THE RETROBRIGHT EXPERIENCE.
Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2017 11:26 am
THE RETROBRIGHT EXPERIENCE.
This is not "The definitive guide of the retrobright"; it is only my personal experience with this procedure and I detail the tests, the errors and the correct ones. I am not responsible for the result obtained by other people.
The materials needed for this retrobright are:
- Gloves (the hydrogen peroxide cream burns the skin).
- Hydrogen peroxide cream at 40 volumes (12%). A small bottle of 75 ml costs about 0´5 €. Two bottles are required for a computer and separate keyboard.
- A roll of transparent film (used to wrap food).
- Sunlight.
- An Atari computer with unwanted yellow or brown color (or a MegaFile device).
- Patience.
Experience:
- Disassemble the computer (and its separate keyboard, if you have one) and clean the plastics with soap and water. Use a brush for the grids. Rinse with water and dry it with a rag.
- Protect the Atari label with adhesive tape.
- Pour some cream into a bowl and use a clean brush to apply it on the casing. Apply the cream evenly throughout the surface.
- Cover the casing with the transparent film, avoiding too many wrinkles and air bubbles. Another person can help you with this operation.
- Place the casing in a very sunny place, for two or three hours approximately (depending on the country and season).
The best sunlight is in the morning or in the afternoon, but the time interval from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. is not convenient because the process is done too quickly and uncontrollably; resulting spots or "vascularization". I suppose that this aspect is due to the high temperature that in Andalusia (Spain) adds to the enormous illumination in those hours of summer, producing an accelerated chemical reaction and a premature drying that obtains an irregular color and even white patches. The hours can be complete in other countries or in other seasons.
- Every half hour verifies that there is the necessary humidity that provides the melted cream. If dry areas are located: do not put more cream on top; you must remove the film, clean the casing with a dry cloth, re-spread the cream and cover it with new film. The important thing is that there is always with humidity, because the dry cream produces stains of different shades of gray or even white.
- After two or three hours, remove the film and wash the casing with soap and water.
The result has been disastrous !!
Do not worry, it is very difficult to get a perfect result in the first session; tomorrow repeats the whole process.
The second time you will see a more pleasant result. If is necessary: Repeat a third time the next day.
Observations:
- During the process, the optimum conditions occur while the cream is slowly in effervescence, taking care that it does not dry.
- A keyboard without disassembly should not be exposed to the sun for more than 15 minutes, always with the capacitors and chips covered with a rag. Higher exposures can damage the electronic components, for the temperature and the chemical reaction that is occurring.
Happy retrobright and may the TOS be with you.
This is not "The definitive guide of the retrobright"; it is only my personal experience with this procedure and I detail the tests, the errors and the correct ones. I am not responsible for the result obtained by other people.
The materials needed for this retrobright are:
- Gloves (the hydrogen peroxide cream burns the skin).
- Hydrogen peroxide cream at 40 volumes (12%). A small bottle of 75 ml costs about 0´5 €. Two bottles are required for a computer and separate keyboard.
- A roll of transparent film (used to wrap food).
- Sunlight.
- An Atari computer with unwanted yellow or brown color (or a MegaFile device).
- Patience.
Experience:
- Disassemble the computer (and its separate keyboard, if you have one) and clean the plastics with soap and water. Use a brush for the grids. Rinse with water and dry it with a rag.
- Protect the Atari label with adhesive tape.
- Pour some cream into a bowl and use a clean brush to apply it on the casing. Apply the cream evenly throughout the surface.
- Cover the casing with the transparent film, avoiding too many wrinkles and air bubbles. Another person can help you with this operation.
- Place the casing in a very sunny place, for two or three hours approximately (depending on the country and season).
The best sunlight is in the morning or in the afternoon, but the time interval from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. is not convenient because the process is done too quickly and uncontrollably; resulting spots or "vascularization". I suppose that this aspect is due to the high temperature that in Andalusia (Spain) adds to the enormous illumination in those hours of summer, producing an accelerated chemical reaction and a premature drying that obtains an irregular color and even white patches. The hours can be complete in other countries or in other seasons.
- Every half hour verifies that there is the necessary humidity that provides the melted cream. If dry areas are located: do not put more cream on top; you must remove the film, clean the casing with a dry cloth, re-spread the cream and cover it with new film. The important thing is that there is always with humidity, because the dry cream produces stains of different shades of gray or even white.
- After two or three hours, remove the film and wash the casing with soap and water.
The result has been disastrous !!
Do not worry, it is very difficult to get a perfect result in the first session; tomorrow repeats the whole process.
The second time you will see a more pleasant result. If is necessary: Repeat a third time the next day.
Observations:
- During the process, the optimum conditions occur while the cream is slowly in effervescence, taking care that it does not dry.
- A keyboard without disassembly should not be exposed to the sun for more than 15 minutes, always with the capacitors and chips covered with a rag. Higher exposures can damage the electronic components, for the temperature and the chemical reaction that is occurring.
Happy retrobright and may the TOS be with you.