Author Topic: White PC Engine should be white  (Read 3807 times)

Deletion

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White PC Engine should be white
« on: July 29, 2012, 11:55:39 AM »
Had great success whitening my PC Engine, CD-ROM2 and IFU-30. I went with Arkhan's method of using just hydrogen peroxide and light instead of the various Retr0bright recipes. And I used artificial light instead of natural sunlight because I wanted a more controlled environment. First I made trips to my neighborhood pet supply, beauty supply and dollar stores and came home with a canopy light fixture (normally used atop reptile terrariums), UVB bulbs, many bottles of hydrogen peroxide, and various plastic food and storage containers. Here's a rundown.


MATERIALS:
[ul][li]Exo Terra Compact Top Terrarium Canopy, 17.7 x 3.5 x 7.8-inch, Max 26W spiral, Max 25W tube, PT-2226[/li][li]2x Exo Terra Repti Glo Tropical Terrarium Lamp, 5.0 UVB Compact, 26W, PT-2187 (Power should be in the 300-350nm wavelength)[/li][li]Salon Care 40 Volume Clear Developer 32 oz. (Hydrogen Peroxide)[/li][li]Plastic food or storage containers[/li][li]Rubber or latex gloves (hydrogen peroxide burns skin so these are a must)[/li][/ul]

Mmm, minty boxes :P





BEFORE

The RAU-30, which is in its original super-bright white condition, is used as a point of comparison. I recorded the Serial Numbers and removed the stickers with Goo Gone. Then I disassembled and cleaned the consoles with dish washing liquid and an old electric toothbrush.









SETUP

UVB bulbs installed in the light fixture.




All of the plastic pieces float so I weighed them down with small rolls of pennies. The larger pieces had rolls of pennies taped to their undersides, while smaller pieces were taped to rolls of pennies. The pieces were completely submerged. The tape would come loose so I checked on the consoles periodically, dried the pieces, and re-applied tape as needed.




The whitening process in action.




These types of containers are perfect if you need to whiten the edges. NOTE: This photo was taken after the process. Make sure you don't see a DIN connector or power switch when you
pour in the hydrogen peroxide! #-o





AFTER

Neither the PC Engine nor the CD-ROM2 came out as white as the RAU-30, but they look dramatically better.











BEFORE :cry:

The Super System Card is quite yellowed and was not put through the process allowing you to see the change in color of the consoles quite clearly. The white tray of the IFU-30 was also whitened although it's not as easy to tell in these photos.




AFTER - Much better :dance:




« Last Edit: September 06, 2013, 06:53:42 PM by Deletion »

Duo_R

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #1 on: July 29, 2012, 11:58:37 AM »
huge improvement! Nice job!
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Bernie

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #2 on: July 29, 2012, 12:17:02 PM »
Damn that is a BIG improvement!!!!

PunkicCyborg

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #3 on: July 29, 2012, 12:32:06 PM »
looks fantastic, you can do mine next ;)
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CPTRAVE

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #4 on: July 29, 2012, 12:36:32 PM »
Wow that is great I wonder how long it will stay like that.

Samurai Ghost

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #5 on: July 29, 2012, 12:40:18 PM »
Man, looks great!! Should have sent a bright white system card to match it, maybe I could swap it out for you?

Tatsujin

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #6 on: July 29, 2012, 01:05:45 PM »
Wow that is great I wonder how long it will stay like that.

I did one of my whities too several years ago, and it still is white as it just came out the box :)

altough I didn't use any of those UV equip. but some bleach stuff usually for cleaning the bath etc. it worked perfectly.
« Last Edit: July 29, 2012, 01:07:16 PM by Tatsujin »
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Kaijuboy

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #7 on: July 29, 2012, 01:42:19 PM »
Impressive!  :clap: What about controllers though?  Would you leave the little overlay sticker thing on? Or is it fairly easy to remove/reattach?


kazekirifx

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #8 on: July 29, 2012, 01:51:26 PM »
Haha. Super System Card is still yellow...

I'm still looking for a yellow one. I'm willing to pay up to and including 500 yen for a loose one.
Right now I have a Core Grafx 1 hooked up to my yellow CD unit, which doesn't match since it's black and doesn't yellow at all.
Hooray for old yellowed systems!

Deletion

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #9 on: July 29, 2012, 02:56:30 PM »
Man, looks great!! Should have sent a bright white system card to match it, maybe I could swap it out for you?


That would be awesome, but not necessary. Or... perhaps the next time I purchase some turbob from you (and I'm sure I will), we can swing a deal  8)


Deletion

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #10 on: July 29, 2012, 03:08:16 PM »
Haha. Super System Card is still yellow...


I was thinking of sealing that sliver of space between the bump-out and the Hucard with something like super glue. I may still try it, but I'm in no rush.

GohanX

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #11 on: July 29, 2012, 03:39:30 PM »
Wow, that's fantastic! Especially the CD-ROM, since the old bleaching method doesn't work on those.

Samurai Ghost

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #12 on: July 29, 2012, 03:40:35 PM »
Man, looks great!! Should have sent a bright white system card to match it, maybe I could swap it out for you?


That would be awesome, but not necessary. Or... perhaps the next time I purchase some turbob from you (and I'm sure I will), we can swing a deal  8)



Yeah I have a bright white System 3.0 card that should work fine. Should only cost a dollar or so to mail it so let me know if you want to swap it out so you have an even better looking system!!

Deletion

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #13 on: July 29, 2012, 04:27:45 PM »
Yeah I have a bright white System 3.0 card that should work fine. Should only cost a dollar or so to mail it so let me know if you want to swap it out so you have an even better looking system!!

Samurai Ghost, you are awesome. I cannot decline your generous offer and will send you an email.

Frank_fjs

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Re: White PC Engine should be white
« Reply #14 on: July 29, 2012, 04:35:28 PM »
Fantastic write-up & result!

Thanks for sharing. :)