[GreenKeys] 33 keytops

[Justin Scott]

Thanks, Wayne.

Yeah, also Nick sent me some things from the archives which look helpful as well.

I had considered that I might take all the cracked keys that I have that I have doubles for and experiment with them, but at the same time, I figured someone somewhere had done some experimentation on this.  I like also Pete's idea of possibly building a clamping jig that can help to glue cracked keys back together.  None of mine are fully split, but I have a few that have a wide chasm in them.

I see there's been several successful methods now.  I had not considered what some people have come to the conclusion of, which is that of a fungus due to the organic nature of the plastics used.  I had assumed, as most seem to think, some form of oxidation.  I can't say as to which is more accurate.

I had thought about possibly trying the "retrobrite" hydrogen peroxide that computer restorers have been using, but I'm still not convinced this is something I wish to use on my plastics.  I had thought about plastic polishes, which I've seen some archive conversation about that with good results.  Another thought has been to wipe them down with naptha or similar, but some plastics turn to goo with such solvents, while other formulas rejuvenate nicely.

I have one 33 that is immaculate, thanks in part to your help and Dave Tumey's help.  On that unit, I had to rebuild the right endcap of the keyboard assembly because it had broken apart at some point.  This unit didn't have much "white funk" when I started, but with basic cleaning and some mild plastic polish, which got me to this point:
http://i.imgur.com/cAmx6Ww.jpg

But I have others that are far worse off in the first place, which I wasn't certain this method would work for me, such as:
http://i.imgur.com/Uw3wS0W.jpg

The dirt has been cleaned, but I've not tried the other techniques I already used on the former machine.

Definitely interested in your crude method, if only in the interest of completeness of understanding of what's available to me. :)

cheers,
dj

Wayne Durkee(teletypeparts) wrote:
> Dave Tumey has a process that is quite time consuming, but if you want the best way his is.  
> 
> 
> If the keytops are all evenly chalky, I clean with 409 and call it good.  The problem is some keytops get chalky and others dont.  Maybe different runs of plastic in manufacturing?  That makes the kybd ugly.  
> 
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> I have a way to fix that but its so crude I hesitate to share it here.  Contact me off list and I will tell.  Just dont share it on GK.  
> 
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> Be sure and not remove the kybd cover unless the kybd is in the pan or on a jig.  See pic.
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> 73,
> 
> 
> Wayne
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>