One More RetrObright Experiment

[OldIsNew]

I recently restored a TRS-80 Model II keyboard. The keys were quite yellowed - I could see they originally were light grey from looking at portions of the keys that had been shielded from light. I've never tried RetrObrighting anything so I figured I give it a whirl.



The formulas I've seen for RetrObright usually call for hydrogen peroxide in the 10 - 14% range but I thought I'd see what would happen with the more readily available and considerably cheaper 3% available in grocery stores, etc. (paid $0.85 for 32 oz) .  Also instead of sunlight I used two 60 W CFL black lights ($3.50 each) and two 90 watt halogen floodlights ($5.50 each). I also used OxyClean as recommended

       

I put some of the Mylar emergency blanket I had left over from fixing the keys on this board underneath a glass pan and filled the pan with enough 3% hydrogen peroxide to cover the keys well (about 40 oz) and added about 1/4 tsp OxyClean . Then added the keys and put them under the lights for 8 hours.

         


I should have taken more "before" pics, but I didn't really expect too much to happen since I was using such low concentration peroxide, however it worked quite well and the keys are now back to their original grey color. The space bar was a little blotchy before treatment and that didn't change (now grey and a little blotchy instead of yellow and a little blotchy), but overall I'm pleased with how the keys turned out.


         

[Techno Trousers]

Wow, that looks great!

[OldIsNew]

Wow, that looks great!

Thanks, I was kind of surprised it worked!

[wolf]

Excellent result!  I'm impressed with how those keys came up.