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Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 12:08
by Palatino
Does anyone have any tips for removing marker pen from a keyboard case? It looks as though it was written on decades ago. Alcohol? (either to rub on the board or comfort myself if it doesn't work) I'd rather something that doesn't alter the colour of the case itself, though this may be too much to ask.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 12:26
by Muirium
I used disc brake cleaner (an alcohol spray of some sort) and elbow-work with the soft scourer on a sponge to take off some much nastier green from one of my beige boards. In this case it was colour bleed from a sticker that had been there for decades. Something to watch out for is the texture of the surface. A good bit of scrubbing will flatten it down, sooner than you think.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 13:19
by Findecanor
Isopropylalcohol might work to some degree and should not affect the plastic.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 20:27
by micmil
Soap and water is first. Alcohol is next. If neither work move to something like Goo Gone. Still there? Well... at that point you're likely screwed and whatever it is has entrenched itself in the fine bumps on the surface. Low level very fine abrasive. Whitening type toothpaste, for example. Still there? Go for one of those abrasive cleaning sponges and be gentle.
If at that point it's still not good enough, paint the sombitch and get on with your life.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 28 Mar 2021, 21:27
by Weezer
You want to use ethanol and a pencil eraser.
Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) can be found in most cheap hand sanitizer and does not evaporate as rapidly as isopropyl alcohol. While the plastic is wet with the ethanol, take a pencil eraser and rub it vigorously. The eraser will get into the pores without damaging the texture.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 29 Mar 2021, 00:56
by XMIT
I'd be really careful with any automotive cleaners. If they have acetone in any substantial quantity, it will ruin your day as you watch your ABS plastics melt into oblivion. Acetone attacks styrene.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 29 Mar 2021, 07:08
by Rayndalf
I've had good luck with brasso and a bit of scrubbing (assuming soap + water, rubbing alcohol and goo gone all fail). Not sure if it's the grit or the ammonia, but it removes the marks and doesn't damage abs like acetone does. It takes the printing off Legos, so it's absolutely not safe on pad printing.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 29 Mar 2021, 13:19
by Palatino
Thanks everyone. I'll be making a trip to the supermarket to grab all these different products, and try them in the suggested least-to-most-abrasive order. Results to follow!
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 31 Mar 2021, 00:41
by Weezer
I trust that the pencil eraser will kick ass
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 31 Mar 2021, 00:44
by motoko
Magic Eraser - lightly scrub in warm water - don't go nuts cause it's abrasive
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 01 Apr 2021, 22:40
by gipetto
I'd try real melted butter, not the fake spread kind. I use it to remove tar from my hands.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 04 Apr 2021, 22:30
by Weezer
I'm working on restoring a Displaywriter system right now, and I remembered this thread. I intentionally marked the keyboard case with a Sharpie, let it dry, and then took pictures of ethanol and an eraser removing it completely. The final picture is after about 3 minutes of work. Posting this here to solidify the efficacy of this method over brake cleaner, brillo pads, magic erasers, butter, etc. Alcohol works very well to dislodge 95% of grime and the eraser works to get into the rough surface without ruining the texture. As you can see even the powder coating of paint wasn't harmed, so it will be completely safe on any type of plastic.
Marked with Sharpie:
30 seconds of work:
Roughly 3 minutes of work:
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 04 Apr 2021, 23:02
by Riptide666
Stunning!
Weezer wrote: ↑04 Apr 2021, 22:30
I'm working on restoring a Displaywriter system right now, and I remembered this thread. I intentionally marked the keyboard case with a Sharpie, let it dry, and then took pictures of ethanol and an eraser removing it completely. The final picture is after about 3 minutes of work. Posting this here to solidify the efficacy of this method over brake cleaner, brillo pads, magic erasers, butter, etc. Alcohol works very well to dislodge 95% of grime and the eraser works to get into the rough surface without ruining the texture. As you can see even the powder coating of paint wasn't harmed, so it will be completely safe on any type of plastic.
Marked with Sharpie:
30 seconds of work:
Roughly 3 minutes of work:
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 04 Apr 2021, 23:24
by Muirium
You didn’t show us the dirty eraser.
I presume rubbery is good, versus those flaky ones which are a bit stiff. And cleaning ethanol, rather than just booze, right?
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 05 Apr 2021, 00:25
by Bjerrk
You're saying I can stop using Chartreuse now?
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 05 Apr 2021, 19:28
by Weezer
lmao I mean if you want to keep using Chardonnay I'm all for it, but it will have a lower alcohol content. Ethanol and Isopropyl Alcohol have basically the same properties, but the Ethanol doesn't dry as quickly, which allows you to use less. I use hand sanitizer because it comes in a gel and doesn't drip everywhere. The eraser I'm using is just your standard 25 cent wedge thing from the office supply store.
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 05 Apr 2021, 19:36
by raoulduke-esq
Thanks for this! Had great success last night using goo gone and an art gum eraser. Sharpie is gone!
Re: Is this unremarkable?
Posted: 05 Apr 2021, 20:25
by Weezer
Awesome!