To retrobrite or not to retrobrite...

nonameo

Well, I don't really know any other place to ask, and since retrobrite is used more in the video game community than anywhere else I can think of, I figured I'd ask here.



I picked up a batman businesscard holder recently, but it's gotten some UV tanning. It looks like It's been hand painted and I'm worried about the retrobrite fading or flaking the paint off. Are my concerns unfounded? If I can help the tanning I would really like to, it'd make it look a whole lot better. It looks pretty nice otherwise. 





edit: aha, so it's not a business card holder, it's supposed to hold blocks for the date... d'oh!

ulasamosa

retrobrite reverses the effects and aging of ABS plastic. It probably would do nothing to/damage a painted finish.

nonameo

It's the plastic unpainted part that's faded. Here's some pics so you can see what I'm talking about. As to whether or not it's ABS - I don't know. From the reading I've done, the reason ABS even tans like that is because it has a bromine fire retardant added to it. So... I'm thinking it may work even if it's not ABS, I'm not sure... I'm not a chemistry major



http://i.imgur.com/21Gsw.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/grYfR.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/eQQhr.jpg

BouncekDeLemos

Hmmm... doubt it will damage any of the paint. It has color safe chemicals in the Oxy-clean formula, and the extra H2O2 shouldn't damage it either.

takeshi

I was of the opinion that Retrobrite is actually working against a flame retardant in the plastic, not against UV tanning

nonameo

Okay, I was going to fumble around with this but here's a link instead



http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/Ultra+Violet+Energy



So really I don't think it's the ABS, it's the flame retardant that's the issue. If they put it in another plastic then I'd think that other plastic would also tan, and retrobrite could also work with it.



However, that's not the issue.... I just don't want it to screw up the paint. So, I think I'll give it a shot. I only paid a dollar for it anyway.

GCrites80s

If that's from the '60s like it looks, I'll bet there's no flame retardant! Nyahhh, we don't need no sissy crap, see?

GameBoyScotty

Originally posted by: GCrites80s



If that's from the '60s like it looks, I'll bet there's no flame retardant! Nyahhh, we don't need no sissy crap, see?

Heh. Good call. Lead paint era.

nonameo

Actually, the copyright date on the back is 1977

T3rra

Looks like there are plenty of places without paint you could do some spot testing on before doing the whole thing.



Here's one on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Batman-Pencil-Sharpener-Calendar-Card-Holder-Janex-Corp-1977-non-work-/261136395758?pt=TV_Movie_Character_Toys_US&hash=item3cccf12dee

nonameo

oh god... that pencil sharpener looks so incredibly wrong.