Platinum color restoration

[PacificState]

So (and I apologize - this isn't strictly a Compact Mac question, but I figured the colors were shared):

I have an Apple 5.25" drive in Platinum, and it's been extremely aged and yellowed by the sun. I figure I have three options to restore the color:

- Retrobrite. This has mainly worked for me before, but I've had a bad experience with streaking before which is hard to correct.

- Bleach. I've heard that this will work, but I'm a bit wary.

- Paint. This is appealing, but I don't know if there's an existing spray can color that will match.

Has anyone tried restoring their Platinum Mac back to its original color with any success - and if so, how did you do it? Thanks!

 

[Nixontheknight]

one of my favorite methods, which originated from Germany, is leaving your electronics out in direct sunlight. Apparently, it bleaches the plastic back to its original color. I tested this on my LC III back in the fall of 2020 and it worked well. You don't even have to disassemble the unit or deal with any peroxide, which means there's no streaking or containers you have to deal with. Your mileage may vary, but I've had good results, and maybe others have as well

 

[PacificState]

Thanks! I wondered about this - doesn't the sunlight cause the yellowing in the first place? This drive came to me with yellowing on one side, while the other was much lighter, so I assumed that was what had happened.

 

[Byrd]

The sunlight method is only good for slightly yellow plastics IMO and only in climates with high temps - it also takes days.

I'd look into the sunlight + oxy crystal + peroxide immersion method in a clear tub, periodically checking every hour or so.

 

[Nixontheknight]

Thanks! I wondered about this - doesn't the sunlight cause the yellowing in the first place? This drive came to me with yellowing on one side, while the other was much lighter, so I assumed that was what had happened.

diffused sunlight causes the yellowing. windows tend to block certain wavelengths of UV, not to mention florescent lighting and heat play into the yellowing process as well. Have you ever noticed that plastic chairs left in the sun too long are a lighter color than ones that aren't? This sort of plays into the deyellowing process

 

[Nixontheknight]

The sunlight method is only good for slightly yellow plastics IMO and only in climates with high temps - it also takes days.

I'd look into the sunlight + oxy crystal + peroxide immersion method in a clear tub, periodically checking every hour or so.

High temps my behind. I live in New England, where it doesn’t go above like 70 or 80F in the summer, and it worked during the fall

 

[Johnnya101]

This is just my opinion, but I'd strongly recommend NOT leaving it out in sunlight as the above poster (now further up since writing) suggests. Yes, it will bleach it back to the original color, but in the process degrades the plastic further. There have been reports of plastic being brightened this way becoming extremely yellow and brittle down the road.

You can use standard 3 or 6 recent hydrogen peroxide and submerge the plastic shel entirely, but it gets expensive if it is large.

Lately, after hating it, ive come to like the 40 volume hair developer method. Make sure you brush it every 15 minutes or less, and keep pouring some on, and it comes out great.

 

[joshc]

The fourth option is do nothing, leave it yellowed. Retrobright is hard to get right in my experience and you risk the possibility of making it worse. That's just my take on it, feel free to ignore if you are really bothered by the yellowing. For what it's worth, I tried submersion with Oxi-action in warm water and ended up with a blotchy finish on a Classic II case.

 

[Johnnya101]

^Also this. I did try the oxi clean method as well on a hinge cover for an Apple Scanner and the plastic "support" parts got whiter than the rest. If you're gonna retrobrite it, either do it right or not at all.

DONT listen to that 8 bit YouTuber guy and literally boil plastic in peroxide... And if you use hair developer creme, DONT use clear plastic wrap on it, and don't let it dry out.

 

[Nixontheknight]

^Also this. I did try the oxi clean method as well on a hinge cover for an Apple Scanner and the plastic "support" parts got whiter than the rest. If you're gonna retrobrite it, either do it right or not at all.

DONT listen to that 8 bit YouTuber guy and literally boil plastic in peroxide... And if you use hair developer creme, DONT use clear plastic wrap on it, and don't let it dry out.

he never said boil it, he said regulate the temperature

 

[Johnnya101]

Ok, sorry, I think he claims 160 degree heat. Not boil.

UV or heat or UV + heat = yellowing, the color change of ABS degredation. This is a fact. Yeah, the surface might look okay, but what's it doing internally to the plastic? Strong heat in any amount is not good. UV affects the surface and degrades it, turning it yellow. Plus, heating plastic risks warping it. Heat affects the whole thing, not just the surface. I have seen proof of this with computers stored in hot locations, the inside of the cases yellow.

Just pointing out some observations. Of course, OP, you do whatever you want.