The Ugly Stick!

[+wood_jl]

Extremely odd that they don't.

Well, I wouldn't exactly say that it's odd. Especially if they found it in some pile somewhere and just wanted to make a quick buck. Some people don't care enough to put in the time.

 

Also consider this: if you had this Nintendo you might figure you can sell it for $20 in its current condition. Would it be worth all the hours (how much is your time worth) and materials (more money) to possibly increase the value to $40?

That's why I mentioned the Windex and the paper towels. That's about 30 seconds, and the greatest return on investment. If I were selling something, knowing that appearance is everything, it seems a reasonable investment.

[skaredmask]

Here's we go again no where near as ad as the frist one. This Playstation 1 looks like it has balck stuff in the ps1 and is oozing some black stuff from under the lid to the open button and some got on the lid too

 

http://madison.craig...2255153076.html

[skaredmask]

On the flip side a super clean Playstation 1

 

http://northernwi.cr...2299820513.html

 

kinda confused by the RE game pictures as RE2 is a double disc.

untitled.bmp

Edited April 18, 2011 by skaredmask

[+save2600]

Hey, you gonna hook a brother up with a nice PS1 and Game Genie so we can play that War of the Worlds game? lol

 

I got a dead Sega CD I could trade...

 

 

 

 

[skaredmask]

Also found a psp Look at the buttons and screen eck!!

[+save2600]

Also found a psp Look at the buttons and screen eck!!

Man, talk about 'disposable' income. You sure seem to find the junk!

 

Hey, something we use in the arcade business is a product called Novus. There's 3 different formula's, with step #2 and #3 taking care of fine-light scratches. Using a cloth designed to clean LCD and big screen panels, I've had tremendous luck restoring screens such as that PSP of yours. Windows on old audio gear that get scratched somehow, etc. Of all the crap that goes on daily in the world, it still amazes me how poorly people take care of their stuff. A majority of people that is.

[+wood_jl]

Also found a psp Look at the buttons and screen eck!!

 

Yuck.

 

I love when you get a used handheld, or a console controller - that's all nasty. There's a film over it, and in any nook and cranny - there's this "dark stuff." It's around the buttons, mashed in the crack. It's tightly packed in the crack between the clamshell halves of the controller or the handheld. What is it? Grease and skin cells? Ground-in dingleberries? What the hell is that stuff?

 

If you don't want to take stuff apart, you can take a toothbrush (hopefully not one you still use on your teeth) and hold the controller (or handheld) upside down. Dip the toothbrush in a little container (like a Crystal Light tub or bottle cap) of 91% isopropyl alcohol, SHAKE OFF THE EXCESS into the sink, and brush the cracks around the buttons. Hopefully the gunk will lodge in the brush, which you then bang (bristles down) on the rim of the sink to "tap the gunk out of it." Repeat. Because you're holding the unit upside-down, minimal liquid will run down past the buttons into the unit. Plus, since it's 91% isopropyl, it'll dry fast. I leave it in front of a fan for a few minutes, anyway.

 

For the edge between the clamshell halves, wet (but ring out) a paper towel with the alcohol, put it over your finger and jam it in the crack with your fingernail and wipe down the length of the crack. Change positions on the paper towel each swipe. Sometimes use the toothbrush in there a little, too.

 

For a final wipe, I usually go over the whole thing (many times) with a paper towel that's damp with glass cleaner. You have to be careful what you get the isopropyl on - it WILL remove some paint and logos/names from controllers, etc., but the glass cleaner won't.

 

For "the real deal" cleaning, disassemble and use whitewall tire cleaner and wash everything. I usually do this to controllers, but I'm a little squeamish about disassembling handheld units, though!

[+save2600]

Paper towel and glass cleaner will scratch the acrylic screen all to hell, but you're talking about on the rest of the case - right? Q*Tips work great too for the dingleberry's

 

Skaredmask let me on to a little tidbit of his own he uses to clean consoles and stuff with: Armor All... gotta admit, from what I've seen, looks pretty good! I just wonder if that stuff, when rubbed to hard, actually creates a shiny looking effect in some places...

Edited April 18, 2011 by save2600

[Rik]

About delicate screens like those on Portable DVD players and gaming handhelds.What do you guys use to clean those screens?I saw above how regular paper towels and Window cleaner will scratch the heck out of them, which i have experienced as true.Heck anything seems to damage those screens really, any info on the PROPER way to clean these damn things?Thanx!

Edited April 18, 2011 by Rik

[+save2600]

The cloths that I use are blue. They're almost always blue and they're like this micro-fiber thing - but they're not. They're a special non-scratching cloth that usually comes free from your better manufacturers such as Apple (one came with my iPod and iMac IIRC) and certain TV manufacturers. You can buy these cloths at Wal-Mart and Best Buy too. There's also a product called iCleen or iKlear I guess (of all names) that is a spray bottle and comes with this special cloth. One use with a paper towel and glass cleaner and you'll be wondering why the heck you did that when this other stuff exists. I've known about this cloth since the early 90's. Projection TV cloth is what it used to be called before all this other stuff started coming out. lol Whatever the heck it's made of (chamois?), It's even safer than 100% cotton, like a towel or old T-shirt.

 

http://www.amazon.co...ASIN=B0018CPCT8

Edited April 18, 2011 by save2600

[+wood_jl]

Heck, I always use paper towels and glass cleaner. I never grind a dry one on the dirt, though. I always moisten/soften the paper towel with glass cleaner first, and if there's just, don't apply any pressure - I just barely wipe it ever-so-lightly the first time, so the dirt will stick to the moistened paper towel like a magnet. After the dirt's off, then turn to a clean area - or get another paper towel moistened/softened.

 

As long as you're not grinding paper towel into the screen dry (when the paper towel is not softened), and as long as you're not grinding dirt/dust INTO the screen, I don't see how it can get scratched. A moistened paper towel with no grit just doesn't have anything abrasive enough to scratch, at least in my experience. I've cleaned my handheld sceens (and computer screens) this way so many times, I've lost count.

 

The thing about using a rag - you MUST KNOW that it is clean. Most of the damn rags I have throwing around have been in the floor, used to polish truck bumpers, etc. A new paper towel's clean! I suppose if you exercise a high standard of care, vigilance, and common sense, use whatever method. I would never put anything more "harsh" than glass cleaner on it, though, and I never leave it there long.

 

Edit: The paper towel, annoyingly, leaves little tidbits of paper fibers all over. I'm sure there are better solutions, but this is the cheapest and most readily at hand!

Edited April 18, 2011 by wood_jl

[SlowCoder]

I do the same as save2600. Those nonscratch cloths are the best. Usually just dampen them with water and gently wipe.

 

I once found out that another bad solution is to use eyeglasses cleaned and rags. The cleaned solution apparently has some sort of film that I guess is used to help hide scratches. But it leaves one heck of a smudge on the screen that's a real pain to get off.

[0078265317]

I have a yellow snes. I'll take a pic tomorrow. Anyhow look at this.

 

If you really want to collect CIB.

 

Hurry ends soon. 24 minutes.

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 260769774568

[0078265317]

And if you really need a good one. Yellow but 100% tested.

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 140535114500

 

Or 35 with 2 controllers also works.

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 220771495548

[0078265317]

Here you go.

Edited April 21, 2011 by 0078265317

[STICH666]

Still my best restoration to date..

 

 

 

Left that sticker residue on the bottom so people would believe it's the same console.

Edited April 21, 2011 by STICH666

[SlowCoder]

Here you go.

Yep. My backup one looks exactly like that. But that's not due to lack of care by the owner, so I don't exactly think it qualifies for the "ugly stick" award. Toss on some dirt, tape, marker, an unknown liquid, and a few torn stickers and you might have a winner.

[0078265317]

Still my best restoration to date..

 

 

 

Left that sticker residue on the bottom so people would believe it's the same console.

 

Nice how did you get all the tape off?

[0078265317]

Got a used nes top loader off ebay for 36 dollars. Looks like it was in a fire or something but it still works. Don't know what is going on on the right side.

[STICH666]

Still my best restoration to date..

 

 

 

Left that sticker residue on the bottom so people would believe it's the same console.

 

Nice how did you get all the tape off?

Goo Gone, soap and a nail brush. Getting a new lid was a pain in the ass though.

[jaybird3rd]

I once picked up an Intellivision ECS Computer Adaptor that had obviously gotten soaked at least once. The RF shielding inside was nothing but rust and had to be junked, and the board showed signs of significant water damage:

 

 

I decided that restoring it might make an interesting project, so I set out to get it working again. I removed the components in the damaged areas of the board, and by scrubbing it with a toothbrush and a combination of Goo-Gone, rubbing alcohol, and toothpaste, I was able to get most of the rust off:

 

 

I then replaced the components that had been damaged by the water (I was still working on this step when this picture was taken):

 

 

I also scrubbed the shell and left it open to dry for twenty-four hours:

 

 

Here is the fully re-assembled unit. It worked perfectly the first time I fired it up, and I still use it today with my Intellivision II.

 

[skaredmask]

Here's a Dreamcast arcade stick found on ebay:

 

eBay Auction -- Item Number: 180649215989

 

$109.00

+ $6.00 S&H

[0078265317]

A little yellow but otherwise not bad.

[0078265317]

Not mine but if you really want to see dirty then this is it. Just found this. Pause movie at 55 seconds.

 

Edited April 22, 2011 by 0078265317

[skaredmask]

Holy crap!! LOL