Original Nintendo DS handhelds from late 2004 keep showing up in repair piles with hinges that snap and shells that powder at the slightest pressure. Owners who stored one in a drawer for two decades often discover the damage only when they try to swap a dead screen or tighten a loose screw. Metallic paint Nintendo laid over the ABS plastic appears to be reacting with the case itself. Yellow or greenish stains leak out around edges, button wells, and hinge roots. Force the clamshell open and the plastic flakes instead of flexing.
Gold Plastic Syndrome was named after a particular annoyance among Transformers collectors who noticed that gold and bronze swirl components began to shatter from the late 1980s onwards, frequently falling apart without any visible stress. The initial wave of successes comprised late Generation 1 figures, Generation 2 combiners, and Beast Wars toys. This state was differentiated not only by the stress-free manner in which the parts dissolved, but also by the shards’ appearance to leave microscopic fine residue for the collectors to clean up.
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Hasbro later said that the main reason for this was the large number of metallic flecks mixed into the plastic, which simply did not adhere properly, leaving microscopic gaps that accumulated and grew until the part failed with very no force. Sqwerks noticed the same thing on multiple original DS units and Game Boy Advance SP shells with the same gold finish.
Sqwerks spent years dealing with dozens of original DS consoles and only lately began documenting the awful state of the situation late last August, and the results are telling. A sky blue one still has some flexibility in the hinge, but another identical one that has the syndrome is showing signs of deterioration from the lid being pushed around. The paint appears to be a thin layer over a yellow green cast on the graphite black ones. The worst of them just completely break apart, with sides missing and a shredded ribbon cable as a bonus. The board and screen are usually still functional. The case, not so much. It only takes seconds to figure out why; take a screwdriver to a mid panel on an affected case, and it snaps with light pressure. Repeat the process with an unaffected unit, and everything should be OK.
As far as he can tell, no lab study has ever been able to pinpoint exactly what kind of chemistry is at work here, but it’s clear that the additives used to give off that metal sheen and nice swirl finish don’t work well with ABS plastic in the long run, leaving it brittle and prone to shattering. What accelerates the process even more? Age. Combine that with some heat and a layer of paint, and watch it break. No, Retrobrite won’t assist much because it only changes the colors of the old yellowed plastics. Oils that soften old rubber will also be of little use in this situation.
He believes that purchasing an aftermarket shell and getting rid of the factory one before it chooses to disintegrate on its own would be a better choice for people who own an original Nintendo DS in the same state. Save the original board, displays, digitizer, buttons, and other useful components.
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