White hhkb case/body yellowing? [Solved]

[slickmamba]

Hey guys, I'd like to get my first hhkb, and want to get a white base with black mods+esc+~, but have seen some with significant yellowing.  How long does it usually take to fade?  Or is it just the white balance on the pictures?


SOLVED
Dustinhxc's whitening using the retr0brite method http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61502.0

retr0brite: http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

[HPE1000]

Can you post some pictures of what you mean?

[slickmamba]

not a very good pic...

It very well may just be a lighting thing.  I'll keep looking for examples

[HPE1000]

Ah yellowing, you said fading and I was confused as to how a white case could really fade.

I think yellowing happens due to exposure to the sun, over a long time. I have only really seen yellowed HHKB and HHKB Pro1 (Which are both quite old) so I would assume this would take quite some time, especially if your keyboard isn't in the sun at all times. I think ABS will yellow while PBT will not yellow, so as long as the case material has not changed, the pro 2 will eventually yellow.

[slickmamba]

Ah yellowing, you said fading and I was confused as to how a white case could really fade.

I think yellowing happens due to exposure to the sun, over a long time. I have only really seen yellowed HHKB and HHKB Pro1 (Which are both quite old) so I would assume this would take quite some time, especially if your keyboard isn't in the sun at all times. I think ABS will yellow while PBT will not yellow, so as long as the case material has not changed, the pro 2 will eventually yellow.

Haha, sorry I'm very tired and did a sneaky edit.  I realized my mistake =/.  I expected it was sun exposure, hmm, maybe a sunscreen layer will help hahaha

[Puddsy]

or being in a basement

 )

[HPE1000]

I think you can get film to put on your windows that will block UV light, although I am not sure how well that actually works.

[Puddsy]

They use it in most NYC skyscrapers, so it must be pretty good

[rowdy]

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

[slickmamba]

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

Haha, that is reassuring.  Now to find a good color scheme for the hhkb.  Maybe something like Joanne's http://www.flickr.com/photos/98431455@N03/11840974093/in/photostream/

[rowdy]

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

Haha, that is reassuring.  Now to find a good color scheme for the hhkb.  Maybe something like Joanne's http://www.flickr.com/photos/98431455@N03/11840974093/in/photostream/

Have a look through the post your topre board for some inspiration

[salcan]

Yeah, it's a thing. http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ works I've heard. also there was a link on imgur about a restore hhkb that was yellowed. just saw it in the last few days, it was an epic job. can't find the link but will update if i do!

[cphead]

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

Haha, that is reassuring.  Now to find a good color scheme for the hhkb.  Maybe something like Joanne's http://www.flickr.com/photos/98431455@N03/11840974093/in/photostream/

Have a look through the post your topre board for some inspiration

Sadly colored blanks are nigh impossible to find nowadays ...

[slickmamba]

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

Haha, that is reassuring.  Now to find a good color scheme for the hhkb.  Maybe something like Joanne's http://www.flickr.com/photos/98431455@N03/11840974093/in/photostream/

Have a look through the post your topre board for some inspiration

Haha rowdy, you are awesome.  Always have everything I am looking for!

[dustinhxc]

Yeah, it's a thing. http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ works I've heard. also there was a link on imgur about a restore hhkb that was yellowed. just saw it in the last few days, it was an epic job. can't find the link but will update if i do!

Would it happen to of been mine?

Check out my thread!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61502.0

I'd say 6 years + yellowing? Mine is 11 years old. Used peroxide 40 Volume and sunlight on the case.

[salcan]

Yeah, it's a thing. http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ works I've heard. also there was a link on imgur about a restore hhkb that was yellowed. just saw it in the last few days, it was an epic job. can't find the link but will update if i do!

Would it happen to of been mine?

Check out my thread!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61502.0

I'd say 6 years + yellowing? Mine is 11 years old. Used peroxide 40 Volume and sunlight on the case.

Confirmed! My wife walked in and I was googling around for "salon whitening HHKB" or something like that. Took some explaining.

Awesome work.

[slickmamba]

Thanks guys!  Problem solved now to post in classified to find one.  Can't afford new on a teacher salary

[slickmamba]

Is there a DIY post on this yet? if not, you gotta put one up Dustin!

[dorkvader]

Is there a DIY post on this yet? if not, you gotta put one up Dustin!

The original:
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/

some GH posts on it:
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=56542.msg1277171#msg1277171
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=19644.0 (lots of tips in the messages about the process and safety)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=20283.msg394657#msg394657 (sadly pictures were lost)
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=22903.msg433022#msg433022
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=36719.msg699208#msg699208
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38176.msg735915#msg735915

I have not seen (pictures of) many HHKB 2 that are yellowed.

I got mine secondhand just over a year ago, and it does not show any yellowing at all.  I don't know exactly how it was used or stored before I got it, but it was made in Feb-2011, so about 3.5 years old now.

Most aren't old enough, but there are lots of HHKB (the original) that are.

Here's some pictures of Hasu's



and how can i forget: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40658.msg809013#msg809013

[Grim Fandango]

This has always been an issue for me with white or beige ABS cases.

On the one hand , I think a white case can look very cool. On the other, both at home and at work, my keyboards sit close a window. That means that there is sun on the thing every single day. It probably would not take very long to yellow unless I cover it.

[dustinhxc]

Is there a DIY post on this yet? if not, you gotta put one up Dustin!

He posted those links but also in mine I posted a couple photos of the process. It's not to hard 

Yeah, it's a thing. http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ works I've heard. also there was a link on imgur about a restore hhkb that was yellowed. just saw it in the last few days, it was an epic job. can't find the link but will update if i do!

Would it happen to of been mine?

Check out my thread!

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61502.0

I'd say 6 years + yellowing? Mine is 11 years old. Used peroxide 40 Volume and sunlight on the case.

Confirmed! My wife walked in and I was googling around for "salon whitening HHKB" or something like that. Took some explaining.

Awesome work.

That's Awesome! Hehe thank you!