How do YOU sunfade?

[Heelys]

More specifically, what sort of container do you use? I’ve tried my hand at sun fading ponies in hydrogen peroxide with mixed results. I tend to use glass containers with translucent latched tops. And that’s another thing: do you close the container? My first sunfading attempt was in college, and the best area I had to leave it in was frequented by a small family of feral cats. I didn’t want them to try and drink the liquid, so I made sure it was covered.

Also, because I was in college with limited materials, I had the head stuck in a small jam jar. I think it was a cool mad scientist look. My room mate just said it reminded her of a gross copypasta she’d read. 🤢

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[tailrustedtealeaf]

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I don't use any container! I usually don't use hydrogen peroxide, either. I just chuck the pony in a bag or wrap her in plastic wrap and put her in a sunny spot outside. I don't get the best sun so I'm looking into making a homemade sunfading box, but I do get eventual results. I do have some hydrogen peroxide cream I've been meaning to try but just haven't gotten anyone outside to see how well it works.

I did put acrylic paint on my most recent sunfade project and it's been a hard time taking it off, so I think I'll stick to painters tape in the future.

[BlackCurtains]

I live in SW Florida and the sun will whiten a pony in a matter of days. I cover the hair with aluminum foil (to reflect the heat) and use painter's tape to cover symbols/whatever I don't want in the sun. That's it! I don't use peroxide or do anything special.

[Heelys]

All good info to know. I would be pretty well set if I wanted to fade something these past few months, as it gets pretty sunny over here, but fall’s coming and we’re in a stormy patch of weather this week.

[Ponybookworm]

As I hardly get much sun, I've been eyeing people's UV box designs with interest

[serena-hime]

I don't usually fade, I just get burned

[SunPony]

I've only tried with direct sunlight.  I don't understand why people put plastic or glass between the pony and the sun, doesn't that block UV and isn't UV what does the sunfading?  Also doesn't sunlight break down hydrogen peroxide?  I thought that was why it comes in a dark container.  But I haven't done a huge amount of sunfading so I don't know everything about it for sure.

[tailrustedtealeaf]

The plastic is to keep rain and dirt of ponies I fade.

[Heelys]

I've only tried with direct sunlight.  I don't understand why people put plastic or glass between the pony and the sun, doesn't that block UV and isn't UV what does the sunfading?  Also doesn't sunlight break down hydrogen peroxide?  I thought that was why it comes in a dark container.  But I haven't done a huge amount of sunfading so I don't know everything about it for sure.

To the best of my knowledge, that's how it works: the chemical reaction that breaks it down helps with lightening.

[SunPony]

I've only tried with direct sunlight.  I don't understand why people put plastic or glass between the pony and the sun, doesn't that block UV and isn't UV what does the sunfading?  Also doesn't sunlight break down hydrogen peroxide?  I thought that was why it comes in a dark container.  But I haven't done a huge amount of sunfading so I don't know everything about it for sure.

To the best of my knowledge, that's how it works: the chemical reaction that breaks it down helps with lightening.

That's interesting and seems plausible to me.  I've never tried it on ponies actually but I do use hydrogen peroxide at work to whiten bones.  I imagine the reaction would be somewhat different between bones and plastic.

[Marshie]

I have a UV lightbox that I created by following this video from RetroGeek Crafts! I follow the exact method she uses and it works pretty well!

[lovesbabysquirmy]

I used to have a pony that I needed to wedge at a funny angle in the back window of my car.  And I am sure it must looked totally bizarre to people who had no idea why it was there... mwahahaha  *ahem*

[Artemesia's Garden]

I never use peroxide on ponies because it causes long-term damage to soft plastics but more instantly it can ruin pony hair. I take a gentler approach:

• Cover all hair by wrapping it in curlers then tissue
• Cover paintwork with bits of paper and rubber bands
• Place on a sunny windowsill for a few days on one side, then the other
• Observe and turn the pony when the desired fading is acheived
• Sometimes I add drops of mineral oil to biro stains while sunfading

Depending on the time of year sunfading may take longer. However, if fading doesn't happen within a feww days of strong sun or a couple of weeks in winter, I give up because I don't want to cause long term damage to the plastic or the remaining colour (purple ponies are susceptible to losing thier colour). UV is high on the list of environmental factors causing plastic breakdown i.e. stickiness, age spots etc. Sunfading works because you see the effect of UV on the stain much more quickly than it breaks down the plastic.

There is a list on the Arena of some poinies which react very badly to sunfading and go a tan colour. I don't remember them all but Cherry Treats, a portion of all Starshines (batch variation) and Majesty's head are on my mental list. That said, many stains will disappear with just brief sunfading, and sunfading will also often brighten yellowed ponies.

I find dingy blue ponies often come up great after a little sunbathing. But over the years I've found it's only a temporary improvement because the yellowing is caused by the early stages of the natural breakdown of the plastic. Yellowing is a different issue to staining and is thought to happen because fire retardent containing bromine was added to the plastic. As the plastic naturally ages, the bromine molecules become released from the plastic's polymer chains and appear in thier elemental colour which is brown. That's my favourite theroy anyway since I've used bromine in the lab and seen how it's brown when pure and colourless when chemically bonded to something else.

p.s. There are always stories re-surfacing on the internet about acne cream. It works because it contains peroxide. I have seen photos - disaster. It seems to work but then over time you get this horrible disfigurement especially on blue or green ponies. You think you have removed the cream after it has reacted but somehow the chemical reaction continues. I think some people will still use it for white ponies regardless - but just remember that the plastic is till being damaged even if you can't see it on a white pony.

p.p.s. I wonder how many people have damaged items in thier collection that they only notice when they pull thier collections apart - i.e. after they have lost interest and no longer share with the community. Maybe these items get thrown in the bin because they are no good for re-sale, so we never hear about them. This could be the side of restoration that we don't see.

p.p.p.s. sorry that's a really gloomy thought

[Shaiyeh]

I also don't use peroxide or containers, or paint. I am however intrigued by UV box fading

I usually cover everything that doesn't need fading (tissue paper or tin foil - usually paper tho) and stick the pony in the sunniest window. I've had success so far, and no fails. Sometimes it'll take a year to get stubborn stuff out tho. I got pink highlighter to fade (painted lips) evertually but it took close to 2 years.

So basically my formula is:
-cover everything but what needs fading.
-stick in a sunny window
-forget the pony
-remember 2 years later and have a happy surprise

(this was in Sweden, though, and a white pony. I don't advice forgetting ponies in windows for extended amounts of time. )
Also please never use acne cream, like Artemisia says. scary stuff. It used to be recommended a lot 10 years ago but it's horrible long-term

[starrynights]

I cover everything but the mark I want faded and set it in a window and try to remember to check regularly.