Reviving Playfiled Posts

[Brettski]

Hi all,
As you do I have collected quite a number of playfield posts especially the white Gottlieb EM/SS posts which have discoloured in a crappy brown colour.

Is there anyway to bring these back up to a usable state, shame to have to throw out so many if there is a way. Any insight appreciated..

Cheers: Brettski... :)

[Crashramp]

I've read that a peroxide bath and UV lamp will clean up yellowed plastics so probably should work for posts also.
The process is to but them into a clear container or clip lock bag with the peroxide and then either use a UV lamp or put them out in the sun for a couple of days.
I'm not sure if it affects the strength of them or not but certainly worth trying if they're only going to end up in the bin anyway.

[millsy]

Must try the peroxide method.
I dropped my Bally Bullfight posts into hot water & nappy san - Water was too hot and made them tacky. 
Ended up painting them - Came up OK
http://pinballaustralia.com/posts.htm

[oldskool1969]

For the $ of a new post, just replace .
The old posts are too brittle and need replacing, might as well do the rubbers while you are at it too.

[ralph67]

I'm told the ultrasonic cleaners are great for cleaning the plastic parts  , but not sure if it would help get them white again.
Try the Peroxide method mentioned above.
I have used cold power , it great to remove the black ground in dirt , but don't use on hot stamped targets. it will remove the ink , i found out the hard way 

[Strangeways]

Time and effort not really worth it. Just buy them new.

[Brettski]

Thanks everyone,

Had to ask in case I threw out over 100 posts then found out there was a simple foolproof way to restore them.

I like your idea Crash regarding the peroxide and UV, I made the missus a UV lamp for her nails and might try a couple of posts in a clipseal bag of peroxide under the lamp and see how it goes. I am sure she will have peroxide around here somewhere!

Here is a pic of the lamp I made using an old coffee tin. 

Cheers: Brettski... :)

[Crashramp]

Thanks everyone,

Had to ask in case I threw out over 100 posts then found out there was a simple foolproof way to restore them.

I like your idea Crash regarding the peroxide and UV, I made the missus a UV lamp for her nails and might try a couple of posts in a clipseal bag of peroxide under the lamp and see how it goes. I am sure she will have peroxide around here somewhere!

Here is a pic of the lamp I made using an old coffee tin. 

Cheers: Brettski... :)

Cool, it'll be great to see how well it works.

[Brettski]

Ok I divided up the posts I had into two groups, not bad and real bad!

Tried the peroxide and uv using both sun and lamp and other than them looking cleaner it did not reduce the yellowing.

As Nino said it is not really worth the effort although separating them and using the brightest ones has worked out as they actually look ok on my 1973 Big Shot as I have cleaned the playfield up and it looks great but I am not going to paint the white under the plastics. If I am not happy at the end I can replace them then!

Cheers: Brettski... :)