Removing yellowing off of plastics

12 posts / 0 new
Last post
Tracer bullet's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 5 months ago
Joined: Oct 3 2014 - 18:26
Posts: 30
Removing yellowing off of plastics

I managed to purchase a pair of 5.25" unidiscs and a 3.5' drive as well. The 5.25" drives look a little yellowish. Has anyone managed to clean and return their drives back to their original color?
I found this site: http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ What have you guys found that works? Take the drive apart and pop the case into the dish washer?
I'm looking to clean them up as best I can.
Thanks.

gsmcten's picture
Offline
Last seen: 5 years 9 months ago
Joined: Oct 4 2005 - 18:52
Posts: 2629
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Tracer,

If you go up to the Top Right Hand corner of the site after you check in you will see a Search Box.
(This will go for both of your new posts)

Enter the Subject you are looking for and every post concerning that subject will be brought up for you.

Believe me when I tell you that both of these subjects have been well documented here, especially "RetroBrite".

You will have many posts to choose from.

That is a good start. I hope it gets you off on the right foot.

Steven Smile

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 6 months ago
Joined: May 27 2013 - 13:01
Posts: 849
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

I have extensive experience using Merlin's Gel formula.

First thing... You must remove the colored Apple logo from the drive or else the mixture will come close to completely ruining it. It will definitely damage it.

Retr0bright MUST have the correct chemical reaction to work. H2O2 must break down into H2O and O1. This means that it must break down into Oxygen and Water.

Making this happen requires the correct proportion of H2O2 and the Xanthan Gum. Use too much Xanthan Gum, and it will dry up and will create streaks of whiter parts on the plastic because of the uneven drying. Those parts which dry up have the highest concentration of H2O2 and will whiten the plastic more than the wetter portions.

This means that in my experience, the formula on the website is wrong. You must only use level tablespoonful's of Xanthan Gum and then take a pinch or two out of each tablespoonful. This reduction of Xanthan Gum will save you money and headaches.

Put the OxyClean powder into a shot glass and add a small amount of water and heat it up in the microwave to ensure that the water acts as a solvent and dissolves the OxyClean powder. This will make sure that it is well mixed in.

Good luck.

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: May 9 2014 - 12:45
Posts: 118
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Nowadays people use Bblonde peroxide cream.

macnoyd's picture
Offline
Last seen: 8 hours 42 min ago
Joined: Oct 15 2012 - 08:59
Posts: 838
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Bblonde peroxide appear to be a UK product, but looks to be economically shipped to the US.
Has anyone here used this product? Also, would there be any advantage to adding oxyclean to the mix?
Is a strong UV lamp also necessary, as with retro-brite?

Offline
Last seen: 1 week 3 days ago
Joined: Oct 9 2011 - 12:54
Posts: 1352
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

How do you use the peroxide cream, mixed in the retro brite or by itself?

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: May 9 2014 - 12:45
Posts: 118
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

The peroxide cream is a substitute for Retr0Bright. It basically removes the trouble of mixing the Retr0bright gel yourself. You need UV light also with Bblonde, or some other hair bleaching product. There is discussion about using Bblonde over at amibay.com.

Offline
Last seen: 1 week 3 days ago
Joined: Oct 9 2011 - 12:54
Posts: 1352
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Awesome. I'll be seeing a friend from the UK pretty soon, I'll ask him to buy a couple of packages for me.

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 7 months ago
Joined: May 9 2014 - 12:45
Posts: 118
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Corey986, I'd think one of your local brands would have a similar product in their lineup. Just visit your local barber shop, hair parlor, pharmacy or whatever supplying hair dyeing products. Just remember to leave the toner out so that your Apple doesn't end up being mahogany. Smile

Offline
Last seen: 1 week 3 days ago
Joined: Oct 9 2011 - 12:54
Posts: 1352
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

Even better, I found out Amazon in the states sells it. I ordered some to try.

Cheers,
Corey

Dr. Webster's picture
Online
Last seen: 39 min 31 sec ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1749
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

I recall reading somewhere that Sally's Beauty Supply in the US sells a similar product, but unfortunately I can't remember the name. I may stop by sometime as both my Color Classic and Super Nintendo could use a treatment.

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 6 months ago
Joined: May 27 2013 - 13:01
Posts: 849
Re: Removing yellowing off of plastics

I recall reading somewhere that Sally's Beauty Supply in the US sells a similar product, but unfortunately I can't remember the name. I may stop by sometime as both my Color Classic and Super Nintendo could use a treatment.

You don't need to remember the name. Here's what you are most likely looking for:

http://www.sallybeauty.com/40-Volume-Developer/SLNCAR67,default,pd.html#start=15&sz=12&viewAllProducts=true

Log in or register to post comments