Hello,
Have a bird feeder that is held against the glass window via the typical soft plastic suction cups.
They hod, but only for a relatively short time; perhaps a day or two.
What is the secret to getting them to hold on longer ?
Moisten first ?
Light oil ?
Or,...?
Is there any kind, brand, or style, that perhaps works better, that I can replace with ?
Thanks, Bob
Yes, try moistening them
if that does not work, use a little clear RTV
Definitely.
Water. I'm not sure if that dries out or not. Try it for a couple years and let us know.
Yes, they're called Watercups, and they're just like the one you have, but they come packed in water.
Just kidding.
Moistening the suction cups will help them keep the suction by filling the microscopically small roughness in the rubber cup. However, water evaporates and once it does, you're back to square one. I would use a very light oil like WD40 on the rubber cups and/or glass before applying the suction cups. The oil will fill the roughness just like moisture, but it won't evaporate.
Wet them and be sure the window is perfectly clean. None are perfect, but bigger and thicker is better You may get a couple of weeks, but I've never seen a suction cup last forever.
Won't the WD40 deteriorate the plastic cup, at least whether it will or not is unknown.
Will mineral oil, olive oil, or such work?
I've found glycerine works pretty good. GlysoMed hand creme works too. Some people use soap. Not enough of either to allow it to slide down the window!!!
WD40 is a crap-shoot at best. It evaporates like water, and depending what the cup is made of, can seriously degrade it in short order.
Glass shops use glycerin on their rubber installers cups, taxi and pizza delivery companies used glycerine on the suction cups of the rooftop signs. It works good for sticking things to bathroom tile, things like towel bars etc. It used to be on the instructions of many suction mounted devices to wet the cup with one drop of glycerine,spread thinly across the surface.
And it washes right off after you remove the suction cup - unlike RTV.
Like the RTV idea. Even if doesn't hold the vacuum seal, it should act as an adhesive. Easily scraped off with a razor blade if it fails. WD40 is junk. Useless. I've actually got a suction cup placed on a tile to hold my razor. It's overdue to come off. Hasn't fallen off in more than year. Only one I use. They're only for VERY light duty use.
Hi,
Thanks all for the suggestions.
Will give Glycerine a try.
Any idea where to get/buy a very small amount ?
Bob
----------------------
Your local pharmacy in the first aid aisle.
Do you work for avast.com, or do you just like spamming for them?
Jon
Good point. And, cooking oil is readily available in every home's kitchen.
I've had cooking oil go rancid.
I hang a humming bird feeder full. Clean the glass with Windex spit on the cups, rub around, stick. I think my cups are still on the window from last year.
Greg
Is it a sunny window? If so, heat might expand the cup and release it. I'd try a larger suction cup for starters. If you use delicate application, clear silicone caulk would do the job.....make a template out of masking tape, stick it on and trim if needed.
That Avast! banner is removable , but they don't make it easy . I posted instructions to turn it off somewhere , might not have been here though . I'll post them here if anyone is interested ...
If you have a glycerin modem, you might even be able to get a free sample online.
Or a solid-and-liquid modem. But they don't download as fast.
Of course it's not even an email.
Yeah , but Avast! appends that to every outgoing email or post . So do you wanna know how to turn it off or not ?
HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.