SNES Discoloration

[adsfgk]

I know it's a common problem for the original SNES systems to have yellow discoloration. Personally, the SNES that I just picked up doesn't have this problem. It's a later version of the original SNES design (with the only noticeable difference being that the word 'eject' is molded on the eject button instead of being printed in white) and I'm wondering: do these later versions ever yellow?

The bottom half of the outside of my SNES is a slightly darker shade of gray compared to the top half, and I'm not sure if this is the beginning of a gradual yellowing process or what. If you're an owner of one of these later SNES models, what does your console look like?

[Loremaster]

Technically speaking, all of them will eventually yellow, but as far as I am aware, later model SNES do not have the problem of premature yellowing.

Yellowing is caused by an oxidation reaction of the plastic with the air, but a certain fire retardant additive present in certain earlier batches of SNES plastic causes the plastic to oxidize much faster than normal. This process can also be sped up by overexposure to Ultra Violet radiation, though this will usually result in a more uneven yellowing pattern.

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it does get yellow, then there is always that Retrobright stuff.

[Ro-J]

Technically speaking, all of them will eventually yellow...

With apologies to Margaret Mitchell:

"Death, taxes and yellowing! There's never any convenient time for any of them."

[retroman]

mine went yellow many years ago....as long as it works great..who cares what color the bottom half is.

[Astrocade]

I'm one of the rare owners of the original run who has luckily not experienced yellowing at all, knock on wood.

[goldenegg]

I wouldn't worry too much about it. If it does get yellow, then there is always that Retrobright stuff.

WOW!!! That's actually the first I've heard of RetroBright and it looks terrific! I have a few systems I'd love to try that on!

[adsfgk]

mine went yellow many years ago....as long as it works great..who cares what color the bottom half is.

Do you own one of the original runs or the revision like I do?

[Seaquest]

My snes has eject written on it but it has very little yellowing. The trick is to keep it out of direct sunlight. The U.V. rays speed the yellowing process.

[Logicdustbin]

be warned, it is not just the colour that changes, the plastic becomes VERY brittle when it turns yellow.

[Gentlegamer]

I'm one of the rare owners of the original run who has luckily not experienced yellowing at all, knock on wood.

*raises hand* My SNES, purchased on launch day in 1991, is untouched by the yellow as well.

[Astrocade]

*raises hand* My SNES, purchased on launch day in 1991, is untouched by the yellow as well.

Mine was a launch day unit too. Purchased at K-Mart on August 13, 1991.

[BetaWolf47]

I'm one of the rare owners of the original run who has luckily not experienced yellowing at all, knock on wood.

Well, mine just has the controller ports yellowed. Then again, I got my system in 1993 or 1994.

[ShinobiMan]

The bottom half of my original SNES purchased in 1991 is yellow like a drunkard's piss. It became yellow sometime in the late 90's. Congrats on being one of the lucky ones!

[Greg2600]

If you do it properly, the OxyClean/hair bleach solution will take the yellow out. The resulting color is not exactly the original, its duller, but not yellow.

[Gameboy415]

Well, mine just has the controller ports yellowed. Then again, I got my system in 1993 or 1994.

Mine is the complete opposite!

I have a launch model I got on my 8th birthday that is yellow everywhere EXCEPT the controller ports, av/power inputs, ext port (on the bottom), and the small raised plastic around the game pak slot.

[Arkhan]

my SNES top half is yellow, but the bottom is not.

It was never in sunlight either, so I dunno.

[dreamcaster]

mine went yellow many years ago....as long as it works great..who cares what color the bottom half is.

Because the North American SNES is already as ugly as sin and having one that's turned yellow is just an eyesore.

I've been considering painting my US SNES black but what I would really like to have is a nice, non yellowed one. Unfortunately shipping from the US to Australia is just so expensive that I can't justify the price...yet.

[Nintega Grafx-16]

Do the SNES Minis turn yellow too?

[spoon]

AFAIK SNES Jrs do not yellow. I've never seen or heard of it. I'd guess the plastic is different.

Here is a link to the Retr0Bright recipe:
http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/Retr0Bright+Gel

I am going to be trying this out on some really yellow SNES' I have this weekend or next.

[Leo_A]

I know it's a common problem for the original SNES systems to have yellow discoloration. Personally, the SNES that I just picked up doesn't have this problem. It's a later version of the original SNES design (with the only noticeable difference being that the word 'eject' is molded on the eject button instead of being printed in white) and I'm wondering: do these later versions ever yellow?

My later SuperNes console that was purchased at the end of 1995 with the molded eject button has only shown some signs of discoloration around the controller ports, which I presume is a seperate piece from the lower and upper shells.

So they're certainly able to suffer from this issue.

Not much of a problem these days with that formula that is available. Not sure why anyone would consider doing something like painting when it's pretty easy to restore it to it's original appearance.