease...

[themess]

I work for a company that makes commersial aviation parts, and we use tons of O-rings and rubber gaskets. We won't stock anything without the "cure date" due to shelf life concerns. These parts typically come in sealed plastic bags for the most part and the rubber is dry, no goop of any sort on the outside.

Aviation parts are a special case. Parts whose failure can cause a crash have very special requirements. "Cure Date" is essentially the manufacturing date.That's when deterioration starts. Dry parts, stored in the dark, in the form that they'll be used, last the longest. As rubber chemists improve things, life expectancy increases.

When I was a kid, we were always warned to not roll up electrical cords, because the rubber insulation would crack and expose the conductors. That was true. Now we use plastic insulation, and I don't recall ever seeing it crack.