Retr0bright Support Thread

[Khondar]

Well... this is the result of my first attempt. Can this be salvaged, or should I count my losses?

I applied the Retr0bright about 4 times - the first three times with a fairly thin layer @ 8 hours each under UV-Light. The last application I used a thick layer, hoping to even out the spots @ 12 hours. However, no success...

[Merlin]

Hmmm.... that doesn't look like 'bloom' to me, that looks more like flow marks made by the plastic polymer as it flowed through the mould, or possibly a badly mixed masterbatch of plastic.

@ rkauer

Rogerio mate, what's your opinion on these photos?

@ Khondar

I could be the bearer of bad news here . Those marks aren't likely to be removable if they are what I think they are. My best suggestion is to pop down to the local auto parts shop and see if they have any Ford Sahara Beige acrylic paint, as that is probably the best match for the A500 plastics and acrylic paint will be the most compatible with ABS plastic.

[Khondar]

Hi Merlin,

thank you for your feedback, I appreciate it.

I will try to save the case as per your suggestion and get the acrylic paint.

But of course I would be most interested in ideas how this happened... I guess it all started with the several attempts of beeing to cheap with the gel

I will try again on the weekend with a Commodore 64....

Thanks again!

Khondar

[rkauer]

Did you bought which kind of peroxide?

Did only used a teaspoon of oxy pre-diluted in hot water?

Those stains are common only in way too concentrated formulas, both on the peroxide side or the Vanish/Oxy/TAED.

When using the formula, please remember that slow is always better, so a low concentrated gel is better than a way too strong one.

[Khondar]

Hi, and thanks for your input!

I am using Merlin's original recipe from the wiki...

I used 15% hydrogen peroxide from the pharmacy.

I did not dilute the oxy in hot water - is that recommended? How much water should be used to dilute?

And yes, I may have used too much oxy... half a teaspoon (not 1/4) each. Would that already be considered "way too concentrated"?

[rkauer]

That's not too much Oxy, but you need to pre-dilute it in a bit of hot water.

Chances are the Oxy didn't diluted well in the cold peroxide and landed over the plastic, causing that bloom effect. But I doubt it.

What kind of peroxide you bought? You still have the flask where it came? Can you post the contents of the formula?

[nkarytia]

Khondar
Did you wash it before retr0brighting? Usually lots of dirt brings unpredictable results in the process. I had tried it on my dirty A500 and had exactly the same result.

[Khondar]

What kind of peroxide you bought? You still have the flask where it came? Can you post the contents of the formula?

I bought Vanish Oxy Action. Will check the ingredients tonight and let you know.

Did you wash it before retr0brighting?

Yes, I had in the dishwasher, "bio-setting", full cycle - but took it out before the drying process started.

[Tajmaster]

Hi all

OK, Im going to attempt to retrobright an A1200 case today lol

Ive got:

Oxyaction
600ml (approx) of 9% peroxide
Xanthum gum
Sunshine (for now!)

Im going to put around half a teaspoon of oxyaction into the peroxide (Ill do this in a bucket or something) then add the xanthum gum.

2 questions however:

1) is the amount of Oxyaction correct?
2) How much xanthum gum to I add to the mixture?

Thanks

Taj

[Khondar]

I think the problem was indeed that the oxy did not dissolve properly in the gel and therefore had different concentrations. Also, applying the gel 4 times was probably not a good idea. Now that I found a good and cheap supply for H2O2, I don't have to be too cheap with the gel

My best suggestion is to pop down to the local auto parts shop and see if they have any Ford Sahara Beige acrylic paint, as that is probably the best match for the A500 plastics and acrylic paint will be the most compatible with ABS plastic.

Well, I found the EXACT original beige colour by chance and the result was amazing. (see pics). Now I am only waiting for the keys to be done and then the final result should be acceptable. (of course I will post a pic, because we love them).

Next project: C64.

- Khondar