Retr0bright Support Thread

[dougal]

Impressive work, does the cream just stay on and not slide off (and not require constant reapplication)?

Im curious as to how you do the large items as I've only ever done things that can fit in a glass baking dish covered in cling wrap and I really want to fix my a500 cases too.

Yes it stays on. I use a small paint brush to apply it.

Yesterday was really sunny, so I kept a constant eye out for drying. When it starts drying I just re-apply.

Another trick I found is that after a few re-applications of the stuff I rinse the item down with water, give it a quick dry and re-apply. I don't know why but I think it speeds things up.

I also bought a 1 liter bottle of the same stuff. Works out much cheaper.

 

[voyager_1701e]

So what does everyone use for keys? I've been placing all the keys onto a tray and then smearing the retr0bright goop over the top. It's a bit fiddley, considering it seems I have to do this about 4 times (4 sessions of 5 hours per session) to get them white. I've seen people putting the keys in a jar filled with just with the hydrogen peroxide - does this work? if so, How long should this be done for?

Just did some "treatment" today...exactly in the way you are asking about. I just loaded the keys into a shallow container filled with the stuff in the yellow bottle only, covered the surface of the liquid in cling wrap...and 5 hours later you can see the results (yellow keys of course, are yet to be done)! Interestingly, I left most of the keys face down so they would be completely submerged, and a few of the keys I left face up. Can you guess which were face up and which face down? Oh, and I did use a small mirror below the container.

Have we identified whether we can prevent the reversion of the yellowing with a clear coat or similar?

 

[Mpro]

Another good day for retro bright using the vanish crystal white - this time i did all the keys from one of my a500's except the one i didn't realise had rolled off the Desk and under my filing cabinet! Doh!

Before:
View attachment 84431

After:
View attachment 84432

I just need to do the case now.

Ps amazingly it makes the entire case look less yellow'd.

Thanks for the heads up on vanish crystal white

I've not had the best luck in restoring keys using the other method's
so I gave vanish crystal white a go

I uses a glass backing tray and I completely submerged the keys in vanish crystal white and left in the sun with the tray covered by Clingfilm

Before

My C128 keys needed work


you can just make out the original colour on the spacebar
also in this pic you can see the failed attempt at restoring a A500 keyboard using the old way in the background


All done they are mush whiter then the pic shows


All back together


using this stuff stopped me getting the marbling look that I was getting before using the other methods

 

[djos]

Much better, great job.

 

[Methanoid]

Looks good. We can also get the exact same version here in DK so I guess it should also be available in most of EU.

The mouse doesn't look submerged on the picture though? Did it not need that?
Also, what kind of concentration did you use?

Cheers, The last half hour or so was upside down so submerged and that seemed to finish it off nicely. Before that i was re applying the gel every half hour.

I used it straight, no dilution at all - this was my very first attempt ever at retro bright so I'm very pleased with the result.

What's the best thickner to use so the gel will just sit on the surface of a case and not slide off?

DJOS, did you like pour most of the bottle in, retrobrite it and then pour it back into the bottle or did you "use" the chemical. Just wondering how a KB might get done and how a case might be...

 

[djos]

I threw the "used" vanish away but i do wonder if it could be reused.

When i eventually get to do a case, i plan to try using a spray bottle to frequently reapply the vanish without wasting too much vanish.

 

[Methanoid]

Thanks...

I have an ST to retrobrite.. Wondering how the keys come off now... I've done ST casings before... I used BBlonde and similar but it looks like the Oxy gel is also available in UK now

 

[Mpro]

Yep Sainsburys have it for around £4

 

[Methanoid]

Are u sure SainsBurys have the crystal white oxy gel. ???

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

 

[Mpro]

Yep its where I got mine

And you can reuse it

 

[Cloudane]

Can't find crystal white anywhere! But there is a gold oxy for whites which MAY be a rebrand/newer version not sure. Will try

 

[Cloudane]

Think I can declare Vanish Oxi Gold for whites (and my second attempt at retr0bright) a success! So it does work in place of Crystal White, and I think it's meant to replace it.

Before:

After:

Much easier to work with - didn't bother with cling film, which made the whole process much less tedious. With it being a huge bottle instead of those tiny little bottles of B-Blonde I was really liberal with it and just kept plastering more of it on every now and then for a couple of hours while I chased the sunlight down the driveway.

Not sure about the keys yet - I've thrown them in about a 1l-2l jar along with half a scoop of the powder version of Oxi Crystal White and topped up with water then stirred. Doesn't seem to be doing anything so far - maybe it'll need longer or to be mixed into peroxide but as I understand it the Oxi has peroxide in already..

 

[Mpro]

I never had any luck with the powder version and it wrecked 2 sets of keys for me one Amiga 500 set and one commodore 16 set.. so will never use that again

The vanish crystal white is translucent blue so I just submerged the keys in it and gave it a shake from time to time.

 

[A4000Bear]

Here is a link to my experiences with Retr0brite: http://members.iinet.net.au/~davem2/overclock/Retrobrite.html

There is an example of how the yellowing returns after several years, and a link to a guy who did a lot of very technical research on why ABS plastic goes yellow.

 

[Walterg74]

Help with retr0bright alt product

Help with retr0bright alt product

Hi Folks,

Need some advice from the chemical knowing folks here about a retr0bright like solution. As it's a bit hard to get the components here in my country some times, I saw that over at the Atariage forums, somebody tried and recommended the following:

"Salon care 40 volume peroxide crème:

So a peroxide cream basically. I checked one of our local hair/salon/beauty supplies store, and found that they do have several variations/brands of this, so the fir question would be:

- Would you say this is an acceptable product to use for a retr0bright solution, or would it be missing on essentials? If so, how would one apply it?

And then the second was if you can take a look at the two I found to be most similar to the one they recommended that I found at my local store. Both say 40 vol./12%. These are the ingredients:

Brand1: AQUA, CETYL ALCOHOLAND STEARYL ALCOHOL AND CETEARETH 20, CETYL ALCOHOL AND STEARYL ALCOHOL AND SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, PHENACETIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, EDTA, SALICILIC ACID, PERFUME, PHOSPHORIC ACID, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, DIMETHICONE.

Brand 2: AQUA (WATER), HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20, SODIUM STANNATE, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, PHOSPHORIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, ETIDRONIC ACID, PEG-40 CASTOR OIL, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE, METHYLPARABEN, C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIL STEARATE, POLYSORBATE 60, CELLULOSE GUM, SORBITAN LAURATE, SILICA, BENZOIC ACID.


I see peroxide, and glycerin "ish", and gum on one at least, but... not sure of course, that-s why I ask

Thanks for youe help/replies/comments!

 

[djos]

Retr0bright Support Thread

Do you have the Vanish napisan range of laundry detergents in your country?

These already have peroxide and oxy action ingredients and are a thick easy to use liquid. Plus they are really cheap in 2 litre bottles from your supermarket.

 

[g40rocket]

Hi Folks,

Need some advice from the chemical knowing folks here about a retr0bright like solution. As it's a bit hard to get the components here in my country some times, I saw that over at the Atariage forums, somebody tried and recommended the following:

"Salon care 40 volume peroxide crème:

So a peroxide cream basically. I checked one of our local hair/salon/beauty supplies store, and found that they do have several variations/brands of this, so the fir question would be:

- Would you say this is an acceptable product to use for a retr0bright solution, or would it be missing on essentials? If so, how would one apply it?

And then the second was if you can take a look at the two I found to be most similar to the one they recommended that I found at my local store. Both say 40 vol./12%. These are the ingredients:

Brand1: AQUA, CETYL ALCOHOLAND STEARYL ALCOHOL AND CETEARETH 20, CETYL ALCOHOL AND STEARYL ALCOHOL AND SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, PHENACETIN, METHYLPARABEN, PROPYLPARABEN, EDTA, SALICILIC ACID, PERFUME, PHOSPHORIC ACID, HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, DIMETHICONE.

Brand 2: AQUA (WATER), HYDROGEN PEROXIDE, CETEARYL ALCOHOL, CETEARETH-20, SODIUM STANNATE, SODIUM LAURETH SULFATE, PHOSPHORIC ACID, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, DISODIUM PYROPHOSPHATE, ETIDRONIC ACID, PEG-40 CASTOR OIL, PENTASODIUM PENTETATE, METHYLPARABEN, C12-13 ALKYL LACTATE, DIMETHICONE, GLYCERIL STEARATE, POLYSORBATE 60, CELLULOSE GUM, SORBITAN LAURATE, SILICA, BENZOIC ACID.


I see peroxide, and glycerin "ish", and gum on one at least, but... not sure of course, that-s why I ask

Thanks for youe help/replies/comments!

That "Salon care 40 volume peroxide crème" works very well too, it's that what i have been using in my things.

 

[Cloudane]

I've been wasting the Vanish Gold for Whites bottle like crazy and it's still got loads left. Very good option economically IMO.

I'm sure it's been said a lot, but do take wearing gloves seriously - I quickly did some keys last night the lazy way, since it's a pain putting gloves on and binning them every time you do a fresh coating and I figured so long as I washed it off within like 30 seconds or so it'd be fine. A few minutes later I was treated to some nasty tingling and whiteness on my fingers. Always wear gloves, no exceptions!

If you do get it on you, dunking your hand in warm water for 15 minutes seems to be the best way to stop the reaction.

 

[Walterg74]

Do you have the Vanish napisan range of laundry detergents in your country?

These already have peroxide and oxy action ingredients and are a thick easy to use liquid. Plus they are really cheap in 2 litre bottles from your supermarket.

Hmmm. I will check but I don-t think so. That-s why I was interested in one of the chemical magicians looking at the ingredients

- - - Updated - - -

That "Salon care 40 volume peroxide crème" works very well too, it's that what i have been using in my things.

Yes, I'm not doubting that, but the thing is I live in another country and I can't get that specific product

 

[RuneRider]

One vintage Macintosh destroyed!

One vintage Macintosh destroyed!

I used the Salon Care 40 creme that many have suggested and even though it worked on the keyboard fairly well last month this is what it did to the case and mouse today after only two hours.

Anyone else ever see this?