[NTLK] Saving/Restoring/Cleaning Newton Surfaces?

[Greg Toffer]

It’s worth reminding that removing the coating will also remove the printed logo and writings.
I wouldn’t remove it, unless it would already really be so degraded to be just a mess. 
I am also interested in Minidisc players and there’s a guy that recolors them and he also reprints all the writings. The results are really good.
So I guess the same could be done to the aging Messagepads (new coating and labels printing) but nobody does it (probably not worth the effort for such a small market?)

Daniele

> Il giorno 27 ago 2026, alle ore 21:52, Peter Fraser via NewtonTalk <newtontalk at newtontalk.net> ha scritto:
> 
> This topic has been examined extensively in the car enthusiast world, and there are many YouTube comparison tests that check results from alcohol, makeup remover wipes (Neutrogena is a favorite), Goo-Gone, etc etc.
> 
> Again, search on “sticky buttons” (and add your favorite exoticar name, eg Ferrari).
> 
> There is actually a whole specialty service area where vendors will receive, clean, and refinish your buttons and bezels and knobs.  Expensively.
> 
> Since - obviously - most newton owners drive Ferraris, and vice versa, none of the above will be news. But for the BMW and other owners, here ya go.
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
> 
> — Peter
> pjfraser at mac.com
> 
>> On Aug 27, 2026, at 3:28 PM, Gene beaird <bgbeaird at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> 
>> You probably need to get a concentration that’s stronger then what’s on the pharmacy store shelves, though.  The 5% that’s usually marketed (in the US, at least) does little more than just smell like Isopropyl alcohol.  You’ll want 70% or better.  They make 99%, but availability may be limited, depending on your home country.  
>> 
>> And I’ve found ’Skin So Soft’ to do NOTHING for the mossies.  Here in the swamps of Texas, anyway.  All it does is makes you smell purdy, and gives me a raging headache.  DEET-containing repellant, or you can her them laughing at you as they land to bite.  But that’s another query.  
>> 
>> Removing the coating is still going to be a mess, though.  
>> 
>> Regards,
>> 
>> Gene Beaird,
>> Pearland, Texas
>> 
>>>> On Aug 27, 2026, at 2:00 PM, newtontalk-request at newtontalk.net wrote:
>>> 
>>> Message: 1
>>> Date: Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:43:37 -0600
>>> From: Grant Hutchinson <splorp at mac.com>
>>> To: NewtonTalk List <newtontalk at newtontalk.net>
>>> Subject: Re: [NTLK] Saving/Restoring/Cleaning Newton Surfaces?
>>> Message-ID: <0A67DA64-F433-496E-A695-6370F20F4085 at mac.com>
>>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
>>> 
>>> 
>>>>> On Aug 23, 2026, at 12:11 PM, apenultimate <apenultimate at fastmail.com> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I have a few Newtons that have been in storage and whose "rubbery" surfaces have started to degrade and feel sticky
>>> 
>>> This topic pops up on the list every once in a while and I?ve been meaning to add the following suggestions to the Newton FAQ:
>>> 
>>> Isopropanol
>> 
>> 
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