Melting rubber bumpons

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Scott

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Fairview Heights, Il , US
If I didn't know these customers so well, I'd swear they made this up.

After having one of our frames on their wall for several months my customer noticed a brown streak running down the wall. The rubber bumpons (both sides) were melting and turning into a liquid. The customer had to use alot of elbow grease to clean the wall. I've used these same bumpons for years and I've never seen anything like this. I'm guessing only a solvent can liquidfy rubber, but I can't imagine how the bumpons came in contact with a solvent in the customers home. Its been several months since I framed this picture so I don't think anything in the shop contaminated the bumpons.

Does anyone have any thoughts to solve this mystery? I suppose I'll call 3M next. The customer saved whats left of the bumpons for me. They look like peanut butter bumpons now. Any ideas?
 
Scott,
Don't have a clue why they would 'melt'. I'm like you; it seems unlikely. We don't use the brown ones. We use the clear ones. The 'tall' ones for metal frames, I believe. We used to use the felt ones, but I like the tall, clear ones much better.

I have noticed that the brown ones seem more pourous than the clear ones. The clear ones are very, very 'firm'. Could the apparent porosity be the problem?

Let us know what the solution to the mystery is.
 
Do a search, there was a thread about this awhile back. Search for melty bumpons. I would send the link, but don't know how.
Hope this helps.
 
I've seen it happen, too. There are some things in the archives about this phenomenom. I don't know if anyone ever figured out the cause. Maybe there is some kind of reaction when they come in contact with the paint on the walls. If you find out anything, please let us know.

It could the same sort of thing that happened to my Barbie doll from the 60s. Her face is kind of gooey.
 
I guess this is going to be “We never heard of this problem before” or “We never have problems with our products” by the bumper manufacturers.

Ever notice most manufactures never have problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

:rolleyes:
 
There was quite a bit of discussion on the HH recently about this. For any PPFA members, you might check the archives there.

Betty
 
3m had a problem with melting brown bumpons a few years ago. There was a problem in the silicone with a binding material that broke down and the bumpons returned to liquid state. Contact your supplier. 3M is making good on all complaints regarding this problem.
Peter Ackerman
United Mfrs. Supplies, Inc.
 
Mr. Ackerman, I am so glad you (and other vendors/manufactures) have decided to "frequent" this forum. We can speculate these things to death (and often do). The assurance that someone "in the know" will be along soon is a great comfort.

Thanks.

Betty
 
Originally posted by Scott:
If I didn't know these customers so well, I'd swear they made this up.

After having one of our frames on their wall for several months my customer noticed a brown streak running down the wall. The rubber bumpons (both sides) were melting and turning into a liquid. The customer had to use alot of elbow grease to clean the wall. I've used these same bumpons for years and I've never seen anything like this. I'm guessing only a solvent can liquidfy rubber, but I can't imagine how the bumpons came in contact with a solvent in the customers home. Its been several months since I framed this picture so I don't think anything in the shop contaminated the bumpons.

Does anyone have any thoughts to solve this mystery? I suppose I'll call 3M next. The customer saved whats left of the bumpons for me. They look like peanut butter bumpons now. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
I may be wrong but, I think the clear ones are made from silicon, not rubber. I have always used them with no problems. The rubber ones get very soft when they get wet from alcohol. It could be the glass cleaner that some people use is breaking down the rubber.

Try the clear one from United.

Jerry
 
Mr. Ackermans comments are correct. This has been discussed before ,either here or on the HH or both. The most prevalent problem did occur with the colored Bumpons ,more specifically the Brown ones. 3M doesn't openly advertise this but will address your problems if you call customer services and complain.You can imagine what will happen when this is well known so act as a go between.I did and was handled very well.
BUDDY
 
I'm dredging this up because in the last two weeks I have seen this on two frames that were brought back in by the customers. One I know dates back to early '94.
Since it stays in a gooey state once it melts, how do you get it off the wall?
 
Well... I'm dredging this up again. I just had a customer call with the same problem, only this time it's ruined his wallpaper and he wants it replaced.
 
The link above has this info. File it!

Hi:
My name is Steve Hurlburt and I work for 3M in the Industrial Tape and Specialties Division. We manufacture 3M Bumpon(TM) products, and want to make sure that our quality and performance meets or exceeds your expectations for picture framing applications. Your site recently came to my attention via an E-Mail sent in by one of our sales people.

Please call or write to me at the following address, should you encounter any problems, have suggestions for improvement, etc:

Steve Hurlburt, Technical Service Specialist
3M Industrial Tape and Specialties Division
3M Center - Building 230-BS-38
St. Paul, MN 55144-1000

E-Mail: sahurlburt@mmm.com
Ph: (651): 733-6080

Thank you!

Steve
 
2 oh's...
help.gif


We have and use 3M brown, white, black and clear bumpons.My apologies, in advance, if this has already been addressed:

1) Aside from waiting for reports of problems at our customers' homes, is there a way of telling if we have a "bad batch" of bumpons? and...

2) Is the problem limited to one particular colour or batch?
 
I suggested to a customer that they use a product called "Goof Off". I got it at a local hardware store. My customer used it with good results to get the melting bumpon's off.
 
Thank you John, I printed it out and talked to Steve. They were very helpful.
All of the bad bumpons from us date back to '93 and '94. THis is the first time that it wasn't just on a painted surface and easier to deal with.

Printmaker.. it's only been the brown bumpons, and only ones made in the early nineties.
 
I have posted on this topic several times over the years, including the ever-popular "Hershey Kisses on a Radiator". It seems as though complaints about these come in sporadic batches. After a couple of years gap, we've had several calls about them in the past month. Fortunately, no one has asked for new wall covering. Thanks for the tip on the "Goof-Off". I'll suggest that.
:mad: Rick
 
I can't remember if the information was on another thread here or not but acetone will remove the brown goo.

Cyndi
 
Make real points with that customer by stopping by after work and cleaning their wall for them with Unseal. A milder form of Goof-Off that won't destroy some of the more delicate latex paints.

but then that's just how I take care of the customers who are taking care of my bottom line.

baer
 
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