Where to get replacements for vintage rubber bands?

[NathanR]

I recently found my copy of the 8002 Star Wars Destroyer Droid, and some of the black rubber bands have become dry, brittle, and started to crack. Since they are a crucial part of the mechanism, I'd like to get some replacements. However, Lego stopped making the black rubber bands around 2006-7, so any rubber bands I get on bricklink will be at least 15 years old and probably just as fragile as the ones I have now. 

Are there any non-Lego alternatives that you could recommend?

Or at least, detailed specs for the nominal rubber band size for set 8002?

[Stereo]

The sizes I have should be medium & small (from 8266,  8509) and are ~14mm inner diameter, same as the current small white ones, and ~19mm, with 1.5mm square section.  I also have a thicker one (from 8720?) of 19mm inner diameter with 2mm square section.  I'm not sure Lego currently uses 19mm, they seem to trust the white ones to stretch a lot.

[SpacePolice89]

I remember when I was a kid the spring from the forklift arm from 6542 broke and we replaced it with a rubber band from a friends dental braces. It was super durable and several years later it was still working. 

[1963maniac]

This is a needed topic. I hope some solutions are shared here.

 

[Jeroen vW]

There is an earlier topic about rubber bands sizes.

 

On the well known chinese site there are a lot of rubber bands available. If you search lego rubber bands you get plenty results for the white red yellow and blue ones. Good prices. The black ones are a little harder, but if you work at it, you can find a affordable replacement.