I have a MIDI controller keyboard that I have cleaned in the past with disinfectant alcohol wipes, which I know is a bad idea because it degrades the rubber over time.
Well, the rubber on the pitch bend and modulation wheels has indeed degraded, and the surfaces texture is awful, uneven and sticky now. My fault… I know.
So does anyone know of any way to fix, or even improve, this kind of nasty rubber surface degradation once it occurs? Sanding? Applying oils? Is there any way I can even slightly restore these controls back to their original soft-touch rubbery glory?
Yes. WD-40 isn’t a lubricant. The “WD” stands for “Water Displacement” (the 40 means “40th formula”). It’s intended to be used on rusty parts to remove any moisture before adding a lubricant. It has a tiny amount of oil in it, which does provide some amount of lubrication after it’s applied, but come back in 30 minutes and it’s back to being squeaky again. Always spray some penetrating oil after.