does anyone know a good way to restore the color to a dove gray 564? the one I have is badly discolored by years of sitting in an office or by a window. I heard someone using hydrogen peroxide but don't know if that ever worked. someone also mentioned leaving the plastic parts out in the sun for a day, but I don't know about that either! any clues??
This thread from 2011 has some interesting info re peroxide treatments:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=4658.0
And for good and detailed info on chemically sanding ABS, this thread by TelePlay:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=bb4773256bde51c061dcc971ab7663fb&topic=20168.0
Thank you. I'll investigate this one!
It's well worth watching some of The 8-bit Guy's restoration videos as he shows the process of de-yellowing plastics for various computers he acquires, and it's a simple process, a black container (for solar heating purposes) filled with water with hydrogen peroxide added to it, plastics added and left to spend time in the sun... :)
His Commodore 128D restoration video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_sxTwD4lVs
To add, I would always recommend placing a proper secure and solid lid on peroxide baths. Whether used inside or out.
I purchased a clear container with a clear clip on lid, large enough to fit a phone with a bit of room around for movement. It's not airtight, and is safe enough to be left unattended for short periods.
Price was about $4.
I'm curious if doing the water/hydrogen mixture on the stove would work... leaving the plastic out all day seems like it would take too long.
Quote from: Babybearjs on May 13, 2019, 04:58:20 AM
I'm curious if doing the water/hydrogen mixture on the stove would work... leaving the plastic out all day seems like it would take too long.
You could do that (the 8-bit guy trialled this too with varying results), the only potential problems is plastic distortion if the temperature isn't kept low enough...
what about using regular bleach? has anyone tried that?
Quote from: Babybearjs on May 13, 2019, 11:55:25 AM
what about using regular bleach? has anyone tried that?
Collectors used to use dilute bleach to bleach white 302's. The retro brite seems to be a better choice on light colored plastics (other than bleachable white).
Just an opinion.
Jim
Quote from: Babybearjs on May 12, 2019, 05:09:02 PM
does anyone know a good way to restore the color to a dove gray 564? the one I have is badly discolored by years of sitting in an office or by a window. I heard someone using hydrogen peroxide but don't know if that ever worked. someone also mentioned leaving the plastic parts out in the sun for a day, but I don't know about that either! any clues??
I have used this process with success: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retr0bright
Just make certain that you first CLEAN the plastic parts throughly with degreaser, like a good washing/soft bristle brushing in warm water and Dawn dishwashing liquid. Some that tried this complained of "blotching", and I never experienced that because I always washed the parts well first. And yes, you CAN let the phone parts sit in BRIGHT sunlight, but ONLY if they are also totally immersed in the RetroBright liquid. I didn't use the "gooey" formula, but instead just opted for a totally liquid solution made with distilled water & mentioned chemicals. I did have to weight down the plastic parts though, because once you add the Oxidizer (OxyClean), the bubbles will fizz up and actually lift and tumble your parts if you don't weight them down! Looks just like a big bath of 7-Up that you are soaking your parts in, but it works!
I have used a creme hair peroxide formula with great results. I also have the advantage of great South Florida sunlight. The sunlight is the key as the reaction between the peroxide and the UV is what does the trick.
EDIT: some have used UV lights with good results.
ahhh... so thats what the sun is for... OK, I'll try it... Unlike Florida, our sun is limited... trees, etc. create issues... I washed the plastic parts last night in the dishwasher... wound up changing out the handset cord... I think its too far gone... too stiff and I'd just like to buy a new one... longer... about 12 ft! anyone know where one could find a gray handset cord? a lost color indeed! and at 12 feet even!
There's still some debate as to whether it's the UV, the heat or a combination of both that accelerates the process of de-yellowing, but the sun provides both UV and heat, so saves burning electricity on running a stove and/or UV lights to achieve the desired effect, unless it's in the middle of winter when ol' Sol is at it's lowest effect... :)
well, I'll just have to give it a try! wish me luck!
A youtuber named Adrian Black has had retrobrite success using peroxide cream and Blue LED Lights to trigger the reaction. He mounted the LEDs inside a foil lined box and placed the plastic wrap and peroxide cream covered components inside. Temperature measurements he took during the process showed that the temperature remained near ambient while still achieving good results.
Adrian's channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE5dIscvDxrb7CD5uiJJOiw
I was trying to remember who it was who did that method of UV Retrobriting using partially dismantled Philips LED lamps, his video (following link) prompted me to buy some Royal Blue 1 Watt LED beads, I just couldn't recall whose video it was!!! ;D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRlAFnhmPlw
Quote from: twocvbloke on May 14, 2019, 09:12:28 AM
There's still some debate as to whether it's the UV, the heat or a combination of both that accelerates the process of de-yellowing, but the sun provides both UV and heat, so saves burning electricity on running a stove and/or UV lights to achieve the desired effect, unless it's in the middle of winter when ol' Sol is at it's lowest effect... :)
I achieved good results by simply setting my "tub" with the immersed parts in it, out in the yard under full sunlight in the middle of the day. I do have some short-wave UV lights that I have acquired but haven't tried yet; should be interesting.
thank you. I appreciate the feed back. right now with our weather being what it is... the restoration project has to wait. its rainy here right now and I still need to get a container to put the parts in it. what is the ratio of hydrogen peroxide to water? 2 to 1? or weaker? the stuff I have on hand is 3.0% its the basic hydrogen peroxide you get in the stores for first-aide.
I have the set sitting on my porch. the morning sun hits it from the side and all the discoloration seems to be gone except for the side that doesn't get any sun. so today, I took the receiver off- hook and turned the phone around so the part that is still discolored can get some sun! hope this works fast! its not a lot of discoloration, but its there...
Here are some links to phones I have done with peroxide.
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22646.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22646.0)
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22681.msg228071#msg228071 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22681.msg228071#msg228071)
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22562.msg227077#msg227077 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22562.msg227077#msg227077)