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General Category => Other retro => Topic started by: Gryzor on 14:25, 26 June 12

Title: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 14:25, 26 June 12
This one sounds much easier, though I don't know about how permanent it is:
http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=31469 (http://www.amibay.com/showthread.php?t=31469)

Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 15:00, 26 June 12
Oh, got to try that! The Schwarzkopf products are easier to get than the Retrobrite ingredients and are safer and easier to work with too.

That said, call me mad, but a few weeks ago, I spent the entire weekend trying to make white plastic go yellow :D I needed to add a panel to an old computer that had yellowed quite a bit. The owner didn't want it bleached back to white, but wanted the new panel to have the same amount of yellowing so that it matched the computer :D

Bryce.
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 15:03, 26 June 12
"Hey, here's my car, it's missing a wheel, but no biggie, I like it like that, so in fixing it please do remove the other three wheels.".


Ohhhh-kaaaay...


But yes, those are much easier to get. Must make a trip to the super market. Dunno about the "safer" part, I don't remember anything being particularly biohazardous...?
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 15:35, 26 June 12
No, the problem was that it was an Atari 800XL with yellowing. If you used retrobrite on it, it would end up being whiter than the original was, so he decided the yellow/cream colour was preferable.

The retrobrite mixture includes Hydrogen peroxide (12% in it's "pure" form) which may not be classed as a biohazardous chemical, but it's definitely not something you want to take lightly.


Bryce.


Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 15:39, 26 June 12
I thought you use peroxide for hair dye, too :D


Yes, you're right. Here in Greece hydrogen peroxide solutions are harmless, but I forgot this is not always the case; my dad had told me how, when studying in Switzerland he needed to apply some on his hand. Not knowing it was really dense he just used it as it was. As a result he was left with a white spot for several years afterwards...


Ah yes, I can see the point about the 800XL. As with three-wheeled cars (what was the British one called? Robin-something?)
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 16:15, 26 June 12
Reliant Robin.

Bryce.
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 16:19, 26 June 12
My GOD what a silly name. But it figures, I guess :D
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: beaker on 16:40, 26 June 12
Please, it was an awsome car  :laugh:

Jeremy drives a Reliant Robin (series 15, episode 1) - BBC Top Gear (http://www.topgear.com/uk/videos/clarkson-tips-over-reliant-robin)

Going to have to give that solution a try on my brown Atari 1040Stf I bought a few weeks back, nice find Gryzor  :D
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: EgoTrip on 15:51, 27 June 12
Quote from: Gryzor on 15:39, 26 June 12
I thought you use peroxide for hair dye, too :D


Yep, and the company who make that stuff also actually make hair dyes
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 17:48, 27 June 12
@beaker: ohhh I think I've watched that. Also, wasn't it the car that was the arch-nemesis of Mr Bean?
@Egotrip: I thought those two *were* hair-dying products?
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: TotO on 23:19, 27 June 12
Quote from: Bryce on 15:00, 26 June 12That said, call me mad, but a few weeks ago, I spent the entire weekend trying to make white plastic go yellow :D I needed to add a panel to an old computer that had yellowed quite a bit.
Using Tea?  ???
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: beaker on 10:08, 28 June 12
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:48, 27 June 12
@beaker: ohhh I think I've watched that. Also, wasn't it the car that was the arch-nemesis of Mr Bean?

That's right, blimey I can't believe I forgot about it in Mr Bean, thanks for reminding me  ;D
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 12:56, 28 June 12
Quote from: TotO on 23:19, 27 June 12
Using Tea?  ???

No, I used heat (an oven) and a UV lamp. It worked a bit, but it was totally unpredictable :(

Bryce.
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 14:17, 28 June 12
Quote from: Bryce on 12:56, 28 June 12
No, I used heat (an oven) and a UV lamp. It worked a bit, but it was totally unpredictable :(

Bryce.


As in, it melted and then set your house on fire? Or did it turn #FFB5C5?
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: ced64k on 15:28, 28 June 12
I'm not 100% sure but I think theses products content hydrogen peroxide too.

Edit: Igora Royal = hydrogen peroxide and  Igora Vario Blond = bleach
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 19:23, 28 June 12
Yes, they do, that's what we're talking about!
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Devlin on 23:26, 28 June 12
Better to be buying hair care products than "pure" chemicals which could probably get you put on $government's watch list...
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 08:55, 29 June 12
Quote from: Gryzor on 14:17, 28 June 12
As in, it melted and then set your house on fire? Or did it turn #FFB5C5?

No it did actually go yellowish but not evenly, I only heated it to about 50°C so not even close to melting, then it went under the UV lamp. Some parts were more of a #dbcf9e, whereas other parts were more of a fff1b8 and some parts didn't seem to change at all. The problem seems to be getting the amount of UV light evenly spread across the entire part. You can only do this by having an array of lights or being further away from the light source, which then means that it would take months to work.

Bryce.
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 10:00, 29 June 12
Maybe try a sunbed?
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 10:14, 29 June 12
Our local Sun Studio has a sign: "No food, drinks or 8-bit computers may be taken into the cabins" :D

Bryce.
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Gryzor on 10:21, 29 June 12
Drat. What if you put a 68k in there, a-la Atari Jaguar or CPC472?
Title: Re: New method for restoring yellowed retro plastics?
Post by: Bryce on 11:46, 29 June 12
I thought of that. I disconnected D7 so that it's 7-bit, but I'm not sure that will work.

Bryce.
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