Cleaning? How Do You Do?

[TrueMetis]

I have a question about fixing scratches out of plastic. Years ago I bought an N64 and controllers from the local rental place when it got rid of the one they where using for rentals. Aside form the sticker they decided to scratch their address into the plastic of the controllers and the console. The scratches are pretty deep so I plan to sand the scratches out and then apply an automotive plastic polish. I may need more than one type of polish because the controllers are semi-translucent while the console is not. Does anyone have any tips or perhaps a better way? Or knows whether or not this will make things worse? Cause that would be something I would want to know before I go through with it.

[scarmullet]

Use a rough grit sandpaper.

[Dravenae]

I have a question about fixing scratches out of plastic. Years ago I bought an N64 and controllers from the local rental place when it got rid of the one they where using for rentals. Aside form the sticker they decided to scratch their address into the plastic of the controllers and the console. The scratches are pretty deep so I plan to sand the scratches out and then apply an automotive plastic polish. I may need more than one type of polish because the controllers are semi-translucent while the console is not. Does anyone have any tips or perhaps a better way? Or knows whether or not this will make things worse? Cause that would be something I would want to know before I go through with it.

Try Mr Clean Magic Eraser. It should get rid of any scuffs. Make sure to wet the eraser before hand, not soaking, just moist.

[autobot]

...they decided to scratch their address into the plastic of the controllers and the console. The scratches are pretty deep...

Using a Magic Eraser will smooth out the texture on the plastic before you get rid of the scratches/etches, because I'm willing to bet that the scratched/etched address is deeper than the texture on the plastic.

If the scratches are deep enough that you feel your fingernail catch, you might want to just replace the shell, or see this as a chance to do a custom paint job.

[wiggy]

^^^ this.

Option 2:  sand the controllers down through the scratches.  Then sand blast the part with 60-100 grit sand on a pretty low presure (less than 30psi).  This will do a pretty decent job of resorting the original textured finish, but obviously requires some equipment to do so.

[TrueMetis]

Painting them didn't even occur to me. That's a good idea thanks.

[wiggy]

So I've been testing Tarn-X like I said I would and I've gotta say that I'm blown away by its effectiveness without the need for any abrassive material and what seems to be ZERO damage to the metal pins (unlike what I'm hearing about Brasso). 

I cleaned an SMB 3 last night that was seriously tarnished.  Pins had a ton of black buildup and were really dull.  A Q-tip and a few minutes with the Tarn-X and it looks damned near brand new.  I'm gonna go ahead and soak the pins of a donor cart in the stuff for a few days to make sure that it doesn't have the ability to eat away at the pins.  It does eat through zinc coating (the gold-ish looking coating on SNES and other cart screws) in about 2 seconds, which I found out while trying to use it to clean up some GBA system screws.  Takes it down to the bare metal almost instantly.

[e_brugal]

I bought Mortal Kombat trilogy for N64 and it has a sticky thing. i clean it up with alcohol and it looks clean but when i grab the cartidge it's still sticky.

How can i get rid of the invisible sticky thing?

Try using some window cleaner. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe it off. It should get rid of it.

Thanks Dravenae, it did work, got rid of all that "invisible" sticky thing

[Dravenae]

I bought Mortal Kombat trilogy for N64 and it has a sticky thing. i clean it up with alcohol and it looks clean but when i grab the cartidge it's still sticky.

How can i get rid of the invisible sticky thing?

Try using some window cleaner. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, then wipe it off. It should get rid of it.

Thanks Dravenae, it did work, got rid of all that "invisible" sticky thing

Awesome!

[Dravenae]

Hey guys, just wondering have any of you used the "credit card method" to clean your systems contacts? If any of you don't know what this method is, you take a credit card with out the indentations, put a microfiber towel around the card, soak a little bit of the microfiber towel in alcohol, then insert into cart reader until clean. I've been taking apart my old consoles lately, cleaning them up and such, so I would just like to know any good methods to clean the contacts.

This question seems a bit redundant consider I'm brave enough to complete strip down the consoles, yet I'm too much of a chicken shit to put anything other than a game into the cart reader! For shame. 

LOL!

Anyways, let us know if its safe to do so. If any of you have any other suggestions, let yourself be heard!

Thanks in advance guys.

[wiggy]

IMO, the best way to clean is to gut the cart. You can actually see what you're cleaning, it gives you more leverage, and takes all the guess work out if it.

[Dravenae]

IMO, the best way to clean is to gut the cart. You can actually see what you're cleaning, it gives you more leverage, and takes all the guess work out if it.

No, not the cart. I'm good with that. What I actually meant was the pins inside the console. All my games are as clean as a whistle, I just want to make sure the pins inside my NES, SNES, N64, and Mega Drive's are all clean as well. I'll be replacing the 72 pin connector on my NES shortly, but with SNES, N64, and Mega Drives, it's not as simple as pulling it out and slapping the new pin connector in, so I want to know how you guys clean them. I'm tempted to try the credit card method (as discussed in my previous post), but I want to know what you guys think.

Also while on this topic, any suggestions on a new 72 pin connector for my PAL A NES? It's the first time I'll be replacing it, but I just want to make sure that I get decent one, so I'm hoping you guys know of a decent brand or seller/dealer.

Thanks in advance.

[wiggy]

Ah, my bad for not seeing that.  Then I'll tell you what I told this guy:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?168361-Drilling-out-SNES-screws-C-Black-screen-of-death

Here's what I use to clean cart connector pins. Works about 95% of the time.

http://www.crescentartists.com/artbo...tboard_ill.htm

Illustration board comes in quite a few thicknesses and can be cut down to little pieces that are the exact size of the cart connector that you're trying to clean. The usable surface side of the cold press board has a good amount of texture in it so it's quite effective for pulling crud and debris from the pins. You can even add a little isopropyl or other cleaner to the board if you like. Use it like any other cleaning kit, which is done by inserting the board into the port over and over again.

If that doesn't work, then the last ditch effort is to wrap a piece of 1500-2000 grit sandpaper around the board and give it 3-4 insertions into the cart port and then try a game. If still not working, then repeat. If still not working after 2-3 rounds, then you very likely have a different problem.


The only place you'll find a replacement SNES mini button is to scavenge it from another, unless you can find someone parting out SNES minis on eBay or the like.

[Dravenae]

Ah, my bad for not seeing that.  Then I'll tell you what I told this guy:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?168361-Drilling-out-SNES-screws-C-Black-screen-of-death

Here's what I use to clean cart connector pins. Works about 95% of the time.

http://www.crescentartists.com/artbo...tboard_ill.htm

Illustration board comes in quite a few thicknesses and can be cut down to little pieces that are the exact size of the cart connector that you're trying to clean. The usable surface side of the cold press board has a good amount of texture in it so it's quite effective for pulling crud and debris from the pins. You can even add a little isopropyl or other cleaner to the board if you like. Use it like any other cleaning kit, which is done by inserting the board into the port over and over again.

If that doesn't work, then the last ditch effort is to wrap a piece of 1500-2000 grit sandpaper around the board and give it 3-4 insertions into the cart port and then try a game. If still not working, then repeat. If still not working after 2-3 rounds, then you very likely have a different problem.


The only place you'll find a replacement SNES mini button is to scavenge it from another, unless you can find someone parting out SNES minis on eBay or the like.

Cheers Wiggy! Fucking awesome reads! The consoles are working fine at the moment and run games first try. I just want to make sure they keep doing that! Thanks again man!

EDIT : Actually Wiggy, what is illustration board? What is it make out of? If I have the right thing is mind, its just like a really compact foam board. I googled it after reading this post, and it looks like card board.

This the right stuff?

http://www.davidadamsonline.com/fairy_art_1.htm

(the first image).

[wiggy]

Sorry for the late reply. It's not foam core, just pressed paper board. Solid through, not foam layered of corrugated