Adventures in Sunfading

Twinkle-eye said:
I have seen pics with and without. But if it was uneven it's possibly a cut.
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Yeah, it was all uneven and strange.

I think it was styled into a forelock. It all seems to be the same length so I think it’s just styled. I sure hope I’ve seen pictures right
 
Hi! Your ponies are looking great, it makes me smile to see such care given to them. I hope you don’t mind a few questions. I recently learned about sunfading and want to try it. Hitting 41 was apparently the magic number age where I simply NEEDED to get back my lost childhood and the ponies I missed the most. Therefore I’m super new to restoration. I was just wondering how often you refresh the developer cream and also, how hot does that bulb get? I don’t want to risk a major fire hazard so I want to plan accordingly when designing my box.
 
SporadicallyObsessive said:
Hi! Your ponies are looking great, it makes me smile to see such care given to them. I hope you don’t mind a few questions. I recently learned about sunfading and want to try it. Hitting 41 was apparently the magic number age where I simply NEEDED to get back my lost childhood and the ponies I missed the most. Therefore I’m super new to restoration. I was just wondering how often you refresh the developer cream and also, how hot does that bulb get? I don’t want to risk a major fire hazard so I want to plan accordingly when designing my box.
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Hi and thank you!

I change the cream on mine when it seems to either be disappearing, if I accidentally wipe it off when I check them or it when it seems to be looking like… how do I describe it… like it’s becoming clumpy? I’m not too sure how other people do it though. This is my first time doing UV treatment too

I’m not actually too sure how hot my bulb gets… :unsure: It does get pretty hot I think as I leave it on for quite a long time through the day.

It’s probably worth being extra careful with homemade UV chambers, especially since mine is literally a thin cardboard box beside my bed
 
SporadicallyObsessive said:
Hi! Your ponies are looking great, it makes me smile to see such care given to them. I hope you don’t mind a few questions. I recently learned about sunfading and want to try it. Hitting 41 was apparently the magic number age where I simply NEEDED to get back my lost childhood and the ponies I missed the most. Therefore I’m super new to restoration. I was just wondering how often you refresh the developer cream and also, how hot does that bulb get? I don’t want to risk a major fire hazard so I want to plan accordingly when designing my box.
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I’m super fire hazard aware since I had a house fire within the past couple years, and my bulb definitely doesn’t get hotter than slightly warm if it’s left on for a day. I usually turn it off and unplug it if I leave the house for longer than a few hours, just in case, but I’ve never had any issues or risks with mine.
 
StormMaeker said:
Hi and thank you!

I change the cream on mine when it seems to either be disappearing, if I accidentally wipe it off when I check them or it when it seems to be looking like… how do I describe it… like it’s becoming clumpy? I’m not too sure how other people do it though. This is my first time doing UV treatment too

I’m not actually too sure how hot my bulb gets… :unsure: It does get pretty hot I think as I leave it on for quite a long time through the day.

It’s probably worth being extra careful with homemade UV chambers, especially since mine is literally a thin cardboard box beside my bed
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Hmm, I think perhaps I haven’t been putting enough developer on. I have a tiny UV box from Amazon (one of those meant for curing 3D prints that I use for UV resin jewelry) and I had been experimenting with my very yellowed Moondancer’s head. I found the developer seemed to dry up super fast though. The thing only stays on for a maximum of 30 minutes and barely fits an adult pony head, so I’m gonna build a proper setup tonight with a UVB terrarium bulb.

Your box design is pretty clever. I have a very bad habit of going way too Extra with the stuff I build for even short-term needs, so you’ve inspired me not to waste a bunch of money and simply use a cardboard box. If you haven’t had any problems with heat using a soda box I probably don’t need any major heat-resistant materials.

shes-so-unusual said:
I’m super fire hazard aware since I had a house fire within the past couple years, and my bulb definitely doesn’t get hotter than slightly warm if it’s left on for a day. I usually turn it off and unplug it if I leave the house for longer than a few hours, just in case, but I’ve never had any issues or risks with mine.
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Thanks for the info! It sounds like it shouldn’t be a big problem. Fortunately I’m in my studio all day, so I can set it up in there and keep an eye on it.

Really sorry you had to go through a house fire, though. :sadpony:
 
SporadicallyObsessive said:
Hmm, I think perhaps I haven’t been putting enough developer on. I have a tiny UV box from Amazon (one of those meant for curing 3D prints that I use for UV resin jewelry) and I had been experimenting with my very yellowed Moondancer’s head. I found the developer seemed to dry up super fast though. The thing only stays on for a maximum of 30 minutes and barely fits an adult pony head, so I’m gonna build a proper setup tonight with a UVB terrarium bulb.
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I think that UV chamber should be okay! I think @Bunnie has one like that (please correct me if I’m wrong, it could be someone else) and has been getting great results (thread). I think the developer dries up pretty quick for me if I do it thinly. I sort of remember reading somewhere saying “apply a generous amount”?

An update on Cherry. I decided to check if the lightening around the cheeks are doing what I was worried about, making a hard circle around the cheeks. So I checked. Turns out it’s all fine!
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Time to cover this back up again and put more cream on
 
My goodness look at her! So white, and the tattoo is almost gone after just a month. I assume the light stays on all 24 hours of the day, but that’s still impressive.
 
SporadicallyObsessive said:
My goodness look at her! So white, and the tattoo is almost gone after just a month. I assume the light stays on all 24 hours of the day, but that’s still impressive.
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Thanks, I’m glad how she’s turning out. You can see the chopped front of her mane is fading with the light. I don’t mind though since those are getting redone

I don’t have my light on all through the night. I turn it off when I go to bed and then it on when I get up in the morning. I turn it off and try to give the light a little rest when I’m checking Cherry and applying new cream or taking her out for progress shots, I’ll post her timeline when it’s done
 
Draco said:
Its so satisfying to see the afters! You're doing great, Cherry Treats looks so much brighter and happier
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She is so nearly there! However I won’t be home for the next four days so she won’t have UV time then, but she is so close! Just a little more of a push…
 
Now I am back from being away for a few days, it’s back to the UV chamber with Cherry. This is how she was left after 33 days in UV:
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Or 32 and a bit because on the day I left (day 33), I had her in all morning before I went
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And here she is back in it
 
Day 42. She’s almost done! I’ve moved her into the sun outside since we are experiencing a September heatwave so I know there won’t be much or any cloud coverage. She spent the first half of the day inside the UV chamber before I decided to put her out in the sun for natural UVs. In the evening she will go back in the UV chamber
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It would be day 47 if she didn’t have the five day break
 
I don't think I can see her tattoo at all anymore :O You have done grand!
 
Twinkle-eye said:
I don't think I can see her tattoo at all anymore :O You have done grand!
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It feels as if her neck tattoo is more faint than the hoof heart one. It’s so very close to being completely gone! I am so pleased with how she’s going. I can’t wait to get her mane and tail back in! When she gets her paint off her eyes she will see the tattoos gone for the first time
Rebeldream said:
Wow!! What an incredible difference!! :tongue:
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I have been making a timeline of the main checks I’ve done on her which I will post when she’s complete. It is such a difference seeing it from start to end, it’s very wow

She’s back in the UV chamber since the shade is over everywhere now from the sun going down. I sat her by the window to grab the last bits of sun before moving her to the chamber again since I couldn’t move her anywhere else in the garden when the shade was coming over.
I’ve noticed the cream goes a weird horrible yellow out in the sun?
 
Draco said:
She's so white! You did an amazing job. It's so satisfying to see the before and after photos
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Seeing the timeline I’ve made is very satisfying! By the looks of it, the next check to appear on it should be when it’s complete :Flutter4:

She’s back in the sun again today for another day of natural UV

EDIT:
Half a day in the sun, went to changed yellowed cream and it decided to stain yellow. Back to the UV chamber she goes

EDIT II:
The side of the tattoos somehow yellowed in the sun? UV chamber please fix that
 
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Maybe it's one of the UV levels that is higher in sunlight and reacting with the cream differently? Possibly C or B.

I have a TW Skyrocket with that red stripe that will require a few plugs to be replaced, too. It was covered but I think the cream seeped under the tape. I'll experiment eventually when I have some of the old red out.

Someone put a weird K on her forehead and blue ink takes forever. I've been watching yours as a estimated timeline. lol
 
Alstroemeria said:
Maybe it's one of the UV levels that is higher in sunlight and reacting with the cream differently? Possibly C or B.

I have a TW Skyrocket with that red stripe that will require a few plugs to be replaced, too. It was covered but I think the cream seeped under the tape. I'll experiment eventually when I have some of the old red out.

Someone put a weird K on her forehead and blue ink takes forever. I've been watching yours as a estimated timeline. lol
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I’m glad this thread is helping out with timelines. I post when I have updates with any changes or things happening to her. I’ve dated each picture on the timeline pictures I did that I’ll be posting when she’s done so that may help too. Look out for it! :Flutter4:

I think the heat also is what did the yellow staining. It’s been really hot here. It actually looks like the chamber is helping out with it though! Something always goes wrong with my projects if they’re going well especially when it’s almost near the end
 
StormMaeker said:
Something always goes wrong with my projects if they’re going well especially when it’s almost near the end
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No kidding. I guess we just have to call these a learning experiences and move on. I do dislike when it costs me, though.

I'm also trying to get nicotine stains out of my childhood ponies. Yuck. It's taking longer then expected on Starflower.
 
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