Yellow knobs and radio buttons
Posted: Tue Sep 28, 2021 8:29 am
I searched but didn't find anything addressing how to restore old "yellowed" radio buttons (and dash knobs if you have a Falcon). I get a lot of information here but don't have much to offer back to the board, so I am hoping that this may help someone. It works on anything made of light colored ABS plastic.
Pull the buttons straight away from the radio. They just "click" into place.
Put them in a Zip-lock style plastic bag. The bag must be clear.
Pour in "hair developer creme". Don't ask me what it is for because I haven't had hair since the 80s. You can get it at beauty salons or off the interweb. I got mine from Amazon. Experts say to get "Salon 40". I used 20 and it was fine. For you chemists, it is just hydrogen peroxide in a gel form to stick better.
Put in more than you think you need, lock the bag, and move it all around. You want to completely coat the buttons, but you don't want to submerge them as that will block the light.
Set the bag out side in direct sunlight. This takes hours and hours (days?) but it works and it is free. You will have to flip them to get all sides.
OR, if you have access to an ultraviolet light (such as the one your wife puts her hands under after her nails are painted in a nail salon), use this instead of the sun. This cuts the time down immensely. If you have the UV light, or a window that gets lots of sunlight, you can use a container instead of the zip-lock bag. The bag is best if you are putting them outside in case the wind blows them around.
As far as long to leave them in the light, just do it until you are satisfied with the color change. It varies depending on your light source and the creme you use.
Pull the buttons straight away from the radio. They just "click" into place.
Put them in a Zip-lock style plastic bag. The bag must be clear.
Pour in "hair developer creme". Don't ask me what it is for because I haven't had hair since the 80s. You can get it at beauty salons or off the interweb. I got mine from Amazon. Experts say to get "Salon 40". I used 20 and it was fine. For you chemists, it is just hydrogen peroxide in a gel form to stick better.
Put in more than you think you need, lock the bag, and move it all around. You want to completely coat the buttons, but you don't want to submerge them as that will block the light.
Set the bag out side in direct sunlight. This takes hours and hours (days?) but it works and it is free. You will have to flip them to get all sides.
OR, if you have access to an ultraviolet light (such as the one your wife puts her hands under after her nails are painted in a nail salon), use this instead of the sun. This cuts the time down immensely. If you have the UV light, or a window that gets lots of sunlight, you can use a container instead of the zip-lock bag. The bag is best if you are putting them outside in case the wind blows them around.
As far as long to leave them in the light, just do it until you are satisfied with the color change. It varies depending on your light source and the creme you use.
- before
- IMG_0409.JPG (119.18 KiB) Viewed 727 times
- after
- IMG_0526.JPG (206.58 KiB) Viewed 727 times
