Restoring a DUO-R Controller White Again?

Discussion in 'Repair, Restoration, Conservation and Preservation' started by HEX1GON, Jun 30, 2015.

  1. Jun 30, 2015
    #1
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    Without the use of Retrobright (don't think it's sold in Australia), what else could I use to bring the white back?
    I was thinking of using bleach, but not sure if that would even leave a result.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2015
    #1
  2. Jun 30, 2015
    #2
    Kappa

    Kappa Peppy Member

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    i would leave bleach as a last resort, i have a feeling it'll leave it looking yellow-ish
     
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  3. Jun 30, 2015
    #3
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    It's quite yellowed now, almost piss like yellow.
     
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  4. Jun 30, 2015
    #4
    Kappa

    Kappa Peppy Member

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    Try a watered down bleach maybe, leave it for a few hours if nothing has happened trying making it stronger ?
     
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  5. Jun 30, 2015
    #5
    DeChief

    DeChief Rustled.

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    If it works, let me know. My controller isn't looking too great either.
     
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  6. Jun 30, 2015
    #6
    TriMesh

    TriMesh Site Supporter 2013-2016

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    Hydrogen peroxide and sunlight will do it - that's basically all that retrobright is anyway.

    Using regular (I.E. chlorine based) bleach is not a good idea with ABS - it will work, but it damages the surface finish and makes the material brittle. It also tends to discolor again quite rapidly, since the Cl migrates into the plastic and then undergoes the same reaction that the Br did, but with a lower activation energy.
     
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  7. Jun 30, 2015
    #7
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    Thanks for that Tri-Mesh. I wouldn't even know where to get any chemicals for it though...
     
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  8. Jun 30, 2015
    #8
    supersega

    supersega Beff Jr.

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    Go to a haircare store for it. Thats where a friend of mine got the stuff to Retrobrite his Japanese Saturn.
     
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  9. Jun 30, 2015
    #9
    Venatus Usque

    Venatus Usque Site Supporter 2014, 2015

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    Your local pharmacy and grocery stores carry it. Very inexpensive.

    Wear gloves ... its not harmful as its used as a disinfectant, but prolonged exposure will bleach your skin. It also stinks ... use in well ventilated area.
     
    Last edited: Jun 30, 2015
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  10. Jun 30, 2015
    #10
    AmmoJammo

    AmmoJammo Spirited Member

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    Get some cream peroxide from a hair dresser...

    The other ingredients in "retrobrite" don't actually do anything, other than make it thicker.

    My latest test, suggests that 12% concentration (40 vol) then diluted 50/50 with water, and applied using a spray bottle has the potential to give more even results, than trying to apply it using a paint brush.

    Leave it in the sun for maybe an hour (not on a hot day) then wash it off, see how its going, and reapply the bleach.
     
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  11. Jul 1, 2015
    #11
    LeHaM

    LeHaM Site Soldier

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    peroxide will also fuck your nails up too
     
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  12. Jul 1, 2015
    #12
    Ergot_Cholera

    Ergot_Cholera Omnia mors aequat

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    This is a coincidence, just yesterday I de-yellowed a Duo R controller using hydrogen peroxide. I have found that you need fairly strong sunlight to get a good result, you shouldn't have any trouble in Australia but here in the UK you don't get many opportunities.
     
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  13. Jul 1, 2015
    #13
    TriMesh

    TriMesh Site Supporter 2013-2016

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    The less sunlight you have, the more important the OxyClean is - it's basically there is accelerate the decomposition of the HOOH.
     
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  14. Jul 2, 2015
    #14
    LeHaM

    LeHaM Site Soldier

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    book an few hours in a tanning booth ;)
     
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  15. Jul 2, 2015
    #15
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    It's winter here, so barely any sunlight. It's not all sand land and burning sun near the ass of Australia.
     
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  16. Jul 2, 2015
    #16
    Ergot_Cholera

    Ergot_Cholera Omnia mors aequat

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    Still many times better than the UK during autumn and winter though. It is warm here today (around 25C) for UK standards but still cloudy, so no direct sunlight. Maybe you will have to wait for sunny weather or use an artificial UV light source.
     
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  17. Jul 2, 2015
    #17
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    Yep, I'll probably wait till summer for it.
     
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  18. Jul 2, 2015
    #18
    takeshi385

    takeshi385 Site Supporter 2013

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    I just remembered its winter for y'all right now and Australia's summer is during the height of our winter. Does Australia get much snow?
     
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  19. Jul 2, 2015
    #19
    HEX1GON

    HEX1GON 2997cc Staff Member

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    Not unless it's in the alps. Only very cold winds, and barely any rain.
     
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  20. Jul 5, 2015
    #20
    Gamesquest1

    Gamesquest1 <B>Site Supporter 2014</B>

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    Ahh the joys of retro brighting in the UK, you just need to have the peroxide and oxyclean at the ready for a sunny day, although I did.get pretty good results from just applying it 2 days in a row with not so sunny weather last year (reapplying it after a few hours on both days)

    Not the best results, but acceptable, I had a few consoles and pads to get done and got bored of waiting for the perfect day to do it
     
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