Restoring flexibility to rubber

[Creed]

Is there any way to restore flexibility to old rubber products, like fins? I have a pair of Dacor Turbo fins that seem overly stiff. They aren't cracking at all, so I'd like to save them if possible. Any ideas?

[Nemrod]

I don't know if that is possible actually, rubber seems to enjoy pure silicone and there is a 3M treatment for rubber called Protect All.

I suspect thatyour Turbo fins were exceedingly stiff to begin with. Original Rockets, UDT etcwere lal stiff fins. I recall those Turbos just barely but I bet they were/are stiff as a 2X4.

I think that as rubber decays/ages the parrafins that were in the rubber and the natural oils exude which is the white substance you see on rubber products. This is a natural process and I believe that the oxidizing of the oils and parrafins on the surface of the rubber actually serves to protect that rubber. I think what happens when we use pure silicone on the rubber that the rubber actually absorbs it filling the open spaces in the rubber created over time as the oils and parrafins decay/exude. Just my theory. I think that if caught in time silicone treatment can prolong the service of a rubber item but severely or even moderately decayed rubber is to damaged for recovery.
James