Wipers - shave vs change
Discussion
stickleback123 said:
This is the sort of straight to landfill s
te they sell to old fools in the Betterware catalogue. I think skimping on spending money on the system that lets you actually see where you are going when you drive in the rain is unwise.
Agree. Seems a very JML typre product. I've bought new wipers and not been able to get the old one off (normally happens on rear metal ones) and I've pulled the tensioning bars and inserted the new rubber into the old frames. That's a reasonable bodge, not shaving.te they sell to old fools in the Betterware catalogue. I think skimping on spending money on the system that lets you actually see where you are going when you drive in the rain is unwise. stickleback123 said:
This is the sort of straight to landfill ste they sell to old fools in the Betterware catalogue. I think skimping on spending money on the system that lets you actually see where you are going when you drive in the rain is unwise.
TBF arguably chucking out entire wipers when they can be renewed is even worse for landfill etc.te they sell to old fools in the Betterware catalogue. I think skimping on spending money on the system that lets you actually see where you are going when you drive in the rain is unwise. However, no I've never shaved the wipers. I think the best solution is what a number of OEMs do where they just sell the replacement rubber, so you keep your existing wiper arm.
Obviously these days it's cheaper to just get a set of new wipers with rubbers fitted off ebay, and chuck the old ones.
I also tend to give wipers a wipe down with some rubbing alcohol as that seems to revive them somewhat, but obviously won't restore completely ruined ones.
Once upon a time I would replace the rubber blade using a refill kit from Halfords. (remember those?)
Now, I just wouldn't bother - decent blades are pretty cheap online, often don't lend themselves to replacing the rubber only, and tend to fail by the rubber itself splitting, rather than going blunt. In the past few years, there's precisely no sets I would have been able to save with that tool.
Now, I just wouldn't bother - decent blades are pretty cheap online, often don't lend themselves to replacing the rubber only, and tend to fail by the rubber itself splitting, rather than going blunt. In the past few years, there's precisely no sets I would have been able to save with that tool.
shtu said:
Once upon a time I would replace the rubber blade using a refill kit from Halfords. (remember those?)
Now, I just wouldn't bother - decent blades are pretty cheap online, often don't lend themselves to replacing the rubber only, and tend to fail by the rubber itself splitting, rather than going blunt. In the past few years, there's precisely no sets I would have been able to save with that tool.
I remember those. Filling stations also sold a cheap universal option, that you could cut to length to fit your car.Now, I just wouldn't bother - decent blades are pretty cheap online, often don't lend themselves to replacing the rubber only, and tend to fail by the rubber itself splitting, rather than going blunt. In the past few years, there's precisely no sets I would have been able to save with that tool.
I just bought something similar for my classic, so I can reuse the 1971 spec chrome wipers.
Wipers can fail to wipe properly because they have road grime, oils particularly, adhering to them. A shave might give some benefit, or maybe not, but a very soapy sponge definitely works very well.
They can also fail because the rubber has taken a set, has gone hard, or is cracking. No shave will help.
Therefore in lieu of a shaver I will stick to a soap and sponge for as long as possible, then replace.
They can also fail because the rubber has taken a set, has gone hard, or is cracking. No shave will help.
Therefore in lieu of a shaver I will stick to a soap and sponge for as long as possible, then replace.
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