Replacement Rubber Bands?

SprinkleOtter

I was wondering if anybody here has ever found a replacement for 4107153 Rubber band. Mine have a problem with drying out and splitting. Bricklink doesn't appear to have a large number available for a reasonable price.

I've found incredibly similar ones made for jewelry of some sort, but they don't seem to come in black, and I don't think someone buying a Turaga off ebay would appreciate Vakama having a pink rubber band. :P

bobabricks

I don't think a buyer would be pleased to get a fake black rubber band either. I suggest sticking to the real thing, especially if you plan on selling.

SprinkleOtter

The thing is, the "real thing" doesn't exist in the wild, as I just said. Of course I would tell the buyer that it is a replacement.

c666187

You might try some colored elastics from the orthodontist office?

Aleydita

I'm not familiar with any Lego build that uses this band so I'm not sure how suitable a replacement they'd be, but you'll probably be able to find a flexible washer seal gasket with the right diameter.

SprinkleOtter

c666187 said:

You might try some colored elastics from the orthodontist office?

I've already found colored rubber bands- I was looking for black or white versions.

SprinkleOtter

Aleydita said:

I'm not familiar with any Lego build that uses this band so I'm not sure how suitable a replacement they'd be, but you'll probably be able to find a flexible washer seal gasket with the right diameter.

Thanks for the suggestion- I'll look into them.

TheBigLegoski

@SprinkleOtter
Have you tried contacting Lego customer service?
They might be able to provide you with new ones, if they still have them. I don't know if and how much they would charge you, but if they still have those rubber bands, you should be able to obtain some from them. Maybe they are making similar, or the same rubber bands, but use a different element number, which happens (I don't know how) often.

Maybe this suggestion is utterly useless, but I see the one(s) you need have a 13 MM diameter. This set:
 http://brickset.com/sets/70169-1/Agent-Stealth-Patrol
has 26 MM diameter 'V-belts', though those are in blue. Maybe you can use those, if you can't find anything better.
Though if it is only for the purpose of selling, and only the originals will suffice, then blue ones which you wind double is not good either?!

SprinkleOtter

TheBigLegoski said:

@SprinkleOtter
Have you tried contacting Lego customer service?
They might be able to provide you with new ones, if they still have them. I don't know if and how much they would charge you, but if they still have those rubber bands, you should be able to obtain some from them. Maybe they are making similar, or the same rubber bands, but use a different element number, which happens (I don't know how) often.

Maybe this suggestion is utterly useless, but I see the one(s) you need have a 13 MM diameter. This set:
 http://brickset.com/sets/70169-1/Agent-Stealth-Patrol
has 26 MM diameter 'V-belts', though those are in blue. Maybe you can use those, if you can't find anything better.
Though if it is only for the purpose of selling, and only the originals will suffice, then blue ones which you wind double is not good either?!

I have not tried contacting LEGO- Brickset says that they aren't available, and that's generally correct. I haven't seen anything similar used since- all rubber bands have shifted to the relatively better "glossy" style.

I am using them for myself and resale. Replacements would generally be fine, but brightly colored bands on Whenua would look a little stupid, wouldn't it? :P

madforLEGO

LEGO CS can only help if the set the part is from is recent, otherwise they will likely offer an alternative, but not that part.

77ncaachamps

Be honest with the potential buyers.

they probably understand that with age comes frailty and possible cracking resulting in broken bands.

CCC

SprinkleOtter said:

The thing is, the "real thing" doesn't exist in the wild, as I just said. Of course I would tell the buyer that it is a replacement.

The real thing does exist in the wild. There are currently over 1500 new and used ones on BL in black. I don't know what you mean by large quantity, but one US seller has 45 of them at 45c (for new ones). I doubt LEGO would be any cheaper, even if they could supply them.

monkey

Another solution would be to see if dogs' rubber bands could be of use - these are the bands that people use on poodles etc for dog shows. They are normally colourful, but might come in black for use on black poodles.

monkey

There you go just an example, they do have black colour but research other shops for better prices/appropriate sizes:

http://showoffproducts.com/bands.html