FSPED09's Restoration Clinic
A big part of why I love collecting is the hunt and the clean up after. In one of my previous posts I showed a before and after photo of a cart I cleaned up after saving it from a flea market and few people said they enjoyed seeing that. Thread Idea! I try to restore these banged up items without damaging them further. I take everything apart and put it back together again. Most of these I pick up from Craigslist, flea markets, & eBay, some people just don't take care of their stuff! Please feel free to post your before and afters just make sure to post both pics, and try to make sure there are noticable differences. Or you can send me the pictures and I'll add them to the main list.
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 Problem: Dirt, Grime, Yellowing |
 Solution: Cleaners + RetroBrite |
 Problem: Magic Marker |
 Solution: Rubbing Alcohol/Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dirt/Dust |
 Solution: Disassemble then Soap/Water |
 Problem: Bad Left Thumbstick/Dirt |
 Solution: Replaced Thumbstick/Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dirt |
 Solution: Disassemble/Q-tips & Rubbing Alcohol |
  Problem: Heavy Dirt |
  Problem: Disassemble - Heavy Scrub Magic Eraser/Alcohol/409 |
 Problem: Sticker Residue/Dirt |
 Solution: Goo Gone/Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Blockbuster Sticker |
 Solution: Heat Gun/Goo Gone |
 Problem: Dirt from use |
 Solution: Disassemble - Magic Eraser Scrub |
 Problem: Dirt from use |
 Solution: Disassemble - Magic Eraser Scrub |
 Problem: Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser Scrub/409 |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser Scrub/409 |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser Scrub/409 |
 Problem: Dirt/Food Stains |
 Solution: Magic Eraser Scrub/409 |
  (Two Different Carts) Problem: Dust/Dirt |
  (Two Different Carts) Solution: Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dust/Dirt |
 Solution: Magic Eraser |
  Problem: Dust/Dirt |
  Solution: Disassemble - Magic Eraser/Alcohol/409 |
  Problem: Dirt/VOID Stickers |
  Solution: Heat Gun/Magic Eraser/GooGone/409 |
 Problem: VOID Sticker Residue/Dirt |
 Solution: Goo Gone/Magic Eraser |
 Problem: VOID Sticker Residue/Dirt |
 Solution: Goo Gone/Magic Eraser |
 Problem: Dirt |
 Solution: 409 Scrub |
Fisher Price Game
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 Dirt |
 Magic Eraser |
Comments
Problem: Dirt/Food Stains
Food stains on BurgerTime... Ironic??
Problem: Dirt/Food Stains
Food stains on BurgerTime... Ironic??
I lol'ed, hard.
Problem: Dirt/Food Stains
Food stains on BurgerTime... Ironic??
I lol'ed, hard.
Me too! I didn't even realize!
Little tip on the systems. If you want them to look AMAZING try putting some Armoral on them. Try it on the Genesis...
I use it on the controller cords too. Clean thoroughly first, and then they get a nice black shine to them.
Little tip on the systems. If you want them to look AMAZING try putting some Armoral on them. Try it on the Genesis...
Spencer, does that leave a residue?
I have a nes cart with what seems like super glue smeared on the textured area. I have some adhesive remover that doesn't have any effect. Suggestions?
I would try a heat gun (not a blow dryer). That "might" loosen it up some that you could gently use a Flathead screwdriver to get it off. I've also heard that nail polish remover might help. Do you have a picture so I can get a better idea?
How much force do you apply with the Magic Eraser so you get rid of dirt etc but don't actually rub off the textured effect of the cart? And what's your method of cleaning labels?
Good question. It really all depends on whats on the cart. If its permanent marker, I take a few steps before going to the Magic Eraser. First I use rubbing alcohol and a Qtip to get a much of the ink off, but it never comes off totally with that method. Occasionally I use a dry erase marker over the ink with some success. Then I finally use the Magic eraser. I rarely apply enough force to rub off the texture. It really depends on you. I'd rather see some ink that lightly reads "Dave's Game" then see the scrubbing left behind after the magic eraser.
For the labels, it also depends what I'm up against. But for dirt I spray a paper towel with 409 to make it damp, then I use a little elbow grease. For sticker residue I'll use a qtip with some Goo Gone on it or rubbing alcohol. On rare occasions I'll use the Magic Eraser on the label with little pressure.
How much force do you apply with the Magic Eraser so you get rid of dirt etc but don't actually rub off the textured effect of the cart? And what's your method of cleaning labels?
Good question. It really all depends on whats on the cart. If its permanent marker, I take a few steps before going to the Magic Eraser. First I use rubbing alcohol and a Qtip to get a much of the ink off, but it never comes off totally with that method. Occasionally I use a dry erase marker over the ink with some success. Then I finally use the Magic eraser. I rarely apply enough force to rub off the texture. It really depends on you. I'd rather see some ink that lightly reads "Dave's Game" then see the scrubbing left behind after the magic eraser.
For the labels, it also depends what I'm up against. But for dirt I spray a paper towel with 409 to make it damp, then I use a little elbow grease. For sticker residue I'll use a qtip with some Goo Gone on it or rubbing alcohol. On rare occasions I'll use the Magic Eraser on the label with little pressure.
Alright, thanks. Do you know what 409 is in countries outside the US? I guess I'll have to do some research.
How much force do you apply with the Magic Eraser so you get rid of dirt etc but don't actually rub off the textured effect of the cart? And what's your method of cleaning labels?
Good question. It really all depends on whats on the cart. If its permanent marker, I take a few steps before going to the Magic Eraser. First I use rubbing alcohol and a Qtip to get a much of the ink off, but it never comes off totally with that method. Occasionally I use a dry erase marker over the ink with some success. Then I finally use the Magic eraser. I rarely apply enough force to rub off the texture. It really depends on you. I'd rather see some ink that lightly reads "Dave's Game" then see the scrubbing left behind after the magic eraser.
For the labels, it also depends what I'm up against. But for dirt I spray a paper towel with 409 to make it damp, then I use a little elbow grease. For sticker residue I'll use a qtip with some Goo Gone on it or rubbing alcohol. On rare occasions I'll use the Magic Eraser on the label with little pressure.
Alright, thanks. Do you know what 409 is in countries outside the US? I guess I'll have to do some research.
Not sure. Try here:
http://www.formula409.com/contactus.html
Very nice job with this thread. Cool idea to do before and after shots. Heres a picture of a NES I bought this last summer. I got it and two games for $5 bucks. I cleaned it inside and out. It was full of dead spiders. Once I was done I popped in Super Mario 3 and it worked like new.
What is the deal with spiders and NES consoles? I had gotten about 5 NES consoles in a row that when I took them apart to clean them had cobwebs and dead spiders in them. I even got a top loader with a live spider in it and a front loader with a spider nest inside. Besides it just being gross, I'm terrified of spiders so that just makes it even worse!
Originally posted by: cma2032
I feel like an idiot for posting this, but the pictures in this thread are amazing. How exactly do you clean the NES carts with a magic eraser, especially the labels? I tried this on a Mario 3 cart and now it looks like I took sandpaper to it, and it's not like I was scrubbing hard. What do you do with the 409? Could you be more specific about your process? Thanks!
aaooooo! Look at this thread! You're not an idiot, this is what these threads are for. The trick with the magic eraser is to keep it really wet, but you can't really let the edges of the label get wet. So you need to find a happy medium. For the Starforce cart (I'm assuming that one since it has the most crap on the label). iirc with marker (especially on a label) I take a dry erase marker and go over the sharpie marker and with some case a lot of it will just wipe off. Whatever doesn't you can hit it with some rubbing alcohol. *Always avoid getting the edges of a label wet (and never do this on a N64 label). After that if there is anything left the magic eraser should do the trick.
I've got some more before an after pics. Me thinks this thread needs an update!