The section will try address the old problem of discoloured plastic case parts and how to reverse most of the colour change. The general idea that nicotine is the culprit but in fact the problem is within the plastic itself. Most ABS type plastics have a fire retardent such as Bromine as a constituant and this is the part cause of the problem plus ultra violet light from years in an office. Check out the Retr0Bright site for a more technical explanation.

Tools need for this job is a crosshead screw driver, a small straight end screwdriver, a container for the removed screws, a food liquidiser and a firm flat work surface such as a bench or stout table. A useful item is a digital camera to photograph the various parts before dismantling or paper and pencil to make notes and diagrams to aid reassembly.

Details of how to dismantle the various units will not be covered here as this can be found on other sections of the site.

All the case parts will need to be thoroughly washed to remove contaminants such as furniture polish, paper labels, dirt etc. Do not remove the Sirius or Victor decals as these will not be affected by the process.

SAFETY WARNING!!!
You are warned that hydrogen peroxide used in this project can cause severe chemical burns to skin (see here) and can also cause blindness if splashed into the eyes. This project uses 12% - 40 vol the maximum strength sold to the public and as used in the hair trade. If you want to try this it is strongly suggested you take adequate precautions and wear goggles and latex gloves to protect yourself and create an exclusion zone around the project. Clean all tools after use in warm soapy water and rinse. Do not attempt this if there are any doubts. All responsibility rests with you.

Materials needed for this project are:

500ml or 1 litre hydrogen peroxide, 10% to 12% strength 40 vol (hairdressers' supplies
  from the internet e.g. the 'Sally Beauty' franchise in the UK) with NO additives.
2 heaped tablespoons of Xanthan Gum powder (available online e.g. EBay).
1 level teaspoon of Glycerine (available from pharmacies e.g. Lloyds Pharmacy).
1/4 teaspoon of "Oxy" laundry booster. (any supermarket etc.).

Put on the gloves and goggles. Pour the Hydrogen Peroxide (500ml) into the blender or liquidiser taking care not to splash the peroxide and add the Xanthan Gum. Place cover on mixer. Mix or blend on high speed for 5 seconds. Add the Glycerine and mix for a further 5 seconds. Let the mixture rest for a minute then mix again for 5 seconds. A smooth, non-drip gel should have formed (a bit like hair gel. To store this mixture for later use put into a dark coloured jar or tub with lid and store in a cool dark place.
DO NOT add the "Oxy" at this time.

When all parts to be 'whitened' are assembled in the exclusion zone add the 'Oxy' to the previously prepared mixture and stir in well. Let stand for a couple of minutes. It is possible to mix the 'Oxy' with a couple of teaspoons of hot (not boiling) water first then add to assist mixing into the prepared mixture.

With a clean paintbrush apply the mixture onto the case parts being careful not to splash the mixture around. Apply an even coat throughout. Place the coated part in sunlight or if you prefer under a UV light source. Ensure that the whole surface is bathed in light. Leave for a couple of hours for the mixture to work. Hopefully if all goes well ther should be a noticable change.

Wash all the parts in clean warm water to remove all traces of the mixture. Inspect the case parts to see if they may need a second treatment to improve the appearance of the ABS. If they do then repeat the above procedure.

If the proceure has produced good to excellent results reassemble the units as described in other sections of this site or using the photographs or notes made at the start of this project.

Should photographs have been taken during the dismantling process showing the discolouration of the case then why not take photographs of the completed project, to compare the results. Email the images and a brief discription of your experiance for inclusion on the site so visitors and other collectors can see what can be done with aging ABS plastic and a bit of home chemistry.

Many thanks to the folks involved with the excellent Retr0Bright project and who devised this treatment and especially "Merlin" for all his help.

Last Update 15/04/2011