I decided to grab a bottle of Rain-X on a colleague's recommendation. I applied it this afternoon a little carelessly and my finger tips are now somewhat.. well lets us say "smooth with little resistance". This is going to be an issue tonight as I'm heading out for a birthday celebration to the pub, etc. and I don't want to be dropping pints everywhere (conversely though it may help with the ladies... or maybe they'll just think I use hand cream (which I don't)).

I've tried everything from white spirit to just plain old scrubbing and I still feel a little slippy... Either it's all in my head or this stuff really doesn't want to come off.. Any suggestions?

Cut a potato in half and rub your fingers over that.

Quote from amp88 :

Cut a potato in half and rub your fingers over that.

I'm still trying to decide if you're taking the piss or not...

The very concept has made me laugh though!

The way I'm figuring it is that potatoes can be used as a cheap substitute to rain-x (because of the starch), so if you put them together by some strange coincidence they'll cancel each other out and restore the balance of the universe.

Short of that, I'll have made someone stick their fingers in a potato. I think it's a win win

ok... so whats rain-x ?

Quote from franky500 :

ok... so whats rain-x ?

Maybe he was trying to 'dramatically improve wet weather driving visibility'

http://www.sundrybuzz.com/wp-c ... uploads/2006/11/rainx.jpg

Quote from amp88 :

The way I'm figuring it is that potatoes can be used as a cheap substitute to rain-x (because of the starch), so if you put them together by some strange coincidence they'll cancel each other out and restore the balance of the universe.

I remember someone once asking how to get the smell of bleach off their hands, and someone else recommended lemon juice. Apparently it worked, but the next question was how to get the smell of lemon juice off. The answer?

It's a treatment for windscreens, which helps disperse water. The idea is that you treat the window and then buff it out so it's clearer, which leaves a very fine layer of a waxy sort of substance, then when it rains you don't need to use your wipers as much (over about 30 mph). It's supposedly awesome on motorways, which tends to be where I do a fair bit of my driving

Quote from the_angry_angel :

It's supposedly awesome on motorways, which tends to be where I do a fair bit of my driving

I can attest that Rain-X IS awesome on motorways. You'd be surprised how well it works. I guess it depends partly on the airflow over particular vehicle's windscreen, but I find that I hardly have to use my wipers at all after using the stuff. Well worth the trouble of putting it on.

well at least now i know .. not that it really helps you out karl.. but i am much happier that i now know what it is Thank You.

Acetone (in nail polish remover) is an effective solvent, for many substances.

Quote from the_angry_angel :

It's a treatment for windscreens, which helps disperse water. The idea is that you treat the window and then buff it out so it's clearer, which leaves a very fine layer of a waxy sort of substance, then when it rains you don't need to use your wipers as much (over about 30 mph). It's supposedly awesome on motorways, which tends to be where I do a fair bit of my driving

It works great. I use it on my windscreen, at motorway speeds you virtually don't have to use the wipers.

Maybe using the stuff you use to remove glue?

It isn't something on your fingers, it's what isn't there that's the problem.

Rain-X is just denatured alcohol. You took off all the oils in the skin of your fingertips.

It'll be fine in a bit. Nothing much you can really do.

Quote from the_angry_angel :

It's a treatment for windscreens, which helps disperse water. The idea is that you treat the window and then buff it out so it's clearer, which leaves a very fine layer of a waxy sort of substance, then when it rains you don't need to use your wipers as much (over about 30 mph). It's supposedly awesome on motorways, which tends to be where I do a fair bit of my driving

The anti-fog is also very good, especially for the inside of racing helmets. What makes Rain-X special is I've never heard any of their products not doing exactly what they say they do in a market full of useless products sold on marketing bullshit and nonsense.

I would go for the nail varnish remover as well...if that fails, grab a can of "brake dust remover" (it's usually just trichlorethylene!) that shifts anything! Failing that, try abrasive measures...fairly fine (400 grain) wet'n'dry paper...

Other possible solutions...

Wear a pair of latex gloves...will provide necessary grip without losing too much feel...

Amputate fingers...that WILL get rid of it, but is a bit too permanent!

Quote from Lateralus :

It isn't something on your fingers, it's what isn't there that's the problem.

Rain-X is just denatured alcohol. You took off all the oils in the skin of your fingertips.

It'll be fine in a bit. Nothing much you can really do.

QFT If you leave them for a bit, and just do some normal tasks you would do with your hands, then it shouldn't take more than a couple of hours for your fingers to feel 'normal' again.

Quote from JamesF1 :

just do some normal tasks you would do with your hands

... :hide:

I think I know a few sites that could aide with that one.

Quote from dawesdust_12 :

I think I know a few sites that could aide with that one.

:jawdrop:

How DARE you make references to such websites without providing the proper proof to back it up!

Quote from dawesdust_12 :

... :hide:

I think I know a few sites that could aide with that one.

Yes, I believe you would!

Karl you fingers are made out of skin, and bones not glass, you should have put it on your windscreen not your fingers lol.

Had I been drinking a beverage a moment earlier, Dustin would owe me a new computer monitor and keyboard.....

Heck with Rain-X. Such a pain to wipe off the glass after it hazes off. I found something so much better.

I noticed the last few days with the rain we are getting, that water is beading up and flying off my windshield as if I had just put a fresh application of Rain-X on it. Then it dawned on me, I looked in the back seat and the empty bottle of washer fluid was back there. I filled up a couple of weeks ago and guess what the brand was? Rain-X brand. No more applying it, waiting for it to haze, trying to wipe it off only to find I can't because the car is in the harsh sun and it is best to do in the shade..... I'll be using Rain-X washer fluid from now on. I didn't have to touch the glass to clean or apply. All done with a few hits from the wiper lever.

That's good too - though you still need to apply Rain-X on the side windows if you want it to work on there too (which I do.) Still, though - I'm fairly certain that if you apply it by hand, it works a bit better.

Quote from mrodgers :

I looked in the back seat and the empty bottle of washer fluid was back there.

Underneath the empty pizza boxes and the empty bourbon bottles and the empty shotgun cartridges?

USA! USA!

Quote from thisnameistaken :

USA! USA!

You feeling alright, Kev?

LMAO Kev!

Actually, if I can recall what's back there, the washer bottle is on top since it was the last thing put in the car (purchased then washer filled in store parking lot). Underneath is.... a couple of empty cardboard boxes I picked up at work, the driver's side front plastic hubcap (yes, the car still has hubcaps, it's a 96, purchased used), a snow brush/scraper which is never used. I use my arm and coat sleeve instead. Much more effective and much faster. Also, a couple of molded parts I brought home from a trip to another molding plant that has yet to transfer up to my office. And there's a child's booster seat in there somewhere, LOL. It's too dang cold out there to be bothering with cleaning out the car. It's a POS work commuter. I couldn't care less what is in the back seat, no one would want to ride in it anyways.