Dang... peroxide DOES burn

[xargos]

Yes friends, peroxide does indeed burn the skin.

Being the silly person I am, I decided to bathe the keycaps from my recently acquired Northgate OmniKey 101 in a tub containing 40 vol peroxide with a dash of OxyClean.  You know, basically the liquid form of Retr0Bright (or however you choose to spell it).  Well, that's not the silly part.  What was silly was that I didn't put gloves on for protection.  Then I decided to try to push a keycap down (Scroll Lock, if you must know) that had come unstuck from the Fun-Tak I was using to hold it down.  Ouch!

Luckily I only took a minor burn to the right thumb, almost like touching a hot soldering iron.  Still, lesson learned.  Beware of peroxide!

At least the keycap is stuck back down and the process has begun.

[audioave10]

Did you burn from heat, or chemical reaction?

[redpill]

Dude, wtf.  What concentration of peroxide was it?  Typically a normal 3% solution should not cause that type of issue.

[Oqsy]

Wow. My retrobrite solution got warm, but i hear it can get scary hot. If he used stronger h2o2 it could be either, but likely oxidation burn. Next time dose up on Vitamin C before trying that

[redpill]

Doesn't OxyClean have peroxide in it?  Maybe he just made a highly concentrated solution.

[Astounding]

Lesson learned, don't mix chemicals at random =P

[REVENGE]

Chemical burn, not a thermal burn. I've done this to a few of the fingers on my right hand when I got lazy and attempted to move a key that was covered in retrobright gel barehanded. I was using Clairoxide V40, which is apparently 12% H2O2, but the burn was not instantaneous. Invest in some cheap goggles and a pair of chemical resistant purple nitrile gloves. I believe that immersion is the way to go for whitening key caps.

[xargos]

Lesson learned, don't mix chemicals at random =P

Believe me, it wasn't random.  This mixture is well documented around the web.  In all fairness everyone does say to use gloves.

Chemical burn, not a thermal burn. I've done this to a few of the fingers on my right hand when I got lazy and attempted to move a key that was covered in retrobright gel barehanded. I was using Clairoxide V40, which is apparently 12% H2O2, but the burn was not instantaneous. Invest in some cheap goggles and a pair of chemical resistant purple nitrile gloves. I believe that immersion is the way to go for whitening key caps.

Bingo.  Chemical burn.  Still, it felt like grabbing a soldering iron.

I was using "Victoria USA Liquid Peroxide" since I could get it for less than Clairoxide, but it was the same 12% strength.  The mixture seems to last a couple of days and more keycaps lifted overnight, so I removed the keycaps from the bath this morning and will stick them back down and pour the mixture back in tonight.  With gloves, of course.

[vils]

I tiled my mother's bathroom last summer. It was messy and hot so I skipped gloves. After an hour and so I felt an burning sensation on my "soapy" hands. Vinegar helped to stop the burning but I can still feel the pain.

[Input Nirvana]

Is maybe the safest, most foolproof way (for keycaps) to put the hydrogen peroxide only and keycaps in a jar, close the lid and wait? Sun/no sun as an option?

No mixing, no sticking with tape, less to go wrong, blah, blah, blah.

[alaricljs]

Where's the excitement, where's the adventure, where's the inevitable 'I screwed up' thread?

[xargos]

Where's the excitement, where's the adventure, where's the inevitable 'I screwed up' thread?

True enough.  What is life without these things?

[Input Nirvana]

Where's the excitement, where's the adventure, where's the inevitable 'I screwed up' thread?

True enough.  What is life without these things?

Save all that for girls.

[The Solutor]

Oxyclean is the catalyst.  Not strictly needed but makes things go faster.

 
Oxyclean is Sodium percarbonate which is, more or less, solid hydrogen peroxide.

So retrobrite is a pointless mix between two forms of the same component.

As already suggested a mix of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% of ammonia (two different kinds of oxidizers) is way more effective (and less expensive) solution.

[The Solutor]

It makes it go faster.

 

Obviously it go faster, the solution is more concentrated.

The same  happen if you use just retrobright or just a more concentrated hydrogen peroxide solution.

[TexasFlood]

Wimps.

Just think what a porn star has to go through.

If we don't know should we go do some research?

[The Solutor]

It makes it go faster.

Not always a good thing...:redface:

[Input Nirvana]

Amazing is how a thread about xargos burning his arm completely off at the stump, has turned into one of the more humorous highlights of the day.

[alaricljs]

Almost makes me want to google it to find out what it really is they go through... mmmm nah.

[Input Nirvana]

Almost makes me want to google it to find out what it really is they go through... mmmm nah.

Just watch one. It's brutal. Seeing only one was actually more than one too many for me. Icky-poo.

[Input Nirvana]

Oxyclean is Sodium percarbonate which is, more or less, solid hydrogen peroxide.

So retrobrite is a pointless mix between two forms of the same component.

As already suggested a mix of 50% hydrogen peroxide and 50% of ammonia (two different kinds of oxidizers) is way more effective (and less expensive) solution.

I may Retrobrite this weekend. False_Dmitry_II bottom lined it down to pure hydrogen peroxide only. http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:9099&do=comments&page=3

[TexasFlood]

I may Retrobrite this weekend. False_Dmitry_II bottom lined it down to pure hydrogen peroxide only. http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:9099&do=comments&page=3

Am I misreading? Looks like False_Dmitry_II is advocating only Sodium Percarbonate at the link above.

[alaricljs]

Just watch one. It's brutal. Seeing only one was actually more than one too many for me. Icky-poo.

Watch one?  You mean they film anal bleaching?

[Input Nirvana]

Am I misreading? Looks like False_Dmitry_II is advocating only Sodium Percarbonate at the link above.

I sent him a PM for clarification.


"Why is the sky gray?
Why is the grass gray?
Why is a rainbow gray, gray, gray, gray, gray, and infra-gray?"

P.S. -Your sig has me screaming!!! lol

[Input Nirvana]

Am I misreading? Looks like False_Dmitry_II is advocating only Sodium Percarbonate at the link above.

He confirmed.

I'm getting Oxy-Clean only and trying it this weekend. I'll take before/after pics and report.

[REVENGE]

Is maybe the safest, most foolproof way (for keycaps) to put the hydrogen peroxide only and keycaps in a jar, close the lid and wait? Sun/no sun as an option?

No mixing, no sticking with tape, less to go wrong, blah, blah, blah.

Good way to go if you have the time, the whitening seems to come out more evenly.

[The Solutor]

He confirmed.

I'm getting Oxy-Clean only and trying it this weekend. I'll take before/after pics and report.

 
Any Oxidizer will be fine, sodium perborate, sodium percarbonate, Hydrogen peroxide, Sodium hypochlorite, alone they are good, if combined with Ammonium hydroxide (aka as just ammonia) are better.

Pay attention !! use them not in a closed space, and  manage them carefully, with gloves and eyeglasses. As they are relatively dangerous agents.

[TexasFlood]

P.S. -Your sig has me screaming!!! lol

Thanks, it made me chuckle last night, took me a moment to get it actually, had to use it, :biggrin:

[Input Nirvana]

I just bought 6 pounds of Oxy-Clean for about $7. I have no idea how much to dissolve in water. Tomorrow as the fog clears (I live on the beach in California) I'll dump a bunch in a clear tub outside and see what happens. I'll take pics too.

[litster]

I just bought 6 pounds of Oxy-Clean for about $7. I have no idea how much to dissolve in water. Tomorrow as the fog clears (I live on the beach in California) I'll dump a bunch in a clear tub outside and see what happens. I'll take pics too.

look forward to your results.  lopan and I may be doing this on Sunday.  Oh, and get back to me on the switch thing...

[The Solutor]

I live on the beach in California

I just bought 6 pounds of Oxy-Clean

I'm afraid is not enough for all that water...:party:

[TexasFlood]

I just bought 6 pounds of Oxy-Clean for about $7. I have no idea how much to dissolve in water. Tomorrow as the fog clears (I live on the beach in California) I'll dump a bunch in a clear tub outside and see what happens. I'll take pics too.

What are you using it on?  Most of the Retrobrite experiments I've seen are bleaching "classic" home computer gear cases back to the original beige, beige, beige, beige, beige, and infra-beige, :wink:

[TexasFlood]

I live on the beach in California

I just bought 6 pounds of Oxy-Clean

I have no idea how much to dissolve in water.

Tomorrow as the fog clears I'll dump a bunch in a clear tub outside and see what happens. I'll take pics too.

 

I'm afraid is not enough for all that water...:party:

 
I'd advise you to take your pictures from down the beach.

[Input Nirvana]

What are you using it on?  Most of the Retrobrite experiments I've seen are bleaching "classic" home computer gear cases back to the original beige, beige, beige, beige, beige, and infra-beige, :wink:

 
LOL!  

I'm trying to take an older white Kinesis Contour that is heavily yellowed and restore the color. The older whites were almost a very, very light creme/beige/off white, the newer ones being white.

6 pounds of Oxyclean?
 
Good Luck!

 
If it doesn't work well, I guess I can use it in my laundry for the next couple years.

[The Solutor]

What are you using it on?  Most of the Retrobrite experiments I've seen are bleaching "classic" home computer gear cases back to the original beige, beige, beige, beige, beige, and infra-beige, :wink:

 
Funnily enough, I never had a beige PC /Home computer, since 1982.

TI99/4a, ZX spectrum, Sinclair QL, two Olivetti Envision were all blacks, then i bought only black cases and keyboards, with the exception of a couple of (great) Olivetti keyboards (shades of gray)

[Input Nirvana]

If someone has a guideline, or an idea, or a quarter to flip and decide....how much of a concentration should I make?

[xargos]

Funnily enough, I never had a beige PC /Home computer, since 1982.

TI99/4a, ZX spectrum, Sinclair QL, two Olivetti Envision were all blacks, then i bought only black cases and keyboards, with the exception of a couple of (great) Olivetti keyboards (shades of gray)

You missed the beige party!  

After having a TI 99/4A for my first computer, it took until probably about 2002 for me to have anything but beige computers and peripherals.  By that point most cases that I considered decent were black. Still, if I could find cases like the Antec Solo in beige, I probably wouldn't have a black computer now.

[The Solutor]

If someone has a guideline, or an idea, or a quarter to flip and decide....how much of a concentration should I make?

 
I never used it, but I think that something in between 4x the suggested dose for laundry, to a saturated solution should be fine

After having a TI 99/4A for my first computer, it took until probably about 2002 for me to have anything but beige computers and peripherals. By that point most cases that I considered decent were black. Still, if I could find cases like the Antec Solo in beige, I probably wouldn't have a black computer now.

I'm not used to follow the trends so when all PC were beige, I went for black, now that most pc are black I would consider something beige, but the lack of standardization continue to drive me crazy.

Shouldn't be that hard to standardize the shades of beige, like the electrical equipment makers did in Europe (well before the born of CEE/UE).

If I want a beige wall plug, I can buy one from the Italians B-Ticino or Vimar, the French Legrand, the  German Siemens and so on, and I'll get the same shade of beige, or gray, or anthracite, or whatever...

BTW my actual case is an Antec Lanboy Air (yellow)

[TexasFlood]

If someone has a guideline, or an idea, or a quarter to flip and decide....how much of a concentration should I make?

Take a lesson from xargos, getting it in the solution is easy, pulling out without getting burned is hard, :wink:.

[Input Nirvana]

Take a lesson from xargos, getting it in the solution is easy, pulling out without getting burned is hard, :wink:.

Xargos? Oh, you mean Stumpy? Ya, I think he's coming over for as a safety consultant with a bottle of Jack Daniels and a video camera.

[TexasFlood]

Nothing like alcohol to enhance handling hazardous materials.  As Stephen Colbert recently, and woefully, reported in his “Fourth Of July Under Attack” segment, the Texas ban on the sale of fireworks is shutting down the small businesses that made our great nation’s name: “Shabby, cash-only, roadside shacks that sell Chinese explosives to drunk people.” Oh, and I think there may have been an oblique reference to your avatar in that last post somewhere.

[TexasFlood]

Nothing like alcohol to enhance handling hazardous materials.  As Stephen Colbert recently, and woefully, reported in his “Fourth Of July Under Attack” segment, the Texas ban on the sale of fireworks is shutting down the type of small businesses that made our great nation’s name: “Shabby, cash-only, roadside shacks that sell Chinese explosives to drunk people.” Oh, and I think there may have been an oblique reference to your avatar in that last post somewhere.

[TexasFlood]

Nothing like alcohol to enhance handling hazardous materials.

Reminds me of the Colbert Report which recently, and woefully, reported in the “Fourth Of July Under Attack” segment that the Texas ban on the sale of fireworks is shutting down the type of small businesses that made our nation great - “Shabby, cash-only, roadside shacks that sell Chinese explosives to drunk people.”

Oh, and I think there may have been an oblique reference to your avatar in that last post somewhere.

[Input Nirvana]

Colbert...that hack! Xargos is bringing Colbert tomorrow to emcee the days activities. Colbert wants us to wear blindfolds throughout the day. Something about "The Great American Truth".

I look forward to it. Sounds like fun.

The avatar reference...wasn't too sure. Now I am

[Input Nirvana]

Doing some jumping jacks and stretching...getting ready for the big event today. Still not sure how to have keycaps stay right-side up, but I'm mostly going to address the keyboard case to see how the mixtures work.

Security is here to deal with some of the usual protesters...

[The Solutor]

Security is here to deal with some of the usual protesters...

Show Image

 
Tactoblacks ?

[Input Nirvana]

Tactoblacks ?

I never got around to reading the contracts fine print...

[litster]

Lopan and I maybe doing this today with our yellow teeth, I mean keycaps.  He suggested to put the glass container on top of a mirror so keycaps facing down also get light from the reflection.  We are going to try that.

[Input Nirvana]

One hour into the process. Foggy, but sun breaking through. Used 9 gallons of hot tap water and 27 (20cc) scoops which is 3+ times the strongest mixture they recommend for anything. Doesn't burn me at that concentration, so maybe not strong enough. I believe the case is less yellow, keys I'm not so sure. Having a hard time dealing with keys.

I'll let you know at the end of the day what I think.

[Input Nirvana]

UPDATE:
I used 9 quarts (2 gallons, 1 quart) of very warm water in a clear tub and 27 scoops of OxyClean.
Recommended directions-1/8 scoop per 16oz (1 scoop per gallon) their strongest mixture for wood decks, patio furniture, etc. (I would have used 2 1/4 scoops by directions) so I am about 10 times the strongest recommended solution.
60-65 degree day
12-1 foggy but could see sun (case seemed lighter, no difference on keys)
1-2  sunny (case definitely lighter, close to original, keys lighter.)
2-4 sunny (case close original, keys much lighter) Keys lightening proportionately. worst keys still a little yellow, all other keys seem close to original.
4-and later foggy

I could stop now, but I will leave it in through tomorrow in the sun and see if it changes any more. It's at 90% as it sits. Or maybe should be stronger? It doesn't do anything to my hands at all. Not convinced this mixture is lethal, silly consumer products. This is so much easier without buying different items, mixing, blending. Just put in liquid and stir around. Not that involved, I don't see any downside.

I'll evaluate as I leave the keys in overnight and maybe in the sun tomorrow.

I'll post then.

I blew off the pics. Trust me. It goes in yellow, comes out a lot less yellow, and is cheap and easy.

EDIT- The lightening process seems to have slowed/stopped. Maybe because sun is decreased or the solution is reacted out?