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olePigeon · Mar 2, 2009, 06:29 PM

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

Totally cool discovery. Everyone should know that the best discoveries are usually by accident, and this one is awesome.

By submerging some old, yellowing plastic in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide & Oxy Clean, and placing it under a UV lamp, you can reverse the yellowing affect on old plastics. They even developed a way to make it into a gel that allows for treating larger pieces.

These guys are using it to restore the plastic color on their Amigas, Commodores, and other vintage computers. I'm anxious to give this a try on a few of my vintage Macs.

Check out the before and after pics!

lexapro · Mar 2, 2009, 06:44 PM

Um, it's not the same item in the pics.

olePigeon · Mar 2, 2009, 06:47 PM

Read the threads. It's the same item. Some parts were removed to avoid corrosion.

Dakar V · Mar 2, 2009, 06:49 PM

I love how the wall and carpet are more yellow/green in the yellowed plastic pic.

olePigeon · Mar 2, 2009, 06:50 PM

Pictures at 1 hour increments:

lexapro · Mar 2, 2009, 06:53 PM

The parts look very different. Similiar, but different enough to mean they are not the same product. Sorry, but i do not believe it.

- - e r i k - - · Mar 2, 2009, 07:26 PM

Why not? The science behind it is sound.

RAILhead · Mar 2, 2009, 07:33 PM

Does it work on teeth?

turtle777 · Mar 2, 2009, 07:36 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Does it work on teeth?

Sure, if you got plastic teeth, why not

-t

- - e r i k - - · Mar 2, 2009, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by RAILhead

Does it work on teeth?

Yes.

finboy · Mar 2, 2009, 08:17 PM

Now to figure out a preventative.

klb5090 · Mar 2, 2009, 08:22 PM

my NES could use this, makes me think its project time over spring break

Railroader · 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by lexapro

Um, it's not the same item in the pics.

Enlarged, the image shows they are the same item.

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I love how the wall and carpet are more yellow/green in the yellowed plastic pic.

Color balanced corrected to the wall outlet shows the dramatic difference after cleaning.

ShortcutToMoncton · Mar 2, 2009, 10:48 PM

Damn, can I hawk my Apple II Plus as "never used!!!1!" on eBay now?? Killer!

greg

Eriamjh · Mar 2, 2009, 11:20 PM

I found cleaning with Fantastik has a reasonable improvement in yellowing.

However, If I decide to do some restoration on the LCIII or LC475 in my basement, I'll know what to do.

However, this image is the most impressive except... whose ass was it shoved up before treatment?

-Q- · Mar 3, 2009, 02:56 AM

That's quite impressive.

Dakar V · Mar 3, 2009, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Railroader

Color balanced corrected to the wall outlet shows the dramatic difference after cleaning.

Not my point.

My point is, if you wanna be taken seriously, maybe you should make the pics match, both on tint, and on the piece's state.

osiris · Mar 3, 2009, 10:40 AM

I wonder if this damages the material in the long term - is it safe for museum pieces?

Railroader · Mar 3, 2009, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

Not my point.

My point is, if you wanna be taken seriously, maybe you should make the pics match, both on tint, and on the piece's state.

They may well be good at de-yellowing plastics, but expert photographic color-balancers they ain't.

Dakar V · Mar 3, 2009, 04:53 PM

They color-balance real life.

Railroader · Mar 3, 2009, 08:15 PM

besson3c · Mar 3, 2009, 10:04 PM

Those pics have been Photoshopped. Look at the wall socket plugs in the first pic to see what I mean.

Railroader · Mar 4, 2009, 08:26 AM

Indeed, they are upside down.

RAILhead · Mar 4, 2009, 09:37 AM

Andrew Stephens · Mar 4, 2009, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Those pics have been Photoshopped. Look at the wall socket plugs in the first pic to see what I mean.

Looks like they took a lot of trouble to put the treated machine back in exactly the same place AND take the shot from exactly the same angle as the original.

Wouldn't have killed them to take twoshots, one for the original and one to photoshop.

osiris · Mar 4, 2009, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

They color-balance real life.

How profound. Sometimes even a technicolor life needs color correction.

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 01:33 PM

The computer is not Photoshopped.

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 01:38 PM

I think they're onto something.

klb5090 · Mar 4, 2009, 02:05 PM

hmm shiny!

besson3c · Mar 4, 2009, 02:11 PM

Just look at the damn plug. This whole operation is a hoax.

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Just look at the damn plug. This whole operation is a hoax.

What's wrong with the plug?

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 02:20 PM

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

Just look at the damn plug. This whole operation is a hoax.

Have you personally tried it? If not then don't call it a hoax.

Besides, there are plenty of before and after pics up in their gallery.

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 02:29 PM

They sure did put a lot of time and effort into this hoax, I'll give them that.

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 02:32 PM

They also aren't selling it. I'd be suspicious if this was astroturfing for some company, but it's not. These are hobbyists doing it on their own time and on their own dime, on items they consider valuable and possibly irreplaceable.

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

Have you personally tried it? If not then don't call it a hoax.

Besides, there are plenty of before and after pics up in their gallery.

That LC in the gallery is exactly what I wanted to see.

I can't wait to give this a try.

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

They sure did put a lot of time and effort into this hoax, I'll give them that.

You think it's a hoax too?

I say put up or shut up. The process isn't expensive. The vintage computer hobby community is known for their factions. Amiga vs. Atari, for instance. If this didn't work you can be sure that one side or the other would be screaming that this is a hoax.

I have a spare Apple IIc at home with yellowing. I have a "do nothing" vacation week coming up and I thought I'd give it a try. I was going to maybe post before/after pics here but I won't if I'm going to be accused of photoshopping.

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

These are hobbyists doing it on their own time and on their own dime, on items they consider valuable and possibly irreplaceable.

You bet! I'm very protective of my Apple II collection and if this even works only half as well as the pics show I'll treat my whole collection in a heartbeat.

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

You think it's a hoax too?

Not really, but since everyone's humor detector seems to be broken, I thought I'd keep milking this thing.

olePigeon · Mar 4, 2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

You bet! I'm very protective of my Apple II collection and if this even works only half as well as the pics show I'll treat my whole collection in a heartbeat.

I'm gonna try it on my LC III and my IIGs this weekend.

besson3c · Mar 4, 2009, 02:49 PM

This is an attempt by foreign agents to ruin our priceless antique commodities to help lead to our own economic downturn.

hyteckit · Mar 4, 2009, 02:57 PM

But does it blend?

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 02:58 PM

I wonder if this works on skin.

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 03:00 PM

Originally Posted by besson3c

This is an attempt by foreign agents to ruin our priceless antique commodities to help lead to our own economic downturn.

"priceless antique?"

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I wonder if this works on skin.

Only if you have plastic skin...

hyteckit · Mar 4, 2009, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by Dakar V

I wonder if this works on skin.

Yes it does. I use it for my acne. It's called Oxy Acne Treatment.

Check out my before and after pics:

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Person Man

Only if you have plastic skin...

Originally Posted by hyteckit

Yes it does. I use it for my acne. It's called Oxy Acne Treatment.

Check out my before and after pics:

Looks like it also acts as a hair straightener.

osiris · Mar 4, 2009, 03:14 PM

MJ looks photoshopped.

Dakar V · Mar 4, 2009, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

MJ looks photoshopped.

Good point, his palm doesn't match his face.

Person Man · Mar 4, 2009, 03:18 PM

Originally Posted by osiris

MJ looks photoshopped.

What do you mean, "looks?"

His transformation is about as close a representation of photoshopping "in real life" as you can get!