512K Case Cracked

[cbmeeks]

I just got a 512K Mac with keyboard, mouse, external floppy and carrying case for $60.  I'm very excited.

Other than having SEVERE yellowing, there's a 1" or so crack wrapping around the top-right of the case.  On the front bezel (not the main case).

So, any ideas on how to fix that?  I don't mind a few dents and scratches but that crack really keeps pulling my eyes towards it (no jokes please...lol).

Anyone have a front bezel for sale?

Thanks!

 

[bibilit]

Have not tried yet, but if you can find an ABS of the same colour, you can use a mix of ABS and acetone to repair your casing.

https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-make-abs-juice-glue-and-slurry

 

[cbmeeks]

Hmmm.  That's an idea.  I had thought about filling it with epoxy, sanding and painting the case.  

Seriously, since this thing is so yellowed, it might be a good candidate for painting. If I could find the original color.  However, my painting skills are not that great.  

I'm going to retrobright it either way.  If I can get it to a good shade, I might just live with the crack.  Maybe.  I may try taking it to some autobody shop and see if they would paint it!

 

[alectrona6400]

You can try retr0bright, which involves Hydrogen peroxide or 40 Volume Salon cream, and sunlight/UV light (sun works faster). But it will only restore the plastic to the original color, in which you can fix the yellowing. You will still have the cracks, however.

You can learn more about it here:

http://www.retr0bright.com/

 

[Trash80toHP_Mini]

https://www.matterhackers.com/news/how-to-make-abs-juice-glue-and-slurry

Interesting link. Acetone works  .  .  .  kinda  .  .  .  it comes up constantly on the web as a solution to these problems, but the correct solution making up ABS cement differs. Active ingredients in ABS cements sold for plumbing would be MEK with only a small percentage of Acetone in the mix. I linked to the MSDS of one brand somewhere that lists the proportions. I'd definitely go with that data rather than random info on the net about using Acetone alone. Dunno how that got started, but I'll wager it didn't originate with a chemist or adhesives/solvent welding expert.

Sanding the case removes the texture, not a good approach unless you're going for the "ProtoCase" look.