RC10Talk - The Net's Largest Vintage R/C Community

About a month ago, when I got two rc10 rollers to combine together their best parts and restore one car, I made a google search on how to whiten plastic parts. After seeing three different web sites, I was satisfied with what I needed to do.

All three web sites said basically the same thing; I need sunlight for the parts to whiten, and the hydrogen peroxide will last up to three days.

So, I decided to start whitening my parts yesterday morning. I live in a condo complex, and all my windows face east, so I only get good sunlight in the morning. I opted to get a UV 60 watt plant light, and it seems to be working good so far.

Some parts whitened up rather quickly, and others seem to be getting white at a much slower rate.

Of course, I turned off the light when I went to bed last night, and I checked the parts this morning, and they seemed to be a little whiter, but not as quick of a rate with the light on. I will soak the parts for the three days, turning them over and rotating them in the container. I'll go out and get more hydrogen peroxide, if need be.

How long has the whitening process taken for you guys in the past, for a full set of all all the white parts?

Parts will vary on how white they become. The sunlight speeds the process but it can take a lot longer for some pieces. Patience and reasonable expectations are key.

I am getting ready to do the same thing for my RC10 re-build. Did you take any before pics?

Any suggestions on the UV light? haven't googled it yet.

David

clear glass, mason jar. I had good luck with sun light

David.K wrote:I am getting ready to do the same thing for my RC10 re-build. Did you take any before pics?

Any suggestions on the UV light? haven't googled it yet.

David

I'm not really making a build thread since there's a million of them for the rc10 here already.

The google results all said to use sunlight, but as I said, my windows don't get a full day's worth of sun. So, common sense told me to use a plant light. I'm using one that looks like a flood light (it's round) instead of the ones that look like flourescent tubes. All of those had a low watt output, and the 60 watt bulb was the brightest one I could find (the brighter the better).

I have a few pics of the better car before I took it apart, and you can see the yellowing on the nylon parts - especially the rear suspension arms. See picture below:


I'll post a pic here after I'm finished whitening the parts to show you the difference. From the looks of things, I should have them the way I want them some time this upcoming Wednesday.

Oh, I'm using a glass pyrex casserole dish for all the parts.

Stay tuned

You shuld notece the biggest difference in the first day or so, with slower gains later on. Good luck. -Jeff

Yeah, I've already have had to pull a good handful of the smaller parts - top shock bushings, spring stops, steering knuckles, and the tranny brace so far Bone white like I want it

It seems that the tranny case halves and the rear suspension arms will take the longest

In the sunny bay area with the a.m. fog I tryed the plant grow light with little luck. Time seemed to be the key 72 hour +

steve wrote:In the sunny bay area with the a.m. fog I tryed the plant grow light with little luck. Time seemed to be the key 72 hour +

Yep - that's why I started last Friday, and still have the larger parts soaking. I started one batch and ended in Sunday afternoon, and started another to soak some other parts along with the larger ones that aren't quite as white yet.

Stay tuned for the "after pics" to see the difference in my results

Any updates on how the HP bath is going. Show us the parts.

Funny you should mention that; I just pulled the parts out at noon, and just finished taking pics only minutes ago.

Be back in a few minutes to post them

Okay - done

I had to upload the pics from my smartphone onto my computer, do the quick auto adjust levels in photochop, and post em up on photobucket.

I got the other restored RC10 today in the mail, and both cars are exactly the same intensity of white.

Again, the "before" pic:




After three days in the hydrogen peroxide bath, the "after" pics:




Thanks for watching this post

What % concentration of hydrogen peroxide did you use?

Oh no - I don't know The bottles are long gone in the trash. I'm hitting the liquor store soon, and the supermarket where I got mine is right next door. I'll get that info for you and post it here after I get back

Stay tuned . . .

Typical store shelf stuff I think is 3%.