Rubber dip coating for thumb loops

Does anyone have recommendations for a good rubber dip coating product to fix the thumb loop in the second photo? The first photo is a Merlin cam and I like the coating on this if anyone knows what he uses. There are quite a few brands out there, if anyone has experience with any of them your thoughts would be appreciated. 

I would suggest Plasti Dip. Ive not used it on a cam, but it works great for other similar scenarios. 

Just be careful getting it on your soft goods might make it brittle 

Unrelated, but what is the cam in the second picture? It looks like a cam that I bought used and I've been trying to figure out what brand it is.

I thought about plasti-dipping the ends of my Gigi so it wouldn't make as much noise clanging around 

I would have thought it was something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/NRC-XRC530pcs-Heat-Shrink-Tubings2/dp/B07K1XW4HN?ref_=Oct_d_omg_d_3328264011&pd_rd_w=kORSq&content-id=amzn1.sym.46bf791f-b515-48cf-a130-6644a5774fb9&pf_rd_p=46bf791f-b515-48cf-a130-6644a5774fb9&pf_rd_r=SGACH0S0R0H4J2QRR62E&pd_rd_wg=Mc9Ys&pd_rd_r=6e65c6df-516e-4bd8-b43b-4766d98d1ef6&pd_rd_i=B07K1XW4HN

eta: maybe this is actually the casing on the second cam.

1. I've used Plasti-dip successfully on wires
2. The fumes from most of these products degrade nylon and other textiles, I wouldn't use it on anything with a sling unless you replace the sling afterwards
3. Be aware that dipping the wire won't make it impervious to water and makes it impossible to visually inspect for corrosion afterwards

Henk H wrote:

Unrelated, but what is the cam in the second picture? It looks like a cam that I bought used and I've been trying to figure out what brand it is.

I believe it’s a Yates big dude. 

Ian Lauer wrote:

1. I've used Plasti-dip successfully on wires
2. The fumes from most of these products degrade nylon and other textiles, I wouldn't use it on anything with a sling unless you replace the sling afterwards
3. Be aware that dipping the wire won't make it impervious to water and makes it impossible to visually inspect for corrosion afterwards

As for the fumes, I would plan to put some plastic around the sling to limit its exposure to the fumes.

Good point on the corrosion. I live in Idaho so not a huge concern but definitely something to think about. 

Michael Abend wrote:

As for the fumes, I would plan to put some plastic around the sling to limit its exposure to the fumes.

Although the fumes may or not make a significant difference, it's a good idea to be careful just in case.

However a better approach I think would be to put other textile (old cloths etc.) around the sling, rather than plastic bag or similar. The bag only works as long as it is airtight, since it's probably not going to absorb much. Rags you don't care about however would absorb particules and likely be more effective at protecting the sling?

FWIW the coating flakes off the Merlins pretty quick.

Edit: and is normal plastidip itself.

Also, although Plasti-dip did stick for a while, it eventually came off. I don't think I would do it again

Desert Rock Sports wrote:

FWIW the coating flakes off the Merlins pretty quick.

Good to know. Anyone have ideas of better alternatives?

I'd be worried about fumes. I'm not a chemist...but good to be paranoid. I'm assuming the point of the plastic on cam loops is to reduce wear on the sling, and to increase the circumference to make the wire/cable less prone to cutting the sling under load.

I've never had a cam loop plastic rip, is the cam too old? 

But if you really want something thickening the wire, you have a few options: wrap it in string:

https://goodoldboat.com/dress-up-the-steering-wheel/

or plastic beading lace:

https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Lace-Crafts-Beginners-Boondoggle/dp/1574213679/

These might make the sling hang unevenly...and be a little tricky to tie. Wrapping knife handles and steel rings with string or lace is something I've seen a lot of in the western leather working stores, like Tandy Leather.

Electrical tape is a good fix! My friend used electrical tape for the exposed cable, and I didn’t trust it. I called Metolius and they said that electrical tape was a good solution to fix the plastic coating. I whipped on the blue metolius mastercam that was fixed this way, and the sling was fine.

Try Sooth-on they make some two part flexible plastic that will be a lot more resistant than plastic dip. Not the rubber.  You can dip it or you can brush it. Also color pink and you will know it is your cam. 

If you are in Boulder area I could give you some. Minus the pink