Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Identification, Repair & Restoration => Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques => Discolored Plastic and Bakelite - Improving it Chemically => Topic started by: WEBellSystemChristian on January 18, 2016, 03:50:57 PM

Title: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: WEBellSystemChristian on January 18, 2016, 03:50:57 PM
Has anyone ever used Peroxide cream on Ivory Thermoplastic, such as an Ivory 302? I have an Ivory 354 that has absolutely no cracks anywhere, but has stress indentations in the front around the dial. These indentations wouldn't be very noticeable if they weren't highlighted by a dark tint.

I was thinking about using Peroxide/UV treatment to try getting rid of the dark areas. I've used this method many, many times on Tenite and ABS, but is it safe on Thermoplastic?
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: Doug Rose on January 18, 2016, 04:04:19 PM
Christian....I have soaked a few Ivory thermoplastics in a 50% bleach/water solution with fantastic results.....Doug
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: unbeldi on January 18, 2016, 06:01:22 PM
Here is the result of using diluted Clorox bleach, diluted to ca. 30-40%, on a 354:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11814.msg126729#msg126729

Nothing is cheaper than Clorox, 121 oz can be had for less than $4 on sale, IIRC.
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: unbeldi on January 18, 2016, 06:03:17 PM
Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on January 18, 2016, 03:50:57 PM

I was thinking about using Peroxide/UV treatment to try getting rid of the dark areas. I've used this method many, many times on Tenite and ABS, but is it safe on Thermoplastic?

Both Tenite and ABS are thermoplastics too.
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: EricofonNL on April 16, 2016, 01:43:37 PM
Yesterday I also restored an Ericofon with peroxide for the first time. And I must say with pretty good results.
I was able to start this experiment because of the posts on this forum.

You can see my experiment on my blog : http://www.ericofon.nl/collection/dark-start/ (http://www.ericofon.nl/collection/dark-start/)

This will save me a lot of time and will improve some phones dramatically :-)

Thanks
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: Matilo Telephones on April 19, 2016, 05:37:56 PM
Interesting article you wrote there, Paul.

I have received a good candidate for peroxide treatment today. A Wedgewood blue Ericofon, that has yellowed a bit. See picture.
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: EricofonNL on April 19, 2016, 06:41:00 PM
I tried grey as well and that was also a success.
Blue should be no problem at all. Good luck!

Paul
Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: EricofonNL on May 15, 2016, 02:24:28 AM
Any news on this blue Ericofon Arwin?

I have done some more experiments with other colors. With pink you need to be extremely careful since it bleaches out very quickly. Do the cleansing in multiple steps of 1-2 hours to be sure you do not overbleach the shell. Last week I messed up a pink phone.

But still, the method remains a good alternative for the sanding process.

Title: Re: Ivory Thermoplastic Peroxide
Post by: unbeldi on May 15, 2016, 09:38:55 AM
Quote from: EricofonNL on May 15, 2016, 02:24:28 AM
Any news on this blue Ericofon Arwin?

I have done some more experiments with other colors. With pink you need to be extremely careful since it bleaches out very quickly. Do the cleansing in multiple steps of 1-2 hours to be sure you do not overbleach the shell. Last week I messed up a pink phone.

But still, the method remains a good alternative for the sanding process.

The same is true for Western Electric's pink plastics.
But you should be able to repair the fading by sanding.  On a Princess, it was not hard to get the color back.