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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Softening a soft top

An age old, old age problem. My vinyl hood needs some sort of treatment to keep it soft and flexible. It lives outside and this time of the year it's most noticeable as it is cold, and the material goes stiff. But it's mainly that the vinyl seems to dry out, especially around the fastenings and edges. I think it needs some treatment - something that will absorb into the vinyl to soften it. So, what works best?
GuyW

Guy. I was in Moss's the other day and while waiting for my parts to be picked, I looked around the showroom and noticed that they have a range of products like Renovo and others which claim to refurbish hoods including vynil. Might be worth a phone call.
Bernie.
b higginson

Hi Bernie. Thanks. There seems to be a whole range of products such as Renovo, Maguire's, and many others of uncertain parentage but it is difficult to distinguish those which are basically over priced fancy cleaning products, from something that is known to actually work.
I am pretty sure I need something that will absorb into the vinyl to soften it. I am after first hand experience!
GuyW

I used "J*****n's" Baby Oil to good effect, and it smells good too ;)

My hood had been in storage for over 20 years, had to warm it up with a hot air gun to get it soft enough to fit over the screen and all the clips. Then a liberal application of baby oil (to the hood).
T Carter

I guess it goes direct on the vinyl/outside or would something work better to emply it on the inside? (soak it in better?)
A de Best

On the vinyl side, I think Arie
Perhaps I could use that "Oh so Soft" cream, as issued to the British army during the Falklands war. Apparently it is good at repelling midges. Am I still allowed to say that? Perhaps it repels
small flying dwarfs.
GuyW

I guess it goes direct on the vinyl/outside or would something work better to emply it on the inside?


I have a plan, on a warm summer's day, to work the baby oil into the inside of the hood as well, so that it can "soak up"
T Carter

This thread was discussed between 10/03/2022 and 11/03/2022

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