CRT Cellar

Salvaged screens, arcade relics and home-computer history, logged on tape.

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Retrobright, Sunlight and Patience: A Yellowed Case Log

Jonas Leclerc 14-09-2026 2 Comments
Photo for Retrobright, Sunlight and Patience: A Yellowed Case Log

Bromine flame retardants turn ABS plastic yellow over time. Retrobright reverses some of it, but the process is slow and easy to overdo.

What we used

  • Hair-developer cream at twelve percent, applied thin.
  • Cling film to stop it drying out.
  • A turntable made from a lazy Susan so the sun hit evenly.

Check every hour. The difference between restored and marbled is about forty minutes.

Workshop whiteboard, June

After three sunny weekends the top case is close to its original grey. The keys, done separately, are a shade lighter, which we have decided to live with.

JO
JONAS LECLERC AUTHOR
Member since 2020 6 posts

Archivist of manuals, magazines and box art. Jonas scans at 600 dpi and will tell you why that matters.

COMMENTS

2 REPLIES
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  1. BI
    BITSHIFTER 17-09-2026 @ 22:07

    The sound on this one still gives me goosebumps.

  2. OT
    OTTO BRENNAN 19-09-2026 @ 17:09 MEMBER

    Which flux did you end up using? The no-clean stuff left a haze on my last job.

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