730 replies to this topic

[Havok69]

You can try something like this:

Headlight Restoration
or this if they're really bad:


3M Headlight Restoration

kheller2, on Mon Apr 25, 2011 6:42 PM, said:

Is there a formula to use this method on car headlights?

[beamer320i]

Phew! Just finished Retr0brighting an Atari 400 I bought off eBay, this machine was DIRTY....Bought it as untested/non-working, turns out to work great and even has 48k!

Really pleased with the way this one has turned out....

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Edited by beamer320i, Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:55 AM.

[stevem00]

Looks fantastic! What method did you use?

stevem

[beamer320i]

stevem00, on Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:20 AM, said:

Looks fantastic! What method did you use?

stevem

I use creme peroxide, 12%-40 volume, has worked for me every time without fail so far! All I do is thoroughly clean the cases first with a mild detergent/medium bristle brush to get the dirt out of the crevices, then I apply the peroxide thinly but evenly with an inch wide paintbrush. I then leave it in the sunlight,keeping an eye on it so as not to dry out (15-30 minutes, depending on sunlight/temperature) I then wipe off the peroxide (or you can wash it off with water) and then re-apply.

To get the above effect took me four treatments, I then sprayed a cloth with Armorall semi-matt protectant and lightly wiped it to help protect it again.

There are different methods, etc. but this one works for me. All myy main hardware was Retr0brighted 12 months ago, and has not started to yellow again (yet!)

Edited by beamer320i, Thu Apr 28, 2011 10:09 AM.

[AtariNerd]

That's mouth-agapingly amazing...I'm really going to have to try one of these methods.

[w1k]

[flashjazzcat]

It's gone a bit on the blue side.

[w1k]

today is finnish

Edited by w1k, Fri May 6, 2011 11:55 AM.

[w1k]

i will continue tomorow (stains must be removed)

[flashjazzcat]

Looks like it's blooming. I'd exercise extreme caution with it.

[Havok69]

Those look like fighting words - " Creme peroxide ya mama!"

[w1k]

I will be careful

[fibrewire]

It looks as if blooming is directly related to uneven application of the cream. The thicker the cream, the less UV penetration for the reaction. Cream blobs seem to have a lensing effect. I'm going to try this technique, but use of a foam roller is recommended. The "Cream Hydrogen Peroxide" is definitely a genius breakthrough, but nobody thought to consider a paint 'application' technique? I'm sure this has been documented in detail, and I just missed the information. Hopefully, this is the last variable in the equation for a successful retr0brite

Also, I'm aware that obtaining suitable UV light equipment may be expensive to some. The most abundant source of free UV is, of course, the sun. Unfortuantely, obtaining proper UV saturation from all angles might become a problem. I recommend purchasing aluminized mylar to create a large semi-parabolic UV reflector. A large box or basket will suffice for a frame, and the mylar does not have to be perfect. The key is to diffuse the light - the more wrinkles, the better. Placing the item to be retr0brited inside the mylar 'basket' will insure maximum effectiveness of the peroxide cream.

[mimo]

I just move the thing round every 30 minutes or so then it all gets some UV.
The blooming is not due to the thickness of the aplication, but rather the drying out of the gel. Best solution is to wrap in cling film to stop it drying out.

[Pilsner73]

Thinking of giving retrobrighting a try. What is the choice for already made stuff you find at the Beauty Supply stores, I have one very close I could stop at.

[flashjazzcat]

Went RetroBrite crazy this week, after a search through the cupboards revealed a couple of 800XLs which looked worse for wear:



This one was a dirty yellow when I started (no before pic, sadly), and the upper half of the case was lying keyboardless and badgeless in a box in the spare bedroom. The bottom half of the case was elsewhere, with a working Rev 1 motherboard in it.



Treatment took about a day in total. I manufactured a keyboard from two faulty ones of the same type, one of which came from a non-working 600XL.

[spookt]

flashjazzcat, on Sun May 15, 2011 7:24 AM, said:

This one was a dirty yellow when I started (no before pic, sadly), and the upper half of the case was lying keyboardless and badgeless in a box in the spare bedroom. The bottom half of the case was elsewhere, with a working Rev 1 motherboard in it.

Treatment took about a day in total. I manufactured a keyboard from two faulty ones of the same type, one of which came from a non-working 600XL.

Ah Franken-XL! It's alive, ALIVE!!!

Edited by spookt, Sun May 15, 2011 12:16 PM.

[flashjazzcat]

spookt, on Sun May 15, 2011 12:15 PM, said:

Ah Franken-XL! It's alive, ALIVE!!!

Frying tonight!

Seriously, one feels the world is a better place for another Atari being given a second chance at life!

[Pilsner73]

flashjazzcat, on Sun May 15, 2011 7:24 AM, said:

Went RetroBrite crazy this week, after a search through the cupboards revealed a couple of 800XLs which looked worse for wear:

DSCF1972.JPG

This one was a dirty yellow when I started (no before pic, sadly), and the upper half of the case was lying keyboardless and badgeless in a box in the spare bedroom. The bottom half of the case was elsewhere, with a working Rev 1 motherboard in it.

DSCF1970.JPG

Treatment took about a day in total. I manufactured a keyboard from two faulty ones of the same type, one of which came from a non-working 600XL.

Looks good, what retrobite did you use?

[flashjazzcat]

Pilsner73, on Sun May 22, 2011 11:31 AM, said:

Looks good, what retrobite did you use?

Just the usual: 40 vol creme peroxide.

[Rachel-Emma]

Here is a restoration of a stock 65XE that I recently did for you all the see

This 65XE was the blackest and dirtiest machine that I ever purchased from anyone through eBay but it has to be said that it is also now one of the nicest machines that I have seen too.
Inside the case were crumbs and bits of mini cheddars that managed to creep inside, there was hard toffee literally stuck onto the case that was a pain to get off and many of the keys were dicoloured. Pen marks and general dirt had been covering the beautiful grey colour of the case for what appeared to be a very long time. Also, a large amount of dog hair managed to creep inside and sit ontop of the motherboard along with dust etc. The packaging that the seller sent the Atari to me in was disgraceful. They packaged my Atari up in 2 used takaway pizza boxes with bits of cheese and pepperoni and a large amount of grease stuck to the bottom. The package had been in transit for almost a week so the pizza boxes must have been at least 8 days old. Shocking stuff.

Anyway, hope you all like the pictures

Rachel

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Edited by Rachel-Emma, Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:11 PM.

[spookt]

Rachel-Emma, on Wed Jun 15, 2011 3:09 PM, said:

Here is a restoration of a stock 65XE that I recently did for you all the see

This 65XE was the blackest and dirtiest machine that I ever purchased from anyone through eBay but it has to be said that it is also now one of the nicest machines that I have seen too.
Inside the case were crumbs and bits of mini cheddars that managed to creep inside, there was hard toffee literally stuck onto the case that was a pain to get off and many of the keys were dicoloured. Pen marks and general dirt had been covering the beautiful grey colour of the case for what appeared to be a very long time. Also, a large amount of dog hair managed to creep inside and sit ontop of the motherboard along with dust etc. The packaging that the seller sent the Atari to me in was disgraceful. They packaged my Atari up in 2 used takaway pizza boxes with bits of cheese and pepperoni and a large amount of grease stuck to the bottom. The package had been in transit for almost a week so the pizza boxes must have been at least 8 days old. Shocking stuff.

Anyway, hope you all like the pictures

Rachel

Nice job!

[Zedex]

Would using ordinary Crest White Toothpaste work? I heard it's good to do as an alternative to retr0brite.

[mimo]

Zedex, on Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:52 AM, said:

Would using ordinary Crest White Toothpaste work? I heard it's good to do as an alternative to retr0brite.

I doubt it, but show us your results by all means

[flashjazzcat]

Zedex, on Mon Aug 22, 2011 7:52 AM, said:

Would using ordinary Crest White Toothpaste work? I heard it's good to do as an alternative to retr0brite.

It seems like it would be a rather expensive way of going about things. How much does it cost for two litres of Crest Toothpaste?