adam1977 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 I saw this last Saturday but forgot to post it on here, but Perifractic has made a video of his findings on how to whiten some of his old computers/consoles etc. Very simple, cheap and something anybody can do: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8P1OVj0IcqY 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad5200 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 So easy to do and lots of people have replied with good results! I am actually trying this now as we speak on a 130XE keyboard. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tempest Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Interesting. I'll have to try this out on my Amiga 3000 keyboard. I retrobrighted it but it came out a bit uneven and has already started to yellow again (it started out pretty bad). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) Yes this method is worthy of its own thread, imo. Doing my worst XE now! Edited May 15, 2019 by Sugarland 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Handy if you have a garden and non thieving neighbours, sadly its a no on the garden and a huge yes on the thieving neighbours...We put a pot plant on the balcony the first day we moved in, both the pot plant and the saucer were gone the next morning....True... I don't think my 2 Amiga's 3 C64's and two Atari's would make it for 10 mins.. Its so bad that if you want to get rid of an old TV you just leave it outside the block door like you forgot to bring it inside, its gone in 5 mins.. Really want to try the idea though but not so sure it will work as well through double glazing on the window sill... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Handy if you have a garden and non thieving neighbours, sadly its a no on the garden and a huge yes on the thieving neighbours...We put a pot plant on the balcony the first day we moved in, both the pot plant and the saucer were gone the next morning....True... I don't think my 2 Amiga's 3 C64's and two Atari's would make it for 10 mins.. Its so bad that if you want to get rid of an old TV you just leave it outside the block door like you forgot to bring it inside, its gone in 5 mins.. Really want to try the idea though but not so sure it will work as well through double glazing on the window sill... How about a 2nd story open window? I think it won't work through glass. We recently moved into the country and people don't even lock their doors around here. Lots of firearms and rural countryside make it very low crime area. We still lock our doors out of habit. No gangs around here, thankfully. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Nezgar Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Its so bad that if you want to get rid of an old TV you just leave it outside the block door like you forgot to bring it inside, its gone in 5 mins.. My mom told me a story once after thanksgiving when I was a kid she boxed up the remaining turkey carcass and nicely wrapped a box with it in a ribbon and bow and put it out on the sidewalk of our busy street. Sure enough within a few minutes a car stopped and picked it up and took it away. :D 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) All on the ground floor because of my spinal issues..I remember the days of unlocked doors and almost no crime, all this crime is a hazard of the city I'm afraid... Shame about the through the window probable not work, I just don't want to retro brite stuff because of the streaking and brittle issues.. Edited May 15, 2019 by Mclaneinc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 My mom told me a story once after thanksgiving when I was a kid she boxed up the remaining turkey carcass and nicely wrapped a box with it in a ribbon and bow and put it out on the sidewalk of our busy street. Sure enough within a few minutes a car stopped and picked it up and took it away. :D Lol.....Yup, its seriously like that here, you don't even need to make it look nice...These people steal / remove anything... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major Havoc 2049 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 (edited) This works like a champ. I left my Esc key out for one sunny day on an XE Game System keyboard and it became noticably lighter. I don't have anything that is terribly yellowed, but I'll end up doing this to all my XE and ST stuff. I have a grey Japanese Saturn that is slightly yellowed as well. Edited May 15, 2019 by Major Havoc 2049 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 I have always felt that people go wayyyyy above and beyond trying to make the most complex retrobrite setup possible We got 1000 watt uv bulbs army grade hydrogen peroxide a sude 've machine etc I just put some dollar store cheap in a bucket and leave it in the sun for a day... And now if you got a few days one doesnt even have to do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Reverse sun tanning - what a strange thing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad5200 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Another key take away from that video... GET RID OF ALL YOUR FLUORESCENT BULBS INCLUDING CFL'S! Replace them with LED. Or at least, keep all your equipment away from fluorescent / CFL's. (I always hated CFL's anyways... so good riddance!) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adam1977 Posted May 15, 2019 Author Share Posted May 15, 2019 This works like a champ. I left my Esc key out for one sunny day on an XE Game System keyboard and it became noticably lighter. I don't have anything that is terribly yellowed, but I'll end up doing this to all my XE and ST stuff. I have a grey Japanese Saturn that is slightly yellowed as well. Fantastic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad5200 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 First time trying this. Nice sunny day here in Illinois. BEFORE: 3.5 HOURS LATER: Going to leave it out there all day. I post another picture later. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricortes Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 I'd like to try this, it is just with my luck any story would end with "and then a bird shit on it." 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JR> Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Pretty sure Saran wrap doesn't block much UV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 Lol.....Yup, its seriously like that here, you don't even need to make it look nice...These people steal / remove anything... There must be a place not too far away you can do this. Maybe bring a book and read for a few hours in the park for the four brightest hours of the day?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad5200 Posted May 15, 2019 Share Posted May 15, 2019 There must be a place not too far away you can do this. Maybe bring a book and read for a few hours in the park for the four brightest hours of the day?? An Atari picnic! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+DrVenkman Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 I tried this over two sunny afternoons about 2 weeks back with a badly yellowed late 90's PS/2 PC keyboard. Sadly, it made little to no difference. *shrug* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Stephen Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 When I start hitting the tanning bed, maybe I'll bring some of my vintage equipment in with me. Double advantage - 130XE will get whiter and I won't sunburn my ass 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chad5200 Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Here are my before and after... was outside in sun for 8.5 hours total. Taken with the exact same lighting for best comparison. Very happy with the results! 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_The Doctor__ Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 keep it cool while letting the sun at it, lasts longer... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sugarland Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 Having a fan blow on it would keep it cool. I wonder if it is ill advised to leave the brown plastic XL case and key caps in the sun, since it may bleach the color out. So separating the brown keyboard area of the case from the rest may be well advised...?? The beautiful Alps and AWC key caps seem to slowly bleach to white even in the full dark of the original box Styrofoam. I also wonder about the 800 keycaps. The white type-font on the 800 key caps does yellow, but I wonder if the brown will bleach in the sun. Maybe it's a case of yes the key caps will bleach in sunlight, but only after several weeks whereas the type-font will retrobright in a few days. So it may be prudent to wait to see other people's failed sun baking retrobrighting attempts with the darker plastics. I was hesitant to peroxide after seeing many peroxide-ruined cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mclaneinc Posted May 16, 2019 Share Posted May 16, 2019 (edited) There must be a place not too far away you can do this. Maybe bring a book and read for a few hours in the park for the four brightest hours of the day?? Its odd, I have 2 big area's of grass just behind my back window BUT this is a council estate full of drug dealers and gangs, add to that it seems its become a dumping ground for problem families, so taking gear out with you and having it on show just isn't worth the hassle. I'm a big lad with a reputation for not putting up with crap but its the idiots that try it on thinking they can sell it for drink or drugs. I may take the guts out and try with just the cases ie giving it little value. I kid you not, its a rough rough area, I've lived in some super nice places and some not so good ones over the years but this place with the people that are in it make it a test...Such a shame as I'm typing this with my window open and all I can hear are starlings, robins and sparrows chirping along while looking at trees and a field of grass. Shame about the people... Edited May 16, 2019 by Mclaneinc 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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