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Repair guide

Reduce yellowing on a console shell (retrobright)

Retrobrite uses hydrogen peroxide and UV light to lighten yellowed plastic. Vapor methods are described by restorers, but the process needs care.

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Case · Careful · about 240 minutes. Worth doing. Reports say this fix helps on many machines.

You are in the right place if: Grey or white plastic has turned yellow or uneven.

Before you start

  • Peroxide irritates skin and eyes. Wear gloves and eye protection.
  • UV light can damage eyes. Use protective eyewear.
  • Results can be uneven and may reverse over time.
  • Do not treat parts with labels, paint or electronics.

Parts you may need

Tools

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Step by step

  1. Disassemble the shell Remove all electronics, labels and rubber parts.
  2. Wash the plastic Clean it with soap and water.
  3. Protect what should not be treated Keep stickers, painted parts and metal away.
  4. Choose your method A vapor method places parts above peroxide solution in a UV-lit space.
  5. Set up safely Wear gloves and eye protection and work in a ventilated area.
  6. Expose to UV Treat in short rounds and check often.
  7. Rinse and dry Remove parts and rinse thoroughly.
  8. Protect Apply a UV protectant afterwards.
  9. Reassemble Refit all components.

Tips, tales and maybes

Found in write-ups and forum threads. These are other people's reports, not tested by us.

  • Story (Medium confidence). A Dreamcast shell was treated with the vapor method using hydrogen peroxide and UV, then coated with 303 Aerospace Protectant. Source
  • Story (Medium confidence). A Saturn Model 2 shell was retrobrited as part of a restoration. Source
  • Story (Medium confidence). A GameCube controller port cover was retrobrited using hydrogen peroxide vapor. Source
  • Tip (Low confidence). A vapor-method write-up is linked from hitmanmcc, though I could not open it. Source

Guides we used

We wrote the steps in our own words from these. They have the photos and the full detail, so please read them and support their authors.

Boards and models vary, so check what is in front of you. A repair can involve hot tools, chemicals and, on some machines, dangerous voltages. You do it at your own risk.

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