A while back, I had decided to dig out my Saitek X45 joystick from the closet with the intent of using it, but then decided to try and sell it and upgrade instead. I discovered, however, that the joystick was coated with a tacky layer all over the handle, like there was something spilled on it.
Scraping it a bit with a fingernail, the coating began coming off like rubber cement boogers. I took apart the plastic handle and tried to clean it with soap and water, with no success. It actually seemed to have made it worse as the coating turned whitish and discolored. Then I tried rubbing alcohol and a lot of time and elbow grease, and while it works, it was taking too much time and effort. Whatever it was, it was pretty resilient. It also left the cleaned parts very smooth and glossy as it was just bare plastic underneath. Certainly not how it was when originally purchased.
So after a little research, I found out that many companies are using cheap glossy plastic, but then coating it with a thin layer of 'texturing agent' which basically gives it a matte finish and a slightly soft rubbery texture.
Seems that rather than using better quality plastic and molding it with a texture right into the product, it's cheaper for them to use the cheap plastic and coating. Who cares if it turns nasty after a few years? It'll be past warranty by then and you'll be forced to buy a new one or just go through the hassle of trying to clean it yourself.
Anyway, I'm tossing in the towel on trying to restore it and am going to be junking it. I've already gotten a Warthog, and I'm not going to put hours into cleaning something when I'd be lucky to get $20 out of it.
/rant
I've read plenty of other similar horror stories with various items. Just curious if others here have suffered the same fate with any controllers or peripherals.
Scraping it a bit with a fingernail, the coating began coming off like rubber cement boogers. I took apart the plastic handle and tried to clean it with soap and water, with no success. It actually seemed to have made it worse as the coating turned whitish and discolored. Then I tried rubbing alcohol and a lot of time and elbow grease, and while it works, it was taking too much time and effort. Whatever it was, it was pretty resilient. It also left the cleaned parts very smooth and glossy as it was just bare plastic underneath. Certainly not how it was when originally purchased.
So after a little research, I found out that many companies are using cheap glossy plastic, but then coating it with a thin layer of 'texturing agent' which basically gives it a matte finish and a slightly soft rubbery texture.
Seems that rather than using better quality plastic and molding it with a texture right into the product, it's cheaper for them to use the cheap plastic and coating. Who cares if it turns nasty after a few years? It'll be past warranty by then and you'll be forced to buy a new one or just go through the hassle of trying to clean it yourself.
Anyway, I'm tossing in the towel on trying to restore it and am going to be junking it. I've already gotten a Warthog, and I'm not going to put hours into cleaning something when I'd be lucky to get $20 out of it.
/rant
I've read plenty of other similar horror stories with various items. Just curious if others here have suffered the same fate with any controllers or peripherals.