Gamerade - Remove Yellow from Super Nintendo, Other Consoles, Plastics - Adam Koralik

[@SianaGearz]

The actual reason to do this is not because it makes sense financially, but because old systems (whether consoles or home computers) decrease in numbers and will never increase again, so it makes a lot of sense to preserve them, within reasonable and mildly seemingly unreasonable expense. A Super Nintendo or even a Dreamcast is no longer a consumer item, they are collector items and people keep becoming collectors, but they barely ever quit. This also means the worth of well-preserved items is going to increase, which makes preserving classic consoles sensible. I'm not sure whether processing the part makes them less brittle - i don't see why it would be the case. Both active components are effectively bleach. PVC for example is naturally brittle, and gets plasticisers besides fire retardants added to it in production, but at no point are you adding plasticisers back in. However with SNES which yellowed on the inside, probably it's not PVC but ABS, and it's not necessarily naturally brittle, and something else is going on there, and i'm not sure what.

[@Red3o1]

Siana Gearz Well said

[@xfiringsquadx]

Tried a variation of this with amazing results. Reminding back to the little I learned about science and chemicals, I know that if you have a solution that's intended to serve a specific purpose, mixing anything else in is going to effect the results greatly. That being said, I wanted to avoid adding the gum and glycerine since they didn't seem too serve a purpose in the reversing of the yellowing. So what I did was set up everything just like you did in the pans, mixed a 6% peroxide and oxyclean mixture (just these two ingredients on their own) in a spray bottle and just continuously sprayed the parts every 15-20 minutes or any time they started to look dry. It took about 2 hours to get my snes looking new again. Thought I'd share.

[@AdamKoralik]

***** I think it's a pretty safe assumption that MOST versions of the SNES (model 1) are prone to yellowing. It's not like later models are impervious to this, it just seems to be a general trend that they don't do it as often. Likely due to alterations in plastic mixtures. Even if that's bullshit and totally wrong, who cares? The point is to fix it, not to complain about which ones are more or less likely to turn to shit.

[@Neccese]

Can you tape over the controller ports and do this without taking the machine apart?

[@Neccese]

nickplays631 also its a newer model

[@AdamKoralik]

nickplays631 Retrobrighting the console without taking it apart is highly not recommended.

[@Neccese]

ok then so since mine is model 2 snes is there anything different?

[@AdamKoralik]

nickplays631 It'll be a different process to take it apart, but the actual retrobrighting part is exactly the same.

[@qumbot5057]

Thank god this guy exists.

[@AdamKoralik]

Happy to be here.

[@james42519]

if you look up retrobright there are a lot of videos and some might even be better guides

[@benjaminslayton4335]

Salon Care at Sally Beauty Supply is basically the same as Retro Brite, except you don't have to mix it. Also, if you set it under a UV lamp, you can leave it overnight. Leave it for a few days and you'll get great results!

[@AdamKoralik]

+ToddSixSweeney /Facepalm. The plastic is ROTTING because of the bromine. You need to restore it properly or it will become brittle and fall apart. Just painting it doesn't fix that.

[@AdamKoralik]

***** I made the video, I know what it's about. The point is to reverse the chemical reaction that causes the plastic to break down, which in turn restores the color. What you're not getting here is that you're making them look fine on the surface, but the plastic will still break down and fail. The whole point is to make that not happen.

[@Ilovelazers]

Plastic is not living, therefore it does not rot.

[@saintjenova]

Ilovelazers You are dumb.

[@AdamKoralik]

Ilovelazers To be fair, "rot" has more than one literal definition.

[@MFKR696]

Ilovelazers Iron is not living, but it most definately DOES rot, dumbass. "Rotting" could be defined as a chemical reaction in a material or object which causes said material/object to lose its structural integrity.

[@Larry]

Next time you do it, try putting it under a UV light, rather than the sun, it's a lot quicker and stronger.

[@cax1175]

For as long as I have been watching you, never actually watched this. Hearing Adam talk about chemical reactions brings joy to a recent chemistry grad.

[@JohnGotts]

According to a recent post on Slashdot, following a discussion among experts from the retro-gaming community with input from chemists, what you are seeing is the same effect from bleaching t-shirts. Unfortunately, bleaching plastic is a surface effect and it does not change the chemistry of the plastic. The discoloration will return after a few months to a few years when the flame retardants migrate back to the surface. I've had computers since the 1980's and I can tell you that stored plastic will discolor. Most UV light (UVB and UVC) is blocked by windows. Nobody uses these old computers outside, so I think most of the discoloration is accelerated by operating temperature with a secondary effect from UVA.

[@thejervis86]

This is true

[@French4Assassin]

Reading the comment section is really painful... People keep asking if it will work on other consoles or that they like the aged look of the yellowing. He clearly states in the video that this WILL work on ANY plastic that is yellowing from ultra violet light, this include other consoles and anything that is not a console as well. I do suggest adding the gum 1 tablespoon at a time as you're mixing to get the perfect thickness. Also he also states that if you don't mind the yellowing, you do not have to do this, but that it is a good idea to do this in order to give the plastic a longer life because it is not just a color change, it is a chemical reaction that causes the plastic to become hard and brittle. So doing this will not only restore the plastic color but it will restore the plastic properties as well (which is the more important part of doing this process).

[@AdamKoralik]

Tell me about it, I even say it in the title of the video.

[@AdamKoralik]

@Michel Chirac Thanks, though I can't take credit. I just followed the instructions.

[@Neccese]

If the snes is a deep yellow like the yellow cartrage converter will it work the same way?

[@AdamKoralik]

nickplays631 Yes, but it'll take a few times.

[@Neccese]

ok thanks because i didn't know what the yellow meant before this video so thanks for helping me.

[@AdamKoralik]

nickplays631 No problem.

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks for watching, and I'm glad you liked the video.

[@j0hnny4rc4de]

Advice: Remember the sun rises east to west, so, I'd set it out in the morning facing east say around 8-9 AM, check it at 10, 11, 12 whatevs, if it still needs longer, check it around 2 or 3 ( If in the summer months and you live in the south, DO NOT leave it out for long when it's 100+ degrees, it WILL melt or warp). For the consistency, you want a honey-like consistency, Your solution will go further and cover more area. You can also use a "true" black light UV bulb (the more, the merrier), what makes this work, is UV-A (That's what makes clothes and posters glow), it's not dangerous either, UV-B is what burns you (OR, if you have access to a tanning bed, it's powerful, and you can get both sides completed at the same time). For washing, throw it in a dish washer, top shelf, on rinse cycle...

[@AdamKoralik]

Excellent suggestions sir. Thank you.

[@HaakonAnderson]

This was the first video I ever saw on what is now commonly known as "retrobrigting." It's crazy how much the technique has been perfected in 10 years. You were a pioneer in the field sir.

[@AdamKoralik]

Ha, thanks.

[@HaakonAnderson]

@@AdamKoralik no thank you Adam, on behalf of the community, you are original and a bad ass

[@jasoneverett]

Ok, we get it. You are good at hand gestures.

[@AdamKoralik]

+Jason Everett Thanks.

[@mattmcnicol4259]

Right? I mean, between the hands and the voice I have to wonder if he's related to Arlo somehow.

[@harrisontashjian752]

Just learn the way of the Italian

[@AdamKoralik]

+Shpati21 I would recommend using Pledge after all that to restore a lot of the shine. If it's hot enough to melt plastic, then don't do it. Any sunlight will work.

[@suit1337]

you can make they way simpler just use hydrogen peroxide and destilled water: 2 parts water 1 part hydrogen peroxide and submerge your pieces - done you can spare the oxyclean - those are usually just other peroxides which technically do the same, but look fancy because they are dry adding xanthan only makes it easier to handle to brush it on - but if you disassemle it anyways, just submerge your pieces and you are done: way faster with the same effect. and for the gylcerin: you need to mix the glycerin to the dry xanthan to pervent lump building in the first place, afterwards it is too late and useless - a really good tip is to go to the pharmacy and get "Cosphaderm X 34" it is a xanthan based thickener used to creams and lotions and has pretty low lump building

[@AdamKoralik]

My pleasure, thanks for watching.

[@real_armadillo]

If you want to save time and get a better result, just buy hydrogen peroxide that's already creamy. I use Salon Care volume 40 (it's 12% hydrogen peroxide). You can get it at your local hair salon or at Amazon. It's basically what they use to bleach hair. Then wrap it up in plastic wrap so that the H2O2 doesn't evaporate and put it under a UV lamp for a couple of hours. Works great. Using a cream rather than a thick paste makes it muck easier to apply it more even, which you definitely want to avoid making it look all dappled.

[@byte.me_original]

Did you add Oxi-clean with that?

[@real_armadillo]

byte.me I did add a little Oxi-clean since I already had it at home, but I don't think it's necessary. I've heard others use similar hair products without Oxi-clean with great results, but I think it does speed up the process. I de-yellowed my Dreamcast, which was pretty yellow, back to its original color in roughly 9 hours under UV light bulb and some tin foil. I was very surprised over how fast it all took. I've seen people doing multiple treatments in up to 30-40 hours for each treatment. I was planning on doing multiple treatments since I didn't want to leave the light bulb on over night, so I decided to stop and washed off all the cream to have a closer look, and there it was, a beautiful white Dreamcast :)

[@byte.me_original]

Excellent. I might try this instead as it seems easier. The bottom part of my SNES has yellowed a little and the controller port area of my GCN is starting to do that, as well. Might look for other things that yellow before starting to do this. Thanks for replying!

[@real_armadillo]

byte.me Best of luck!

[@byte.me_original]

Thanks!

[@AdamKoralik]

Agreed. Thanks for watching.

[@mini_disc]

4:47 Get 40 Volume clear developer. It's the same thing and they won't think you are crazy.

[@AdamKoralik]

1: You'd end up needed a LOT of hydrogen peroxide. 2: Once you mix the oxyclean with it, it only has so long where by it's reactive.

[@AdamKoralik]

@Charlie Smyth Thanks for watching!

[@dominicracca7856]

I would much rather hear the sounds of nature and bugs over gunshots and car horns from the city.

[@dominicracca7856]

That's awesome, you made me laugh today, thanks!!

[@truenickspivak]

@Chiron Keller nobody will ever know what he chuckled at

[@HandyAndy87]

Sadly, this process now seems to be only temporary in most instances. The bromines deeper in the plastic end up migrating back to the surface layer, returning the yellowing. After a few years, I can confirm the yellowing has returned on the plastics I treated with this process. There's been some recent discussion regarding the return of yellowing, if you Google "retr0bright re-yellowing". It's still a great way to have a good looking console to enjoy, even if it is only for a few years before it returns.

[@Bananazcakies]

Oxi Clean? HI BILLY MAYS HERE!!!! pom

[@micah6082]

+Callum Smith bout to party like it's $19.99

[@wyattmonhollon9498]

too bad he died.

[@gsp3987]

+Wyatt Monhollon He died doing what he love doing... Coke, and maybe, oxy.

[@SomeBody-rm6hf]

Bananazcakies but wait, there's more!

[@bluorb]

I’m definitely trying this one out. Don’t have any of the materials or a microwave, but this seems like the most effective technique I’ve seen so far.

[@retroalliancegaming9210]

Jesus Christ. Are you cleaning your snes or making Meth.

[@BreakingNVain]

Cleaning his SNES.

[@deltafox399j]

cleaning his meth

[@I8UxAnonymous]

+deltafox399j lol

[@retroalliancegaming9210]

+I8UxAnonymous I was like wow I wanna do this. then I saw the video and I was like damn. I hate chemicals

[@Recoil816]

Giving his SNES meth.

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks for watching, and good luck man.

[@lilfro1997]

Super nintendo dentist

[@AdamKoralik]

Never heard that one, that's good. I like that.

[@lilfro1997]

You turned the super nintendos from yellow to white... The same as a dentist would turn your teeth from yellow to white. :) nice video

[@josh8659]

console dentist in general lol

[@dwellingdreams3866]

Adam Koralik hey Adam I just got my childhood back with my own Super Nintendo it’s all gray but the controller imports how would I go about cleaning that.

[@madmax2069]

If you notice in the video that the center (untreated) on the outcome is darker then the case (treated). A SNES has a slight purple hue/tint which tends to fade when the yellowing occurs (chemical breakdown) which also breakdown the dye used to give it its unique grey color.

[@andree1991]

I blew my hands off trying this, DO NOT DO THIS

[@parallaxspectre]

I'm trying this right now. The sun juuuust hit my side of the building as I was finishing "painting" the stuff on the SNES cover - perfect timing. I am watching it get all puffy like Stay Puft, cuz you know...SCIENCE!!!

[@mixintl]

Hey Adam - thanks for the video. We are a nostalgic/retro toy store (Full Circle Toys - www.fullcircletoys.com) outside Atlanta. We sell "childhood memories" - mostly stuff from the 1960s-early 1990s. ...action figures, vintage vinyl and gaming systems/games are big for us. We really only started selling the game systems a year or so ago and are expanding that department rapidly. We sell a lot of NES, SNES and other vintage systems (other Nintendo systems, Atari, X-Boxes, Sega, Playstations, and handheld systems, etc). We clean them, test them, and then bundle and shrink wrap them in a package for resale....each system comes "Tested, Guaranteed and Certified Pre-owned". We have had a number of systems (and other plastic retro items) that have yellowed. A few of the gaming systems have been so bad that we have just used them for parts. I have a couple complete NES consoles that are complete and working, but badly yellowed, so i plan to give them the "Adam treatment" soon....I bought all the stuff today....which as you said, cost about as much as a console itself. ...about $65. I got the Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide (HP) and the Glycerine at a Health Food Store, the X. Gum at Whole Foods and the Oxiclean at CVS. A few questions (anyone's response is appreciated!!). 1. Would it be possible to recycle/re-use the mixture? If i left the X. Gum out and made enough "liquid" to submerge the parts in (instead of making a paste), would it continue to be effective after use?...or would the reaction between the HP and the Oxiclean breakdown/stop working? I would be happy to invest in enough HP to make a gallon or so of this stuff if i could reuse it...it would save in the long run if could use over and over....you would of course lose a bit each time to spillage/evaporation, etc. ...but the HP is about $20 a bottle and would go fast if you simply made a paste and threw it out after each application. Also, if I didn't make the paste and just submerged items in the liquid in the sunlight, would it work eventhough the items are submerged? 2. After you clean the pieces off (with water?), do you then spray them with Pledge or something else to give them a shine and help protect them further? I read the notes and someone said something about Pledge, but wasn't sure if this was a good idea or not? Again, thanks for the video and your feedback! Richard - Full Circle Toys - Newnan, GA

[@AdamKoralik]

1: I would suggest that once you make the mixture, you use it within a day or two. I don't think it'll last much beyond that. If you put plastic wrap over it and stick it in the fridge, it may last like a week. 2: I've done that, for sure. Definitely makes them look nicer. How far outside of Atlanta are you?

[@mixintl]

AdamKoralik thanks - we are about 30 minutes South of Atlanta Airport - just off I-85....45 minutes from downtown Atlanta. come see us - www.fullcircletoys.com Richard

[@AdamKoralik]

Richard Mix I'll be in Atlanta in a few days actually. I won't have a car though. I'll see if I can get there, would be fun. But I can't guarantee it'll happen.

[@mixintl]

AdamKoralik what brings you here and where in "Atlanta" will you be....and when? Perhaps i can come get you - would enjoy picking your brain on gaming. I am NOT a gamer!! Educating myself quickly. Richard

[@AdamKoralik]

Richard Mix I'll be arriving on thursday and leaving monday. I'm being sent there for the Smite tournament to promote it. www.hirezstudios.com/smite/promo/smite-world-championship I have no idea what my schedule is, they'll be giving me my itinerary when I get there.

[@guymckellar2537]

Great video, Adam. Very helpful info on how to restore some classic systems. That yellow plastic really can be an eyesore sometimes, and it's good to know that there is a fairly simple and effective way to get rid of it.

[@nintimbods9222]

I always thought they yellowed cuz of people smoking in their house.

[@williamburgoon1834]

well that helps the process

[@loubilly]

another great video Adam - the best video on this topic I have seen so far. It's really good you explained ingredients etc as well, other videos seem to gloss over this part

[@SpeedDudeGTX]

17:42 It looks like mashed potatoes.

[@HQA0]

probably is knowing this fat shit He probably ate what was left

[@drearaujoa6]

i watched some of your other videos earlier. i watched 1 minute of this one.paused it. took my ps2 apart blew all dust out ( couldn't believe how much there was) cleaned it down. my dream cast was all dirty like something spilled on it. it looks great now. then i pressed play and watched rest your video lol. all these old systems were made to last. you just gotta take care of them.

[@AdamKoralik]

Damn right man, thanks for watching!

[@ToysintheStatic]

Seems pretty extreme just for some yellowing.

[@AdamKoralik]

Then don't do it.

[@ToysintheStatic]

I won't.

[@AdamKoralik]

beyondthesevoices : Releases the confetti. :

[@ToysintheStatic]

Just make sure it doesn't get on your super nintendo.

[@AdamKoralik]

beyondthesevoices A good tip, thank you sir.

[@captainnutella67]

I'm really glad you made a video on this Adam. I did a lot of research on this a while back when I bought my first dreamcast online. That thing is very yellow and I was furious when it arrived but I never sent it back since I was just excited to own one. On the off chance you ever want lots of plastic to do this to I'll send it to you with some compensation.

[@HomelessTechnology]

American Super Nintendo consoles are ugly compared to our European versions.

[@Mistraker]

+Philip Sempers They really are. I wish we got the same design that Japan and Europe got. I don't know why Nintendo chose to alter the NES and SNES for the US. The NES wasn't just ugly, it was unreliable, with it's complicate front-loading design. Though, I do approve of ditching the permanently wired controllers in favor of controller ports on the front.

[@pannonianbrute]

+Philip Sempers If you were 9 and this was 1992, this was one notch above a countach, trust me :) It really did look like the future......

[@Recoil816]

The Super Famicom definitely looks better than the SNES, but the original Nintendo (American version) is far better looking than it's overseas counterparts.

[@Mistraker]

Yeah, maybe. But, it's like twice the size, and the front loading mechanism make it horribly unreliable. The Sharp Twin Famicom, though, is a sexy beast. I think I'm going to pick one of those up, and play my collection on it via an adapter. It also plays Famicom disks, in addition to cartridges.

[@Mistraker]

PO JO I guess if you're a chubby chaser.

[@tomlane9347]

did not plan to go through the process when i clicked on the video, but still watched it all the way through, you did good at keeping my attention I was amused and interested the entire time, good video :)

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks!

[@BenasonPlays]

Exactly the same fir me tom!

[@cactuarlol8288]

American Super Nintendo's look like complete shit. What were they thinking making a square SNES?

[@AdamKoralik]

+CactuarLOL It's never been confirmed, but the story goes that Nintendo of America designed it so that you can't place a drink on top of it. Claiming that the reason the NES was unreliable was that too many people had done that, as opposed to the truth which was that the 72 pin connection was a flawed design. But, again, that story has never been confirmed.

[@cactuarlol8288]

AdamKoralik The american version looks like it would be easier to put a drink on than the UK/AU/EU/JAP version though...

[@AdamKoralik]

+CactuarLOL Trust me, it's not. A soda can or cup won't sit on in a stable position. The other body, it will easily.

[@BrinIoca]

+AdamKoralik wait, so I'm not supposed to violently shake my electronic video consoles while keeping cups of liquid on top of them? I have been doing it wrong for years...

[@mellowbug]

amazing how much you know about all those old consoles. Respect man..

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonnug]

I've read on the Retrobright site that covering the devices in saran wrap while sitting in the sun helps with the process. It prevents the evaporation and the drying out of the solution.

[@AdamKoralik]

+Bob Mclean Actually I bought a bottle of that, I plan to try it soon.

[@Neccese]

AdamKoralik The bottom of my SNES is yellow but the top is white, should i retro bright both parts or just the bottom part?

[@AdamKoralik]

Nickplays631 I'd do both.

[@1169218923]

AdamKoralik Hi Adam. I have a few Super Nintendo games, and the back part of the cases have gone yellow. Should I use xanthum gum and brush it on or do you rekon I could leave them in soke? But would that ruin the game labels? :/ Thanks in advance.

[@AdamKoralik]

iames85 Try this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z3m4npqwe5Zpm9k

[@jamiey5779]

AdamKoralik I'm not sure if it's just because of UV light damage alone? My Amiga 500 was taken out of storage (completely lightproof cover and sealed in a box) around 5 years ago and it was completely in its original state. I then restored the system in the same way sealed into the same cover and box again. I recently got it back out for a test run and its yellowed pretty badly. Its really annoying as the system was in such pristine condition not a single mark or scratch.

[@orbiquity]

I found something which is ready to use and apparently isn't widely known - it's "Salon Care" hair color developer. It's cheap. It's odorless. It's a slimy consistency and requires no mixing. Just slather it on and put your parts in a plastic bag so it doesn't dry, then put that in the sun or under a UV lamp. You can get it from Sally's Beauty Supply. Get the "40 Volume" which has the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide at 12%.

[@Alhedgehog]

Thank you so much for doing this video. I have been considering doing this for a long time, but I've never seen anybody do it right or keep it on for long periods of time so I wasn't sure if it was worth the money. Love your videos. Keep kicking the ass.

[@AdamKoralik]

I was just following what all the recipes said, and it seemed to work fine.

[@deralmighty8011]

I like the yellow on my SNES. It shows character and experience. It's been hooked up to a TV for the past 21 years, slowly turning yellow and gaining experience.

[@AdamKoralik]

It will probably look virtually identical inside, it's just a few chips here and there that are different. Mostly for power and video refresh rate issues.

[@octavio2895]

I have used retr0right before, one thing that i learned is that you should never let it dry. You need to rinse and reaply every 1 or 2 hour (even if its still wet) depending in your sunshine. Also you can use UV light from a UV lightbulb, they are good on rainy days and they are consistent however they are not as strong as the sun. UV lightbulbs can be left overnight but the mixture might dry, its up to you.

[@AdamKoralik]

Are you asking why the US Super Nintendo uses a different shell than the Super Famicom and PAL SNES?

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks for watching.

[@rowanw1131]

anyone ever tell you you are handsy?!?!!? this video is like a 4 minute video and you went insane on the jazz hands and explanations. thankx for the video :)

[@AdamKoralik]

All the time. Thanks for watching.

[@rowanw1131]

i loved it LOL

[@AdamKoralik]

That it is, actually it's a laxative. Who knew. Thanks for watching.

[@ultraintensegamer]

Great video Adam. A lot of people are wanting to know this, so it will have no trouble getting a lot of views.

[@AdamKoralik]

Interesting idea. Thanks for watching.

[@AdamKoralik]

Super Famicom games will work on a US Super Nintendo if either the lid is removed or the plastic tabs inside are cut. US Super Nintendo games will work on a Super Famicom if the lid is off, casing is cut, or you use a cartridge shape adapter. PAL stuff is not compatible with either. The US version looks different because Nintendo America linked the high failure rate of the NES to people placing beverages on top of the console. So they designed the shell to be unable to hold a drink on top.

[@Gmen2010champs]

AdamKoralik you should do a video showing your game and console collection as they sit in your living room or wherever you have everything. It'd be cool to see your massive game and console collection and how you have them set up.

[@germslopzify]

Awesome video. I just bought a SNES from the bay and its pretty yellow. Im hoping to get a NES and try this out on both consoles. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@AdamKoralik]

No problem, thanks for taking the time to watch.

[@funnrun3399]

Thank you very much for your videos Adam you taught me how to repair video game consoles I have restored video game consoles I kept for my personal collection I'm thinking about opening my own video game consoles repair shop in a few years You rock Adam koralik

[@MrDemonsushii]

Hooray for field trips with Adam! ^_^

[@BroknBoots]

Loving the expression I'm seeing in your hand. Top notch.

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks.

[@LearningToThrive]

2 things, if you don't have the special bits for older system screws, take both end off of a white bic pen, heat the pen to soften the plastic and push it onto the screw, leave it cool down then turn, it should mold into a bit that will work fine. second, Have you ever tried CLR?, I have used it before to eat grime from almost anything.

[@aapotervio5251]

i have 1989 Game Boy, how will the blue nintendo text affect after treatment?

[@AdamKoralik]

I assume it'll be fine.

[@aapotervio5251]

AdamKoralik Thanks, my father is a taxidermist so we have this chemicals at home :) Ill try it on my game boy that i restored, here in finland they were rare back in the days :)

[@wonderduck2345]

Does the yellowing ever occur in the Gen3 SNES(NA Redesign)?

[@notawesomebread]

Wow, my SNES is so yellow I thought they were supposed to be that color before I saw pictures of the normal gray ones. I'm definitely going to try this out.

[@jrockgamerocker3887]

Great tutorial! I've recently gotten into repairs and maintenance on Nintendo stuff as a hobby. I have a feeling I'll be learning a lot!

[@AdamKoralik]

Thanks for watching.

[@TheKurraak]

Thanks for the demo! I substituted flour because I couldnt find the gum powder and it worked great!

[@kylejulescrook]

If there's bromine in the plastic I wonder if platinum shock stabilizer would work for removing yellow

[@williambaker2547]

it's good to see there are some who still care for those older consoles

[@AdamKoralik]

Damn right I do.

[@MasterMario548]

What you ever do a video on soldering? The back port on my SNES is gone and I was thinking of buying a new one, but I have no idea what to do. I've never soldered before and my local gamestore doesn't do repairs. My next option would be to buy a new one, but my SNES is in good shape other than the port thing.

[@MarioCoelen]

Hi Adam, i used a cheap 12 percent hydro peroxide creme, nothing else. Put it in the sun for a couple of hours and thats about it..., as new!!! No need to do it again and very simple to clean. Try it!

[@RyanUkAus]

Can you restore blue / green / red ABS plastic with this method or would it turn grey? I have blue consoles made from ABS plastic which have discoloured from UV damage. Thanks!

[@artlovemusicpeace]

You're right, I tried sanding my snes last night. It did absolutely nothing. Trying your method now, looks like it's working. What's writers though is I had s yellow snes and sanding it worked, maybe it was just a really dirty snes? Anyways, sorry for the bad input. Thanks for the video!

[@AdamKoralik]

Couldn't tell you bro. Thanks for watching!

[@UberGeek777]

Could you do it longer if you had a UV (or Plant light) light set up instead of putting it in sun light?

[@DJErrn]

Do you think there is some sort of 'Lacquer' or equivalent to prevent yellowing? It seems to me all you need to provent is some sort of UVA Block?

[@benjokazooie]

in a sence yes, and if you know of any internal differences, i.e. if the plastic cartridge tabs are there or not. or if the games are compatable, i.e. not needing that adapter?

[@billschlafly4107]

I've whitened several SNES consoles with minimal yellowing using a paste of hydrogen peroxide and flour. No need for the other stuff with minimal yellowing. The concentrated peroxide is well worth the trip to the beauty supply store. Just mix it up to the consistency of pancake batter and spread it on. I wrap the parts in plastic wrap so it doesn't dry out and set it in the sun. I'm in the process of treating a severely yellowed SNES. After 3 treatments, it's better, but I may add some oxyclean to the mix if it doesn't fully whiten soon. Also, there is a risk to taking apart a brittle SNES. Removing the screws could result in breaking the plastic threads. I sprayed just a tiny bit of liquid wrench in the screw hole about 10 minutes before taking it apart. It worked very well and nothing broke.

[@neetboss]

Massive massive help, Adam. Thanks so much. Really needed this. Planning on stocking up on famicoms and the cheap ones i find are extremely yellow. but like i said, cheap. like $20. Also gonna be hitting up my favorite spot sooner or later, so i'll find you something nice and send it in.

[@brandenlucero]

will this help restore the plastic coloration of sealed figurines? i have no idea how 3 of my figurines got yellow damage. they were away from sunlight and UV lighting, and were actually BEHIND other figurines. the figurines in front didnt get damaged, which made no sense...

[@AdamKoralik]

You'd have to open them to perform this.

[@0Regnier]

There might be a slight break in the seal and/or it could be heat causing the issue. Are they near anything hot?

[@brandenlucero]

Puppy nope. they are near in a cabinet away from heat and light.

[@spicydeath82]

might just be a reaction to good ole O2, which is actually very corrosive. might be made of a different material / plastic the your more forward figures.

[@brandenlucero]

spicydeath82 it could be possibly be. these 3 figurines out of the 6 total, were the last they made in this series before they went out of business.

[@michael1234252]

I might try this on a few rare vintage 1980s puzzles that I got on eBay recently. But I just don't want to make them even worse. Plus one of them has stickers on it and I don't want to remove them or have them get damaged.

[@gw4k]

(1)I have altered this plan just a bit by skipping the gum (mash potato ingredient), (2)cover the console/parts with paper towels. One side at a time, (3)use a brush to wet it so that everything is nice and soaked :D. (4)Then cover with Saran wrap, sit in the sun. The coverage is more even and it's much easier to wash off. It requires more work but it's a seems faster in the end. Hope this helps folks.

[@AdamKoralik]

Yes, please let me know, I'm curious.

[@nicholasdeforte845]

Does the Bromine in the Super Nintendo's plastic ONLY REACT to natural sunlight or does light from lightbulbs also cause it to yellow?

[@Lunas2525]

you could substitute the sun for a uv light. Also peroxide is not so bad there are lots of much worse cleaners you could use. Peroxide is a oxidant and in sunlight it breaks down into water and o2. Exposure to your skin will cause it to turn white and go numb it will take several hours of discomfort but over exposure to it will reverse itself it should also be mentioned this mixture will bleach out your clothing if you get it on you.

[@Zack29810]

do they have a converter that's the opposite of the one shown in this video? like, one that makes you able to play super famicom games on your SNES? if not, is cutting those little pieces of plastic off really that simple?

[@AdamKoralik]

If we're talking about Super Famicoms on a US Super Nintendo, yes it's really as simple as cutting those tabs.

[@Zack29810]

I have a PAL copy of worms and a US SNES. if I cut those tabs, it'll work on it? what about japanese cartridges? thanks. :-)

[@AdamKoralik]

zbaker330 No, it won't work with PAL stuff. Japanese games can easily work on a US console, and a simple adapter can make US games work on a Japanese console. But PAL stuff doesn't work on their, and the US/Japanese games won't work on a PAL console. Not without a much more expensive and extremely uncommon adapter.

[@Zack29810]

damn... oh well, I suppose. thanks for the tip. is there any reason why its like that?

[@AdamKoralik]

zbaker330 Japan and the US use NTSC, Europe and Australia use PAL.

[@DougPlummer]

if you do want to use a UV lamp or an UV Sterilization Equipment they use for towels is it the UVb or UVa that the plastic needs? because if we cant have it in the sun for 8+ hours, could you have it in the UV Sterilizer for 12+ hours and it does both sides at the same time.

[@zero2umashi]

the yellowing isn't actually just caused by the bromine as most of the super nintendo's including the newer ones still have the mixture of bromine,it's just they got got the mixture wrong and added too much bromine to some of the super nintendo's although I actually think someone left a container of bromine in a warehouse without a/c during the summer and still placed the bromine in the plastic mixture.

[@jaykobgoolsby]

I know this video is almost 9 years old, but do you know what brand of that Cartridge Adapter (that was in the video) is? I've been trying to find that exactly one, but it keeps showing me the one by my arcade and that one only works on American super nintendo. I was looking for the exact one that you had to where you can either use it on American super nintendo and/or the Japanese Super Famicom.

[@AdamKoralik]

Man, no idea. It's long since no longer produced.

[@AdamKoralik]

I have, and I'm glad the fans are happy. But without a physical release, I have no interest.

[@Clay3613]

What about the very first models with the cartridge lock? Is it difficult to put back together?

[@Kgregory18]

I've seen lots of guys put cling wrap to keep the peroxide from evaporating, is that necessary? Also have you tried salon care 40? Seems to be a popular option as well, I'm not sure which is better, and does the plastic actually get stronger!?

[@FlyingV555]

He tried the Salon Care 40 in a different video.

[@oscarruiz1784]

I have a question for you Adam koralik how do you remove Browning on the switches for the Super Nintendo

[@Malooga757]

You think this would work with old LCD games? I mean they're made of plastic so I wouldn't see why not, just a thought. I have a few that are heavily yellowed on the front, I'm guessing some heavy sun exposure. Would it make a difference what caused the yellowing?

[@AdamKoralik]

LCD games?

[@Malooga757]

Like the old Tiger Electronic games. Or anything similar, there are thousands of them.

[@adamkoralik991]

Chris Gazzanigo Oh, yeah, it's just plastic.

[@LandShark-kw1zf]

I have some old computer cases and an old keyboard that are getting yellow. If I do this process on the keyboard key, will it remove the paint from the key? To be clear, what I mean by that is, will it take the letters off?

[@AdamKoralik]

It shouldn't, unless the paint was really poorly applied.

[@FeelGoodcom]

I'm looking to do this, and is there any reason why you can't just submerge the plastic and leave it out in the sun for 6-8 hours besides the cost? Looking to do this on bulk systems

[@AdamKoralik]

Should be fine.

[@FeelGoodcom]

Awesome, thank you!

[@adrienperie6119]

Instead of depending on the sun you can simply use a UV light, i happen to own a UV neon tube of the type they use in tanning machines only it is slightly larger spectrum and as i understand it those cost around 40 euros (i got mine from a friend so i really don't know) and will work great for anything you want to do involving UV light, including but not limited to this process (i fooled around with that tube and did pretty fascinating experiments especially with polarized glass and leaves).