Retro Brite - Restoration Logs

Myrddin

I may have been a bit hasty in my judgement, it's definitely working. It's just taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I also think the reaction continues even when the part has been cleaned, the top half of the Snes now isn't far from perfect I have the bottom half in now, which is significantly more yellowed...so I'm thinking maybe three or four six hour sessions in 'the box' will at least be needed

bennya

Where did you pick up the BBlonde mix? Looking at doing this myself with a couple of C64's and a grey Spectrum +2 that's turned green

Myrddin

bennya wrote: »

Where did you pick up the BBlonde mix? Looking at doing this myself with a couple of C64's and a grey Spectrum +2 that's turned green

Boots stock it

bennya

Excellent (rubs hands)

BGOllie

mmm. I was happy with my yellowed consoles till now... dammit!

Myrddin

The bottom half of the SFC is in 'the box' as we speak. It's much better than before (after a few treatments), but the sides still need work. I'll update again when I've the results I want from it.

@BGOllie, if you build it...they will come

Myrddin

Very slow going on the bottom half of the SFC (which was much worse than the top half). It's coming along though, it'll need several more 12+ hour sessions I'd say though

bennya

Did a quick test piece this morning while there was some fleeting sun - got about three hours worth, which made a noticeable difference to the right hand side (left was masked off):

h t t ps://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5799/22616219321_da57293555_z_d.jpg

(Joined in 2006 but still a new user. Tch.)

Myrddin

^^ Can definitely see a difference there

The bottom half of my SFC is now nearly matching the top half. Once they're the same, I can start putting them in the box together to speed up the process. If I do it now, they'll stay at a relative difference & it might be hard to match them for the final finish

eddhorse

bennya wrote: »

Did a quick test piece this morning while there was some fleeting sun - got about three hours worth, which made a noticeable difference to the right hand side (left was masked off):

h t t ps://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5799/22616219321_da57293555_z_d.jpg

(Joined in 2006 but still a new user. Tch.)

Looks good https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5799/22616219321_da57293555_z_d.jpg

Corholio

Myrddin wrote: »

^^ Can definitely see a difference there

The bottom half of my SFC is now nearly matching the top half. Once they're the same, I can start putting them in the box together to speed up the process. If I do it now, they'll stay at a relative difference & it might be hard to match them for the final finish

That's a good idea definitely, it is quite tough to get the same shade from individual pieces even with doing the exact same for both. Good to hear it's working though!

Myrddin

I'll try colour correct the original photo's too, before I show the current progress (because looking at them now they're terrible & don't show how bad the yellowing was at all).

Myrddin

Log 1















It's still got a little way to go, a few more shades and it'll be as close to normal as makes no difference.

Myrddin

^^ The little plate that says Super Famicom has spent more time in the box than the top shell itself, so has come all the way to being perfect. I'll get the top half to match the name plate over the next couple of days & that'll be that. Also my pics above still make it difficult to convey the true colour, the top half looks as if it hasn't changed really, but it has...significantly, damn shadows etc

The Last Bandit

Any way of avoiding the shadows, would more bulbs be any help ?

Myrddin

The Last Bandit wrote: »

Any way of avoiding the shadows, would more bulbs be any help ?

The shadows are only affecting me taking pictures to show the results, the light box is obviously shadow free

The Last Bandit

Myrddin wrote: »

The shadows are only affecting me taking pictures to show the results, the light box is obviously shadow free

ah right, misunderstood completely

So long do the bits need to be in the box ?

Myrddin

The Last Bandit wrote: »

So long do the bits need to be in the box ?

Significantly longer than I thought anyway. I haven't kept a record (which I should have), but the bottom half has had 36/48 hours or thereabouts I'd say (spread across focusing on the bottom, and then each of the four corners).

Los Lobos

They may be different to look at right in front of you, but in the pictures its chalk and cheese. Nice job

Myrddin

So, the Snes is finished. It's almost perfect, the lower half is a shade or two darker than the top which mightn't come across via the pics, but we're only talking a shade or two and you have to look very close to see it. The lower half just won't come up any brighter, so short of a peroxide bath this is the best it'll get. I'm chuffed with the results













You can see the RF unit has it's own plastic which doesn't remove, it has come a long way! I could dismantle the RF unit if I wanted to remove this plastic, but I kinda like having it there as a way to remind me how bad this console used to be!

Steve X2

That came up well

eddhorse

Looks great, well done, id leave the contrasting rf unit as wel.
How long will this last? A few years at this colour is it?

Myrddin

eddhorse wrote: »

Looks great, well done, id leave the contrasting rf unit as wel.
How long will this last? A few years at this colour is it?

I'm hopeful it won't re-yellow, because from what I'm reading...not everyone's does. If it does happen though, I suppose a year or two and it will begin to yellow again. At that point though I'll just re-treat it, and because it won't have gotten that bad I expect it'll be quite easy to restore the next time.

Steve X2

Myrddin wrote: »

I'm hopeful it won't re-yellow, because from what I'm reading...not everyone's does. If it does happen though, I suppose a year or two and it will begin to yellow again. At that point though I'll just re-treat it, and because it won't have gotten that bad I expect it'll be quite easy to restore the next time.

I did a macintosh classic a good few years ago and it's still nice and clean with no re-yellowing.
But i guess it just depends on the plastic they used in each particular batch of consoles/computers etc.

Danick

Hi Myrddin - your Snes looks amazing - I am interested on using your technique on my old Amiga 500. Unfortunately I can' t see the pictures on the first post - can you talk me through the materials I need?

Bulbs and where to get them?
How you set up your UV light box - what materials and type of box did you use?

Thanks - I would really appreciate your advice.

Inviere

Danick wrote: »

Hi Myrddin - your Snes looks amazing - I am interested on using your technique on my old Amiga 500. Unfortunately I can' t see the pictures on the first post - can you talk me through the materials I need?

Bulbs and where to get them?
How you set up your UV light box - what materials and type of box did you use?

Thanks - I would really appreciate your advice.

I used a large cardboard box designed for storing documents, so it has a lid and doesn't let any light in. I then lined the box with tin foil, all sides, bottom, and inside of the lid. This means any UV light is bounced around inside the box, and hits the target from all angles.

I mounted x2 12" Fluoresent UV tubes on the inside of the box lid, so they're emitting light downwards and to the sides, which is then bounced around by the tin foil. I got these from a user here who's name escapes me, I'll give you the make/model of the lights later in the week if I can find the details.

The peroxide came straight from boots, it's a cream called Jerome Russell Bblonde, though I can't find it on their site anymore. It can be got on eBay though, will throw a few links up later in the week or tomorrow if I can. It's very cheap to buy, and goes a long way.

Other than that all you need is an old newspaper to place the console on when you're applying the cream, and some decent rubber gloves as it's very harsh on the skin. Then all you need is time, treatment, wash, treatment, wash, etc. Will reupload the pictures in a day or two

Danick

Thanks Inviere for taking the time to reply - I can't wait to see the pics - I'll check boots for that cream tomorrow.

Inviere

Apologies for the delay, pics of the light box build process as promised:

Danick

Hi Inviere - thanks so much for posting these pics - I'll start collecting all the necessary equipment.