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Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:29 pm
by Caine
Really annoyed with myself! Got a CE a recently, stripped it down in work and cleaned the parts with the detergeant i use as a wetting agent for my industrial washer. I have always used this stuff over the past few years as it cleans the parts well and also tends to get rid of grease and oil marks.
I left them over night to dry out and was gonna give them a peroxide treatment under fluorescent bulbs at home, however on closer inspection the parts seem to have had some kind of reaction to the detergeant.
In some places they look really dry not smooth like normal and whiter in some places than others.
Is there anything i can do, to make this go away? Will peroxide work? or have i just messed up a whole load of parts?
Was so annoyed i forgot to take a photo, i'm sure somebody must of encountered this before?
I just hope there is a way to remedy it

Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:39 pm
by Phin
Did you rinse them off well after soaking? Perhaps you just have some spots of dried detergent on the arms.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 3:57 pm
by Caine
Yeah i rinsed them off well, dont know if soaking/washing them again with household detergeant would work or the damage has been done and i just gotta grin and bear it
Just tried to take some pics but the camera battery died will try again shortly
They almost have a chalky kind of look in places
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:16 pm
by RC10resto
Sounds like there was some bleach involved - bleach will ruin the parts, make them dry and chalky.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:20 pm
by THEYTOOKMYTHUMB
Maybe try boiing them in plain water? Couldn't hurt I wouldn't think. If they don't straighten out you may just have to dye them to at least give them an even color. Just a thought.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:28 pm
by Caine
Here's some pics
This is the 4th set of white parts ive done and all the others have been fine. Really annoyed!
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 4:49 pm
by GoMachV
I use "la's awesome" cleaner from the dollar store and it almost always works awesome....except once I had a very nasty battery cup so I let it soak overnight. It had that almost fuzzy powdery look and even after dyeing it black it's just not the same. I fear your parts may be damaged beyond repair but I would try the boiling mentioned above. It can't hurt
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:07 pm
by Charlie don't surf
There are a few different mixtures of nylon that AE used, some seem to contain a decent amount of "oil" in them, degreasers seem to pull that out and leave them chalky.
Boil them in distilled water and reintroduce moisture in the plastics

Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 5:19 pm
by Caine
Charlie don't surf wrote:There are a few different mixtures of nylon that AE used, some seem to contain a decent amount of "oil" in them, degreasers seem to pull that out and leave them chalky.
Boil them in distilled water and reintroduce moisture in the plastics

Thanks for your help guys, looks like we might have a snow day tomorrow so will get a pot on the stove.
I salute your rc knowledge again good sirs!
Dont think i'll bother with peroxide just gettin them back somewhere near to what they were is good enough for me.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 6:56 pm
by DHood
LA's Awesome is what I use also. I works great and is cheap. I add a little to the water in my sonic cleaner and gets everything clean. Even in screw holes and scratches.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:48 pm
by GoMachV
Yup cheapo harbor freight sonic cleaner here too. Very impressed at how well it works, especially when you get it heated up.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 7:54 pm
by ROH73
Caine: What is the name of the detergent you used? Specific brand name, etc?
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:09 pm
by THEYTOOKMYTHUMB
ROH73 wrote:Caine: What is the name of the detergent you used? Specific brand name, etc?
Uh oh! Robert's fixin' to get all "molecular" on us.

He knows this $hi+ better than anyone though so he can probably help.

Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 9:46 pm
by ROH73
Damn, I've developed a geeky reputation yet again!
Seriously, thank you for the compliment, Thumb. I work for a chemical company and design stuff with various plastics and metals all day long, so hopefully I can put all that info to
actual good use and be even a little help here

.
Re: Have i messed up my white parts?
Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 3:12 am
by Caine
ROH73 wrote:Caine: What is the name of the detergent you used? Specific brand name, etc?
We order it from a specialist company who deal with phosphate washers, degreasers etc so would have to have a look in work.
We have about 4-6 inches of snow today so i'm staying home to go out and play with my daughter
