Retr0bright Support Thread

[Methanoid]

That Electron looks like the normal colour to me.

Wot he said.. Electrons are cream coloured.. not white!

 

[roy_bates]

if you want a reference point just pop a key off and look under it,there normally the original colour from underneath.same with cases.

 

[ZeroPage]

I was thinking of putting it all in a transparent plastic bag (like for the freezer) and hang it in the sun..

10 volumes is the same as 3% which is what I've used before. It works fine, it just takes longer.

Those things should get you started, however you need to consider if you want to thicken it somehow. You'll find that you will need quite a lot of it unless you're only treating small items. Also remember that plastic/glass might not be very UV transparent if you stick the items in there.

 

[Murugan]

I was thinking of putting it all in a transparent plastic bag (like for the freezer) and hang it in the sun..

10 volumes is the same as 3% which is what I've used before. It works fine, it just takes longer.

Those things should get you started, however you need to consider if you want to thicken it somehow. You'll find that you will need quite a lot of it unless you're only treating small items. Also remember that plastic/glass might not be very UV transparent if you stick the items in there.

At this very moment there are 2 A500 set of keys in a Pyrex bowl filled with Vanish gel. Left it outside for 2 fairly sunny days now and gonna check the results in a few mins.
This method worked for my ST keys so I hope I get the same results.

Some keys were extremely yellowed so I should have a good reference point.

EDIT: just checked it. I thought they were ready because they looked like new again but it was due the Vanish gel that gave them that look. Optical illusion
Still, I already see a big difference but there is still some slight yellowing at the top of the keys. Might need to leave them some more days in their bath

Maybe it takes longer because of the bigger number of keys taking a bath now compared to my ST keyboard where I did it in batches of 15 keys or so. Now there are 2 full keyboards in it.
The pyrex isn't also UV friendy I think but I have no suitable other recipient

I think only Vanish will do for your keys Zeropage.

 

[iainjh]

Spring is here, the sun is finally out.. which can only mean one thing

retrobriting time. In about 4 hours spread throughout this week I've retrobrited:

My Atom, just a quick refresh

An 800 XL for TheCorfiot (his at the top) -in part exchange for all his cool electronics fixer-up-ery

The before pic shows his at the bottom before a clean up and retrobrite

my master. need to do the base again sometime.

My very yellowed C64c. No longer yellow

and a quick in-progress of an extremely oddly suntanned STe. 45 mins in the sun perched on brick on the wheelie bin facing the sun!, another rotate and blast over the weekend and it should be ready.

cant speak more highly of BBlonde, its sooo easy now ! Running out of UV blocking armor-all however. and The local Boots has run out of BBlonde

 

[cardboardboxer]

EDIT

 

[sir_beaker]

and a quick in-progress of an extremely oddly suntanned STe. 45 mins in the sun perched on brick on the wheelie bin facing the sun!, another rotate and blast over the weekend and it should be ready.

How did the STe turn out? I'm just trying the same with my ST case but could take a bit longer as the sun isn't as strong...

 

[iainjh]

i think its important to keep it really topped up, and do lots of passes, do it gently

its ok so far but the retrobriting isnt nearly as even as normal. naff plastics

the keys are in the dishwasher as we speak I'll give the rest a further go during the week

 

[LonesomeAmiga]

the keys are in the dishwasher as we speak I'll give the rest a further go during the week

Dishwasher!!!

For the love of...!!!

Why oh why didn't I consider using the bloomin' dishwasher!

I cleaned ALL the keys on two A1200's and an A4000 using the sink and a toothbrush! Felt like I was on some kind of prison duty!


:double


THIS is why I haven't tried to retr0bright any of these things (some are gone now) - I clearly don't have the sense I was born with

At least I didn't use my own toothbrush

 

[Merlin]

At least I didn't use my own toothbrush

Guess who's going to be in the divorce courts shortly, or do you just keep your own toothbrush for cleaning engines?

 

[iainjh]

well I did do it before even on a light cycle and it blasted half the keys all over the place so this time a) they are the only things in the machine (natch) b) ive put a couple of baking grid things over the top to stop them ending up in the motor ..

I'm only doing this to clean off the bblonde as its a pain otherwise by hand

I've heard of others putting case parts in too but that scares me, our dishwasher gets really hot!

 

[LonesomeAmiga]

At least I didn't use my own toothbrush

Guess who's going to be in the divorce courts shortly, or do you just keep your own toothbrush for cleaning engines?

There are some old (30yr old) toothbrushes kept in the toolbox for just such occassions I may not have the sense I was born with, but I've accrued a little experience over the years to help me avoid certain-death-by-partner ;-)

 

[insanitor]

Does anyone here know how long Merlin's retr0brite Gel recipe can be used after the Oxi cleaner is added to the mixture?

 

[demolition]

Does anyone here know how long Merlin's retr0brite Gel recipe can be used after the Oxi cleaner is added to the mixture?

I'd say do not wait too many hours. The foaming seems to calm down after 12-24 hours, indicating to me that it has been spent by then. However, I've been able to use the same mix for many days simply by adding a little oxi action every time just before I applied it. It seemed to work just as well on day 2 and 3.

 

[insanitor]

How much did you add every day?

 

[demolition]

About as much as I put in the original mix, i.e. not very much. To 3 dl of mix, less than 50 grains of the stuff.

 

[sir_beaker]

First go with the BBlonde on the top section of the Atari ST case. The bottom section hasn't been treated. Probably needs another go and I'll apply it thicker but I am well impressed with the change so far.

 

[insanitor]

Well, I still would like to know how long Merlin's retr0brite Gel recipe can be used after the Oxi cleaner is added to the mixture.

He said 4 days for the non Gel recipe.

 

[ZeroPage]

My first try....

My first try....

Hello, all.

Here's the result of my first try in retr0brightin' !
Must say i can't wait to continue, but with the Belgian weather being
what it is at the moment...
The space-bar needs to be done in a next session, it didn't fit the jar
where i have put the keys in...

Best regards,
Rob

 

[dougal]

This is the same Super Famicom after some treatment and about 3 hours