FLANNERY Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Howdy all! I was looking at my atari tonight and was wishing that it would look like brand new. but alas 29 years have not be the best. I looks fine except the chrome switches are not that shiny anymore and Im starting to lose my wood grain on the top corner edge, and Im losing the orange stripe around the switches. Not to bad but I would like it to look like new again. My question to you gents (and possibly ladies) Is how do I polish the switches, and fix the woodgrain and orange trim? Thanks in advance! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDW Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) Howdy all! I was looking at my atari tonight and was wishing that it would look like brand new. but alas 29 years have not be the best. I looks fine except the chrome switches are not that shiny anymore and Im starting to lose my wood grain on the top corner edge, and Im losing the orange stripe around the switches. Not to bad but I would like it to look like new again. My question to you gents (and possibly ladies) Is how do I polish the switches, and fix the woodgrain and orange trim? Thanks in advance! You can buy new switches from Best Electronics. You can fix the orange trim and the woodgrain by simply swapping the top half of the case with a mint, but dead 2600. Edited June 7, 2010 by brandondwright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DickNixonArisen Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 A little known fact is that AA stands for armor-all as well as Atari-Age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BDW Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) A little known fact is that AA stands for armor-all as well as Atari-Age. Very true, it brings back your atari's original shine! Dont ask the members how it affects the plastic, though. Edited June 7, 2010 by brandondwright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atari Joe Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 (edited) The same products that make a collector car or a souped-up HOT ROD look real real slick are the SAME products that can help make your Atari look AS GOOD AS NEW! I suggest - instead of armor all, try MOTHER'S BACK TO BLACK product on your Atari's black plastic. Rub it in real nice and it saturates the plastic with a real nice long-lasting luster without all of the nasty milk that armor all leaves. It doesnt make the plastic gloss wet and shiney, it brings back its original luster and affects the plastic and rubber bits differently than armor all, extending its life. The product is made for black trim on a car that sometimes fades or gets old like on a bumper or side mirror. It keeps the plastic looking naturally young rather than oiled and gussied up like richard simmons shiny milky chest. You should be able to find MOTHER'S BACK TO BLACK at any WALMART or TARGET or whatever is by you. It'll be in the auto department by the buff and shine products. Trust me this stuff is SLICK both on your Atari and on your car! Edited June 7, 2010 by Atari Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DickNixonArisen Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 \richard simmons shiny milky chest. bbffffth lucky i'm not a girl or I woulda wizzed my frillies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JingleJoe Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 My Atari 2600 is in a similar state to Mr Flannery's, I want to know what can be done about the orange line around the switches and cart slot wearing off? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadowdoggie Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Someone recommended not too long ago to use baby oil on the black part of the system. Any negative affects with baby oil? It made the system look spectacular, but it was one that I sold on ebay, so not sure about any long term affects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquare75 Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I wonder if best has bezels for the Sears systems? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 I always imagined that a hard rubber roller was the way to reapply paint to the bezel trim, but never have tried it. I'm not a fan of the Armor All look (or smell). Mequiar's Vinyl and Rubber conditioner or even STP Son of a Gun (if it's still made) end up with a more matte, new plastic finish. They both smell better than Armor All, but the Meguiar's smells leather-like. The woodgrain is a difficult issue. An artist might be able to restore that, but I wouldn't think it worth the cost or effort. I suppose you could put woodgrain contact paper on it. (Eew) I've recently encountered a coating method that applies woodgrain effect paint jobs in a dipping process. One-off work would probably be really expensive. I guess finding a piece in better condition would be the most cost effective means of fixing the worn woodgrain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 BTW - I was relieved to find that you weren't applying cosmetics to make yourself look Atari-like, whatever that would mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keilbaca Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 The same products that make a collector car or a souped-up HOT ROD look real real slick are the SAME products that can help make your Atari look AS GOOD AS NEW! I suggest - instead of armor all, try MOTHER'S BACK TO BLACK product on your Atari's black plastic. Rub it in real nice and it saturates the plastic with a real nice long-lasting luster without all of the nasty milk that armor all leaves. It doesnt make the plastic gloss wet and shiney, it brings back its original luster and affects the plastic and rubber bits differently than armor all, extending its life. The product is made for black trim on a car that sometimes fades or gets old like on a bumper or side mirror. It keeps the plastic looking naturally young rather than oiled and gussied up like richard simmons shiny milky chest. You should be able to find MOTHER'S BACK TO BLACK at any WALMART or TARGET or whatever is by you. It'll be in the auto department by the buff and shine products. Trust me this stuff is SLICK both on your Atari and on your car! I might have to try some of that stuff to make my heavily modded Atari look like new ^_^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FLANNERY Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 (edited) You all are a riot. And jinglejoe I'm not a mr. I'm only 19. The black plastic looks ok to me the way it is right now and the wood grain only has a slight line on the top edge were it is worn and you see black plastic underneath. I really want to touch up the orange trim more than anything and polish the switches. I'm a broke college kid so I can't spend a lot of money on this. Would some kind of silver popish be ok? I know that the switches are made out of aluminum so in theroy it should work. But then again there is that hole fact and theroy collide aspect to be considered. Edited June 8, 2010 by FLANNERY Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DickNixonArisen Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 This may seem obvious, but just in case you hadn't thought of it for some reason, make sure you polish the switches after the case comes off so as not to roughen up the plastic gaps they slide in. Here's a weird idea for cleaning Atari's that i've done before - take one of those old-school puffy combs, and melt (they don't break easily) off every other tine - the typical comb will then be pretty easy to fit into those maddening slots on top of ol' stella. Get a towel damp with a little water or a moderate amount of rubbing alcohol, lay it on top, and use the comb to get into those cracks. A toothbrush can actually cut the plastic if it's too hard, but a soft one is a great cleaning tool too as I'm sure most people know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquare75 Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 On my 4 switch I just cleaned up, I removed the top case and just washed it in the sink with my dish brush. Worked amazing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havok69 Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 You're all a bunch of wussies. Battle Damage, I say! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigO Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 You're all a bunch of wussies. Battle Damage, I say! "Patina" My heavy sixer still has two thrift store price tags on it and I didn't even buy it at a thrift store. I also like cartridges that have names written on them. I have one that has an address sticker on it that indicates it was once in a doctor's office, I assume in the waiting area. All part of the history. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Havok69 Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 "Patina" Haha - perhaps more accurate, but not as cool sounding... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Someone recommended not too long ago to use baby oil on the black part of the system. Any negative affects with baby oil? It made the system look spectacular, but it was one that I sold on ebay, so not sure about any long term affects. depends, if it is petroleum based it will crack the plastic and make it brittle in a few years. A promise! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquare75 Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Armor all is a scourge on dashboards. I wouldn't touch an Atari with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jktrading Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 (edited) Armor all is a scourge on dashboards. I wouldn't touch an Atari with it. Armorall works great. Just wipe (buff) all excess completely off. I guess, not having your Atari in the direct sunlight helps. I armorall'd my Sears Heavy Sixer years ago, it's been as good as new ever since then with no ill-effects what so ever. Edited June 10, 2010 by jktrading Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psquare75 Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Armor all is a scourge on dashboards. I wouldn't touch an Atari with it. Armorall works great. Just wipe (buff) all excess completely off. I guess, not having your Atari in the direct sunlight helps. I armorall'd my Sears Heavy Sixer years ago, it's been as good as new ever since then with no ill-effects what so ever. True the direct sunlight + Armor All = gooey mess over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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