Amiga.org
Amiga computer related discussion => Amiga Hardware Issues and discussion => Topic started by: stefcep2 on March 20, 2010, 11:41:30 PM
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As many of you would know Retrobrite is a mixture that can be used to whiten plastics that have yellowed, like Amiga cases and keys. The folks at EAB have an in-depth sticky on it.
Just like to say it works. And how!! Bought some "Creme developer" which contains 12% hydrogen peroxide from cosmetics shop (Priceline ,can also get from any hair dresser), added a pinch of washing powder with Oxy (dissolved first in a bit of water) and then applied the pasty mix to my A1200 case, A4000 front face, A4000 keyboard, with a small paint brush, left it in the sun for 8 hours, and they all ended up looking white. As in "looks new" white. Amazing!!!
The keys I removed individually and put then in a glass jar, added some tap water to the mix and left out in sun. Took longer to whiten-probably because the mixture was diluted. Also came out "as new white".
Really simple, cheap ( $5 for 200 ml of peroxide 12%, $10 for 1 litre, and $5 for 1 litre of oxy washing powder, far more than you'll need), and EFFECTIVE. Kudos to the folks at EAB.
Also did it to a SNES I had, worked a treat.
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Post pics here! http://www.amiga.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47820
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Wow, that 12% Creme Developer from Priceline works? I bought some of that because it was the strongest peroxide available, but I didn't think it'd be strong enough to use for RetroBright. I still used it in a tub when I cleaned my Amigas, but next time I'll try the same method with the Oxy and leaving it outside for a day, thanks!
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If you need stronger peroxide get a 5% and boil it down, peroxide boils higher than water so teh water will boil out. Be careful though.
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The keys I removed individually and put then in a glass jar, added some tap water to the mix and left out in sun. Took longer to whiten-probably because the mixture was diluted. Also came out "as new white".
Really simple, cheap ( $5 for 200 ml of peroxide 12%, $10 for 1 litre, and $5 for 1 litre of oxy washing powder, far more than you'll need), and EFFECTIVE. Kudos to the folks at EAB.
Also did it to a SNES I had, worked a treat.
With the keys, do you have a problem with the Letter maskings coming off ?, or being bleached ?
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If you need stronger peroxide get a 5% and boil it down, peroxide boils higher than water so teh water will boil out. Be careful though.
To be perfectly honest, I would not feel comfortable with trying to self concentrate peroxide on the cooker.., That stuff can be.... "Explosive", which is probably an under estimate of the result.
It can corrode skin (Think acid) in higher purities. The Nazi's experimented with strong Hydrogen peroxide as a way of killing (Jews).
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Wow, that 12% Creme Developer from Priceline works? I bought some of that because it was the strongest peroxide available, but I didn't think it'd be strong enough to use for RetroBright. I still used it in a tub when I cleaned my Amigas, but next time I'll try the same method with the Oxy and leaving it outside for a day, thanks!
yeah man, take it from me and Tone007. throwin the crap out in direct sunlight is the way to go !its like the 6 million dollar man.
faster, stronger, better
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With the keys, do you have a problem with the Letter maskings coming off ?, or being bleached ?
None whatsover!!. Look BRAND NEW. I was surpised how the dark functions keys came out, I didn't think they were as yellowed, but they were, I can really see the yellow in the couple I kept for comparison.
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Wow, that 12% Creme Developer from Priceline works? I bought some of that because it was the strongest peroxide available, but I didn't think it'd be strong enough to use for RetroBright. I still used it in a tub when I cleaned my Amigas, but next time I'll try the same method with the Oxy and leaving it outside for a day, thanks!
And you don't need ti use xanthum gum or glycerol. Just brush on the mix of Creme developer with Sards Oxy or White King Oxy washing powder dissolved in a bit of water(Safeway, $5-$6 for 1 L )
It does dry out however, and every couple of hours I just went over the case with a moist brush.
I think it works quickly here in Aus because of our UV levels. We don't have the highest rates of skin cancer in the world for nothing!
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Here's some photos.
I didn't take a photo of the case before I retro-brighted it, but it ws yellow like the keys.
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Ooh la la! That looks awesome :)
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Very nice, I'll have to make some soon for my old A2k keyboard I use for my 3000D
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Sunlight and the oxy seem to be the vital ingredients.
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Sunlight and the oxy seem to be the vital ingredients.
It's actually quite interesting. Assuming they got the chemistry right, it's one of the few applications in which hydrogen peroxide is used as a reducing agent rather than the far more common application as a strong oxidising agent (for example, it can be dissociated into OH radicals which are pretty much second only to fluorine in terms of oxidising power).
By the sound of it, the reaction with the bromine-oxygen species present may be similar to the one you get when reacting it with hypochlorite (one method of producing oxygen for small scale lab purposes) in which it is also a reducing agent.
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Sunlight and the oxy seem to be the vital ingredients.
Yes, from the EAB thread....
UV light (component of sunlight) breaks down the bromine bonds, and Oxy to make the environment *EXTREMELY* hungry for oxygen. Thus accelerating the process. or thats how i understood it.
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If you need stronger peroxide get a 5% and boil it down, peroxide boils higher than water so teh water will boil out. Be careful though.
You guys are going to have your neighbors thinking you are running a meth lab.
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You guys are going to have your neighbors thinking you are running a meth lab.
No they are more likely going to think I am a loon. Laying out and painting old computer parts on the lawn. LOL Already got some weird stares! :banana:
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You guys are going to have your neighbors thinking you are running a meth lab.
Actually if you were to try it in the UK you'd likely get arrested as a terrorist.
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I remember when I made the first trial and reported here.
Trolls coming from everywhere. Now that the knowledge is settled I'm satisfied users the method to keep their Amigas cosmetically mint.
F-word you, trolls! I was right! And still am.
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I remember when I made the first trial and reported here.
Trolls coming from everywhere. Now that the knowledge is settled I'm satisfied users the method to keep their Amigas cosmetically mint.
F-word you, trolls! I was right! And still am.
what was the first trial?
Ive always been anti-pasteygoo and go straight for dumping and submerging.
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Hey, it works! I started half way through the day and didn't submerge the cases or anything, I just brushed on some of this Retr0Bright misture, left it out in the sun for the afternoon, brushed a little extra on every now and then, and this is how it turned out:
(http://www.amiga.org/gallery/images/5087/1_A500BeforeAndAfterRetr0Bright.jpg)
Next time I want to use a plastic tub, start earlier and pay more attention to it during the day, but I'm still pretty pleased with the results!
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Actually if you were to try it in the UK you'd likely get arrested as a terrorist.
Well, depending on how south asian / middle eastern you appear anyway. If you are white, you can join a far right organisation and stockpile weapons and explosives and still only be charged under some arcane law dating back to Guy Fawkes (well, not really but still...) rather than the new anti-terrorism laws :-/
Seriously though, the peroxide strength you need for this is available perfectly legally in the UK. Hairdressers buy the stuff all the time.