Retr0bright Difficulties

[blcksqrrl]

I recently came across an AEKII and an Apple Standard Keyboard at the local Goodwill, both with somewhat yellowed. I have spent the last four days attempting to retr0bright the cases, but I haven't achieved a uniform look; it always comes off in spotty. I'm not sure if my issue lies in application or something else entirely. I would hope that with four days of doing this, I would eventually get this right. Any advice to help rectify this issue?

[ImpendingxDoom]

What recipe did you follow?

Application could be the problem. If you don't have the right consistency from the stiffening agent then it can concentrate in certain areas making it spotty.

UV exposure is also a likely culprit. Are you using a UV light or sunlight? The more UV, the less chance of spottiness imo

[fohat.digs]

It is not an easy process by any means.

The goop has to stay wet or nothing happens - hence all the mess with glycerine and such.

Make a wet mix, slop it on thick, wrap the whole thing in Saran Wrap in put it in direct sun at noon.

Repeat when it dries out.

[blcksqrrl]

What recipe did you follow?

Application could be the problem. If you don't have the right consistency from the stiffening agent then it can concentrate in certain areas making it spotty.

UV exposure is also a likely culprit. Are you using a UV light or sunlight? The more UV, the less chance of spottiness imo

I followed "Merlin's Original Recipe" on the Retr0Bright website. I also picked up some of the 40 Vol cream and tried that too. As for UV sources, I've tried both sunlight and a UV lamp.

It is not an easy process by any means.

The goop has to stay wet or nothing happens - hence all the mess with glycerine and such.

Make a wet mix, slop it on thick, wrap the whole thing in Saran Wrap in put it in direct sun at noon.

Repeat when it dries out.

Yeah, I try to keep it as wet as I can. These last couple of weeks have been 95+ which hasn't been too kind at keeping the solution wet, I think that longest that I've seen it wet has been half an hour.

I'm beginning to think that is down to my application (and maybe some heat issues), hopefully I can get it right. Thanks for your guys' advice, I really appreciate it.

[ImpendingxDoom]

Alright, 95 is probably too nasty to do the paste effectively lol. Any chance you could make the liquid form and keep it under a UV light? That way you can tell if its evaporating after a day or so and keep the container filled.

[blcksqrrl]

I think that I'll attempt that tomorrow. That will (hopefully) alleviate my application problems 

[fohat.digs]

The Saran Wrap has worked pretty well for me, but it only delays the drying time by tens of minutes at best.

And I am a firm believer in strong noon sunlight.