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- Nov 29, 2006
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Hi guys.
I just recently got my 2 dream consoles after all these years, a boxed Super Famicom and a Sega Dreamcast.
Unfortunately time she is a cruel beast, because both consoles were as yellow as my early morning urine.
A chemical in the plastic Bromine, which has fire retarding capabilities yellows the plastic over time by being exposed to UV light, and even indoor fluorescent light.
A full explanation can be found here and you get the rough idea:http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/
Firstly i would like to thank Ponder for all his help in finding a solution to yellowed plastics and his original Retr0bright gel link which is posted here:
I spent over 3 weeks testing Retr0bright gel in the different strengths and out in the sun and under UV light, and got really excellent results.
I have had to abandon the outside idea because it dried out on me in the sun and misted up under the cling film and i almost got the dreading blooming which chemically alters the texture of the plastic giving it a rough ugly appearance.
I tried the diluted hydrogen peroxide in 10,20,30 and 40 volumes and only got effective deyellowing with the 40 volume peroxide.
Do not use Peroxide creams here in SA, they contain turpenes which corrode plastic.
Don't use anything stronger then 40 volume, as its within the safe recommended guidelines of Retr0bright within 9-12 percent strength.
More isn't faster but too little peroxide volume like 10 percent takes long, trust me i did it and 4 batches of 10 volume.
I got the same results from one batch of 40 volume under UV.
To do it,i needed:
1:Coffee, cos i just woke up
2:Mad scientist lab coat to get into character.
3:My trusty Toshiba Thrive with Ponders link to the Retr0bright gel
4:40 Volume hydrogen peroxide,the diluted variety available from Clicks @R12.95 or R5.99 at Checkers Medi-rite pharmacy.(In total i used 14 bottles!, however after perfecting the mixtures 2 bottles should be sufficient.
5:Maizena aka corn starch
6:Vanish power O2, contain the TAED for Retr0bright to work.
7aint brush
8restik
9:Cling wrap
10:Aluminum foil.
11:Masking/insulation tape
12:Gloves or you WILL burn like i did ouch!
Its a new kind of pain i compare to being eaten by acid.
13:Google er Goggles or Sunglasses because they just look cooler.
14:Necessary screwdrivers.
If outside the UV for the sun would be effected, but like i said before i the mixture is allowed to dry it accelerates the power of peroxide and will burn your precious vintage plastics or fingers and ears as in my case.
I preferred doing it inside so i purchased a 1.2m fluorescent fitting at my friendly Plumstead Electrical for R90 and got a UV bulb there too for R59 and some ripcord and plug to connect the light.
I then installed cup hooks on the overhead beams in my garage and tied string onto the hooks and attached my temporary UV setup on a glass server table which worked very well.
Another advantage was that because it was a fluorescent tube instead of a blacklight bulb, it never got hot enough to warm the mixture to dry so i could raise objects right by the UV to speed things up and it worked a treat.
Right, to make Retr0bright, i followed the recipe exactly as listed but with a few improvements.
I dumped 100ml 40 vol peroxide into a glass jar and microwaved for 20 seconds.
Once it was ready i put in three tea spoons Maizena and gave it a little stir and sent it back to microwave for a further 20 seconds.
NB!When this process is complete you should have a thick white gel, and the secret here lies in the power of your microwave.
I destroyed about 5 batches of Retr0bright because the mixture was still runny when it just needed a further 10 seconds in the microwave.
Once i got that thick gel i got another little jar and dumped half a tea(not table!)spoon of Vanish power 02 into the jar with a few droplets of hot water to dissolve the granules.
This stuff does not dissolve by stirring it into the Retr0bright so please don't bother.
Once the granules have dissolved, dump it into the Ret0bright gel and stir the Retr0bright for around a minute or 2 and use while it is still warm(not hot!).
Perhaps get an ice cream bakkie under the jar because it will foam up and out of the jar!
Of course i have already disassembled my consoles and apply it straight away...
TIP: putting foil under the table or under the yellowed parts spreads the UV light better for a more even finish.
Your welcome.
Part 2 follows next post.
I just recently got my 2 dream consoles after all these years, a boxed Super Famicom and a Sega Dreamcast.
Unfortunately time she is a cruel beast, because both consoles were as yellow as my early morning urine.
A chemical in the plastic Bromine, which has fire retarding capabilities yellows the plastic over time by being exposed to UV light, and even indoor fluorescent light.
A full explanation can be found here and you get the rough idea:http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/
Firstly i would like to thank Ponder for all his help in finding a solution to yellowed plastics and his original Retr0bright gel link which is posted here:
I spent over 3 weeks testing Retr0bright gel in the different strengths and out in the sun and under UV light, and got really excellent results.
I have had to abandon the outside idea because it dried out on me in the sun and misted up under the cling film and i almost got the dreading blooming which chemically alters the texture of the plastic giving it a rough ugly appearance.
I tried the diluted hydrogen peroxide in 10,20,30 and 40 volumes and only got effective deyellowing with the 40 volume peroxide.
Do not use Peroxide creams here in SA, they contain turpenes which corrode plastic.
Don't use anything stronger then 40 volume, as its within the safe recommended guidelines of Retr0bright within 9-12 percent strength.
More isn't faster but too little peroxide volume like 10 percent takes long, trust me i did it and 4 batches of 10 volume.
I got the same results from one batch of 40 volume under UV.
To do it,i needed:
1:Coffee, cos i just woke up
2:Mad scientist lab coat to get into character.
3:My trusty Toshiba Thrive with Ponders link to the Retr0bright gel
4:40 Volume hydrogen peroxide,the diluted variety available from Clicks @R12.95 or R5.99 at Checkers Medi-rite pharmacy.(In total i used 14 bottles!, however after perfecting the mixtures 2 bottles should be sufficient.
5:Maizena aka corn starch
6:Vanish power O2, contain the TAED for Retr0bright to work.
7
aint brush8
restik9:Cling wrap
10:Aluminum foil.
11:Masking/insulation tape
12:Gloves or you WILL burn like i did ouch!
Its a new kind of pain i compare to being eaten by acid.
13:Google er Goggles or Sunglasses because they just look cooler.
14:Necessary screwdrivers.
If outside the UV for the sun would be effected, but like i said before i the mixture is allowed to dry it accelerates the power of peroxide and will burn your precious vintage plastics or fingers and ears as in my case.
I preferred doing it inside so i purchased a 1.2m fluorescent fitting at my friendly Plumstead Electrical for R90 and got a UV bulb there too for R59 and some ripcord and plug to connect the light.
I then installed cup hooks on the overhead beams in my garage and tied string onto the hooks and attached my temporary UV setup on a glass server table which worked very well.
Another advantage was that because it was a fluorescent tube instead of a blacklight bulb, it never got hot enough to warm the mixture to dry so i could raise objects right by the UV to speed things up and it worked a treat.
Right, to make Retr0bright, i followed the recipe exactly as listed but with a few improvements.
I dumped 100ml 40 vol peroxide into a glass jar and microwaved for 20 seconds.
Once it was ready i put in three tea spoons Maizena and gave it a little stir and sent it back to microwave for a further 20 seconds.
NB!When this process is complete you should have a thick white gel, and the secret here lies in the power of your microwave.
I destroyed about 5 batches of Retr0bright because the mixture was still runny when it just needed a further 10 seconds in the microwave.
Once i got that thick gel i got another little jar and dumped half a tea(not table!)spoon of Vanish power 02 into the jar with a few droplets of hot water to dissolve the granules.
This stuff does not dissolve by stirring it into the Retr0bright so please don't bother.
Once the granules have dissolved, dump it into the Ret0bright gel and stir the Retr0bright for around a minute or 2 and use while it is still warm(not hot!).
Perhaps get an ice cream bakkie under the jar because it will foam up and out of the jar!
Of course i have already disassembled my consoles and apply it straight away...
TIP: putting foil under the table or under the yellowed parts spreads the UV light better for a more even finish.
Your welcome.
Part 2 follows next post.
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