Re: How to remove yellowing from monitor?

["Hilary M. Turner" <hilarymichael@ozemail.com.au>]

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Do not use any Bleach on plastic or any cleaner which has any type of Bleach
in it.


    WHY?  It does more damage to any plastic then years of exposure to UV light.

    Bleach strips the chemicals which bind the plastic together and cause rapid
oxidation of the remaining plastic making them very brittle.

    If you feel that the coloring is distracting then use "Wet and Dry abrasive
paper" in the 600 and above grit and use it wet. Yes you will remove the
non-glare texture but if you want use 300 W/D paper after its clean by cross
hatching and it will revive a non-glare surface. There are more complex method
of doing this but require knowledge of the type of plastics you are working on.

    Then the cheapest way to revive the plastic, that is to put some of the
chemical back into it, is to use WPG (white petroleum gelly "Vasolen"}. This is
done by worming the plastic in the Sun until you can feel the warmth on the
inside of the plastic and then applying a thin coat of WPG over the exterior of
the plastic and rub it in and re-worm the plastic. Should be done several times
then left a several days so the max is absorbed into the plastic. If after its
let dry for a couple of days it is dry !DO IT AGAIN!!!. Leaving it for a few
days it should still be sticky. This means that the plastic has taken in all it
can at this time.

    Then a couple a times a year reapply a small amount of the WPG and rub it in
and wipe it off. You will probably find plastic oxides on your cleaning cloth in
both cases. This is good as in all things that oxidize oxides cause more rapid
oxidation. Also the WPG fill the gaps in the plastic, which would be only
visible under a microscope, with WPG so it will always fell a little slippery or
wet. This also mean that water or any other type of fluid will not stain or
ingress into the plastic and make it easier to clean in the future.

    Disassembly of the monitor is not difficult and if you are keen enough to go
to the extent I have outlined then removing the complete case is not anything of
an extra but rather just the start of the procedure.

    The more expensive: Use a vinyl referbisher. Like anything that is sold for
cleaning your car dashboard and seats. But WPG is cheaper and just or more
effective. Which you should be able to pick up at any hardware or car shop.
Getting is also a lot cheaper then using "Vaseline" as a half or quarter pound
will cost you less then the smallest jar of "Vaseline" Which works well in the
car also.

    If you like I can explain in detail how to get the best texture back into
the plastic just let me hear on this newsgroups and I'll write it up.

     Hilary Retired Aircraft mech.