Boiling parts?

[KRob]

Got myself a Traxxas TRX-1 at last and seen on a couple of threads that that original white plastic can be a bit brittle. As this will be a runner (hopefully ready for the Iconic Revival) it's spooked me a bit.
So I plan on giving the plastics a boil to soften them up a little - but is there a secret to how long to do this for? Depends on the plastic I guess but an idea would be good - unless it makes no difference how long.

[Peakey]

Apparently boiling helps the plastic absorb water, wether it dose or not is another thing.
I did it to a load of my new plastics for my Procat and was told to bring the water to the boil put the parts in then take if the heat and leave them in the pan as the water cools.
Not sure it made a difference but worth a try

[KRob]

Thanks for that Justin - I'll give it a go and see what happens

[MattW]

What could possibly go wrong!!

[mr. ed]

It should be fine for the traxxas parts: they are nylon and won't suffer from the heat. And it's correct that the more moist it contains the less brittle nylon will be

For other plastics it could be of no use; if they don't contain water, or for some plastics even harmful. Some plastic is stress formed (example Parmas kydex bumpers) or has a lower melting point (YZ10 bulkhead caps)... and the part will loose it's correct shape.

People used to cook the Tamiya plastic parts back in the days too, but with their palstic it would only release some residual stress from the injection moulding process

People who have experimented with dying nylon parts can tell you more regarding the time. Typically the dye will go deeper and last longer , the longer the parts are kept in the (boiling) water.