[GreenKeys] Restoring Teletype Key Caps

[john at johnwhitney.com]

Paul Birkel asked how I restore faded Teletype plastic key caps on the Teletype models 32 33 and 35.

Here are the items I use...

   http://www.ablemarks.com/photos/2016/20160905-restore-keycaps.jpg

This may not be the best way, or a proper way, but these are the steps I use...

1) Remove key cap from teletype.  

2) Clean key cap with Bon Ami, warm water and a soft cotton cloth.  Bon Ami is my favorite cleanser.

3) If key cap is heavily oxidized, more work is needed.

4) Use box cutter with a new blade to scrape a thin layer off the sides, rotating the key cap while doing constant scrape motions.  I found that trying to buff this layer off, does not work.  I had to scrap or sand it off.

5) You can't scrape the curved key top, so I use sand paper there, 220, 400, 1000, 1500 grit, using my fingertip and rotating the key cap.  If not too bad, will start with 400 grit, or 1000 grit.

6) If the key cap top is heavily oxidized, I will resort to the Dremel rounded sanding sponge, then sand with the 400, 1000, 1500 grit sand paper.

7) Then I use buffing wheel with plastic buffing compound, bought at the local hardware store, to buff up the key caps.

Since the key caps are attached to a post, it is easy to hold and rotate them while scrapping, sanding or buffing.

Key caps that are cracked, can't be fixed using this method.  Best bet is to take un-cracked ones from a parts keyboard, or ask community if the key caps you need are available somewhere.

The white material for the key cap lettering goes down about 1/8 of an inch, so you don't have to worry about sanding off the key top lettering.

I got my original buffing ideas from Don House in his March 2011 GreenKeys posting...

   http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/greenkeys/2011-March/018672.html

Also note the oiling bottle.  This is my favorite type, as it makes it easy to apply oil in hard to reach spots.  Here are similar bottles on ebay.

   http://www.ebay.com/itm/x/121116464205

Hope this helps.



john at johnwhitney dot com

801 815 9265