Play some games?
That would be my move.
Super Mario Bros 3?
Really the only right answer at this point. Plenty of amazing games on NES, but Mario 3 is probably the most widely accessible with tons of play time
The thing to keep in mind if you go the peroxide/retrobrite route is that it makes the plastic physically more brittle and weaker in order to obtain the original coloring and the shell will yellow again at an accelerated rate unless you also coat it in something UV protective which will likely end up looking shiny or slightly off. I say just keep it as is and enjoy playing it while it still works.
You can get rid of the yellowing by soaking the shell of the NES is dilute hydrogen peroxide and shining UV lights on the shell. There’s a bunch of tutorials all around.
https://amaiorano.io/2022/09/13/nes-restoration.html#retrobriting
Would this work for LEGO as well? One of my sets started yellowing because it gets too much sunlight
I think so. After some quick googling, it looks like some people get it to work on white, grey, and blue bricks, but leaving it in too long causes white “chalky” spots to form. Try at your own risk I guess
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"Oh! It looks like this yellowed NES is actually a rare sub-model. I forgot to get my tri-wing screwdriver bit from the car, so fuck it, where’s the drill!?!?!
Wanna buy a Commander X16? No really, I have a TON of these things."
Have you tried blowing on it?
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This video shows what is possible after a teardown, and yellowing-removal with 12% hydrogen peroxide solution.
If you are worried about making the plastic brittle, just follow the cleaning with soapy water part.
Personally, I would leave it, but if the yellowing bothers you, I believe the procedure is to use the same chemicals beauticians use to bleach hair. You can buy kits with peroxide and a developer, you just have to be careful when applying it, and don’t leave it on too long.
I’d personally not worry about the yellowing. I’d say clean it up to remove actual dirt and scuffs and don’t worry about the discoloration. Yellowed electronics are peak retro. Hook it up to an old yellowed CRT monitor.
Google “retrobrite” and you’ll find a bunch of guides.
Repeated bleaching makes the material brittle. Personally, I’d paint it or look for special decals.
TIL
Ain’t like they’ll bleach it again.
Paint it black. /s
Mick Jagger has entered the chat.
Given how easy the front loader NES is to take apart and the simplicity of its shape, rather than Retrobrite it I would probably be more inclined to just separate the yellowed parts from the remainder and paint them.
But then, you’re also talking to somebody whose OG NES has an emerald green power light and you don’t need to press cartridges down in it to play them anymore. So, preserving that coveted originality is not exactly in my wheelhouse anyway.
Add some blue and make it green.
Live in it? Wait… Thats not how the song goes.
Play yellow Duck Hunt.
Heeeey…who am I kidding I love it too :)