Classic computers, retro consoles... we love that hardware, but time hits it mercilessly. Besides dealing with all kinds of electronic issues and the lack of components for repairs, we must limit the natural deterioration of their cases, which often manifests as a horrible yellow-orange-brown tone. The technique known as Retrobright is our main line of defense, and the community is still calibrating the exact process. Would you like to create a retrobright box to carry out your own experiments? If so, the Odd Experiments channel has an excellent tutorial...
The original description of the Retrobright method dates back more than a decade (the original page has even ceased to exist), but in general terms, nothing has changed: Over the years, the combination of heat and ultraviolet light causes the bromine in ABS plastic to 'bloom', covering the surface of cases, keys, switches, buttons and many other things with a yellow-orange-brown color. The goal of Retrobright is to eliminate that bloom and restore the piece to its real color.
Now, Retrobright is not perfect, and we also know that under the right conditions, the brown color can come back strongly. Additionally, some Retrobright techniques cause problems like 'mottling' associated with the loss of uniformity when applying the peroxide-saturated cream. A good part of the community concluded that the most effective way to avoid those incidents is complete immersion of the piece. The Odd Experiments channel (whose creator is the same one who restored a PlayStation 2) teaches us to create a retrobright box, complete with ultraviolet lights and temperature control:
Building Your Own Retrobright Box
Its design is based on a 'double container' format: one covered with aluminum tape to optimize UV light reflection, and another to hold the piece that will be submerged in liquid peroxide.
One of the main details we've learned in recent years is that ultraviolet light is not a mandatory component for retrobright. The temperature of the peroxide has a greater influence, and Odd Experiments uses a W1209 module for its control. This module is very economical, comes with its own thermostat, and works at 12V without issues.
To heat the peroxide, one of those small electric immersion heaters is sufficient, and since they are compatible with 12 volts, they don't need additional modifications.
Odd Experiments sets the W1209 with a limit of 50 degrees Celsius. If we add the ultraviolet lights, the final temperature is correct, but if you don't install the UV lights, other sources recommend experimenting with a higher temperature. For example, the 8-Bit Guy had great success using a diluted peroxide solution at 71°C for four hours.
The final result is a fully automated retrobright box that keeps the peroxide at an ideal temperature and saves us the process of checking the piece every 15 or 30 minutes to ensure everything is fine. If it seems too complicated, don't forget that the minimum base for retrobright is a transparent container, a peroxide solution, and the Sun's rays, but if you're deeply into the retro world, I think it's worth replicating this design.
