Plexus -- The Holy Grail for Amiga plastics?

[Damion]

I've been using this product for a few years (moslty on my motorcycle shields and car instrument cluster plastics), and it's an absolutely FANTASTIC product, regarded highly by many friends of mine, and in the motorcycle/car detailing circles I frequent.

BUT -- I never thought of using it on amiga cases until today.

Plexus

I found this quote rather interesting:

"Plexus protects plastic more effectively than ordinary cleaners. Because Plexus seals the pores in plastic surfaces with a micro-thin layer of shiny, protective wax, plastic becomes resistant to debris, oil, scratches, and eventual yellowing. And its anti-static properties repel dust and lint."

I'm going to give it a try on one of my amigas this eve and see how it works. In the past, I've always used a soft cloth (microfiber) and a little distilled water, kept them covered, out of the sun and away from fluorescents. (I have used a little alcohol and/or vinegar at times for heavier cleaning of computers I acquire, but wipe again immediately with distilled.) I've yet to have one (that I've cared for since new) go yellow, but a little added protection certainly can't hurt.

cheers

Damion

[odin]

So basically it does the same as a transparent layer of paint..it keeps the oxygen away from the plastic.

Is that enough to stop UV-yellowing? I think oxygen is needed for that proces.

[Damion]

OK... I gave this a shot first on my laptop, with great results. The casing has a soft, muted "new" look after application. I tried it on the LCD screen (tested on my work laptop, LOL), and surprisingly the display seems to look much nicer -- and it was already clean.

Same results on my A500 and 1084. Not greasy or shiny, just appears closer to new again. Cleans well. I'm a pretty picky guy, and I give it 5 stars! :-P

Naturally, I can't vouch for anything long-term, other than to say I trust it with things more valuable than my amigas, and so far it has worked great. (After cleaning with Plexus, my helmet screen is so clear I can't even tell it's there.)

(BTW -- m/c dealerships may be the best place to find this stuff locally.)

[weirdami]

@-D-

I'm going to give it a try on one of my amigas this eve and see how it works.

See you in ten years for the results.

[Damion]

odin wrote:
So basically it does the same as a transparent layer of paint..it keeps the oxygen away from the plastic.

Is that enough to stop UV-yellowing? I think oxygen is needed for that proces.

That would make sense. I found a related article about plastic yellowing (mentioning the role of oxygen) here.

@weirdami

True, as I stated above, long-term effects are unknown. However, my understanding is the product doesn't contain any chemicals known to harm plastic, or cause yellowing.

[TjLaZer]

Where is this for sale in the states?  I will try a bottle!

[murple]

I'm not sure whether or not oxygen is needed for the sort of yellowing in Amigas. Plastics differ chemically, so, I suppose it depends on the kind of plastic and the yellowing process that affects Amiga plastics.

We apparently DO know that UV light is a factor in yellowing of Amigas (and the later Commodore 64Cs and 128s)... so I suspect keeping your computer out of sunlight will be quite effective. Either keep it in a room away from the window, or put an opaque cover over it when not in use.

Assuming this stuff doesnt ruin the look or feel of your Amiga, there's probably no harm in trying to see if it helps.

[Damion]

@Tj

I pick it up at a BMW motorcycle dealer, though I've also spotted it at a Honda dealer. I think you'll dig it!

Assuming this stuff doesnt ruin the look or feel of your Amiga, there's probably no harm in trying to see if it helps.

Aside from what it cleans, there's a barely perceptible difference in the looks department. Maybe a bit "brighter" or "cleaner", but it's difficult to tell. (You can kind of make out the wax coating.)

I've since tried it on an A1200 case that had some very minor scratches/scuffing, and it did reduce their visibility by a small amount. I also tried it on some yellowed (not from dirt/tobacco) plastic, and as expected, no difference aside from looking a bit cleaner.

I agree that UV is the primary cause of yellowing on our machines -- in that regard Plexus may not provide much benefit, unless oxygen still has something to do with that kind of reaction. Products which do contain UV blockers leave an undesirable finish, unless you dilute them -- in which case the UV protection is probably limited/compromised.

Keeping them out of the sun is certainly the best thing, cleaning with distilled water and maybe a small amount of vinegar from time to time is no doubt safe. (Using soft cloths/microfibers to prevent abrasive damage.) I think the benefits of Plexus may be in visible scratch reduction, as well as a small amount of oxidative protection from the wax coating. The anti-static properties may also be a good thing. I figure I'll continue with my normal routine, and top with a light coat of Plexus for a little added protection.



 

[LoadWB]

I have a can of this.  I bought it at a local air festival for about $8 a can (I think.)

Anyway, it does little on already yellowed plastics, but I have sprayed it on non-yellowed plastics (Amiga and Commodore) stuff and will await the results as well.

BTW, I just found a small treasure trove of Amiga equipment.  The guy had about a dozen A500s, two A2000s, a bunch of A500HD8+, a couple of Trump Cards (I'm looking forward to playing with these,) two A600s, and an A1200.

Here's the catch, they were all stored in a metal shed.  Most of it is HEAVILY yellowed.  Based on this, I would assume that perhaps extreme heat (in excess of 100F in a metal shed in Florida) and oxygen alone is enough to cause yellowing.

[murple]

I wouldn't rule out dirt and mold causing yellowing in that case. I'd also probably open all of those up and clean the hell out of them inside and out haha.

[LoadWB]

YEah, they're full of roach crap :-(  I'm probably hoping against hope.

[Hodgkinson]

Hmmm. I wonder wether the material that A1200 cases are made from is more resistant to UV yellowing than A500 cases?

I have two A500's, both severly yellowed, and two A1200's, both in pristine condition.

Any ideas?

Hodgkinson.

[murple]

Well, the 500s are several years older than the 1200... so it could just be the time factor.

[Damion]

murple wrote:
Well, the 500s are several years older than the 1200... so it could just be the time factor.

Another interesting point (something raised in the "snes" article I linked to) is the possibility of a poor mix of chemicals/materials during production. I have an old "breadbox" C64, looks perfect aside from the lettering on the "3" key... which has yellowed, yet the rest is fine. I've also seen a few A1200s with only a few yellowed keys. :shrug:

[amiga92570]

I don't know what causes it, but not one of the amigas I own has turned yellow. All my 500's, 600's, 1200's are original biege/white color.