New Convert to Clicky Keyboards and Loving it!

[AkBKukU]

It was about a year ago that I first learned about mechanical keyboards when someone I talk to on skype got a Unicomp and suddenly was much louder in the typing department. From there I started looking up keyboards and lusted after an IBM Model M because I love beige. At that point I was using a logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo and was really itching to get an M but at the time it wasn't financially feasible for me. I had a Dell QuietKey that someone gave me with an old '98 machine so I switched to that to start getting used to the classic keyboard layout. A year later I find my self in a new job and I'm now able to go for my long lusted for Model M. I paid a little bit more than I originally thought I would but I got a gem of a 52G9700 which I know isn't one of the more desirable models but I still like it. A couple of days ago I confirmed my exuberance for keyboarding and bought another Model M, this time a 1391401. It was roughed up and I enjoyed spending 3 hours doing a tear down refurbishing. Now I have one for home and work! I'm already looking at getting two more so I know I'm hooked!

My Current Keyboards:


1391401 Before:

[Snowdog993]

It was about a year ago that I first learned about mechanical keyboards when someone I talk to on skype got a Unicomp and suddenly was much louder in the typing department. From there I started looking up keyboards and lusted after an IBM Model M because I love beige. At that point I was using a logitech wireless keyboard/mouse combo and was really itching to get an M but at the time it wasn't financially feasible for me. I had a Dell QuietKey that someone gave me with an old '98 machine so I switched to that to start getting used to the classic keyboard layout. A year later I find my self in a new job and I'm now able to go for my long lusted for Model M. I paid a little bit more than I originally thought I would but I got a gem of a 52G9700 which I know isn't one of the more desirable models but I still like it. A couple of days ago I confirmed my exuberance for keyboarding and bought another Model M, this time a 1391401. It was roughed up and I enjoyed spending 3 hours doing a tear down refurbishing. Now I have one for home and work! I'm already looking at getting two more so I know I'm hooked!

My Current Keyboards:

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1391401 Before:

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Welcome to geekhack!  You're already on your way!  Very nice start!  Don't be worried about "I know isn't one of the more desirable models" kind of thing.  Just be aware of the models you acquire.  Don't make the mistake of buying a rubberdome version, (unless you really want or need one) and remember that incomplete keyboards can be made complete fairly easily.

Already at 4!  Hmm.



I have the feeling you're going to surpass me easily!

[AkBKukU]

I was thinking about getting a rubber dome version to use at work as a stealth Model M but I lucked out. After a day of using it no one near me even noticed the noise. It really seems like the noise gets exaggerated.

I see you've got a couple of phosphorous modded ones, cool! Does it actually help low light visibility or is it only just cool to look at?

[Snowdog993]

I am guessing you are talking about the underlays underneath the keys?  If that is what you are asking, they don't glow at all.  They are just a nice splash of color under the keys. 

I have had several keyboards refurbished by Phosphorglow.  I highly recommend him for restoration work.  Some of the keyboards he has brought back to life are what most would consider "unrestorable" He literally can bring them back from the dead.  http://phosphorglow.net  Right now he is in the process of doing a lot of projects (including a new Model M controller and updating his website etc etc....).
 
If you want to see more pictures of the keyboards I have, you can always go to the link on the imgur site on my signature.  There is a wealth of information here on geekhack, and don't feel intimidated or uncomfortable asking questions.  There are a lot of nice and helpful people here.

[AkBKukU]

I was just wondering if the underlighting makes it more visible in a dark room.

I had seen the phosphorglow site before, that's where I learned about the annoying plastic rivets. Fortunately neither keyboard I've got so far have been extremely bad but I would think about sending him one if it was too much for me.

Most of my searches for model m info seem to end up here so i figured i'd join because it does seem like a great community!

[meow a cat]

I am guessing you are talking about the underlays underneath the keys?  If that is what you are asking, they don't glow at all.  They are just a nice splash of color under the keys. 

I have had several keyboards refurbished by Phosphorglow.  I highly recommend him for restoration work.  Some of the keyboards he has brought back to life are what most would consider "unrestorable" He literally can bring them back from the dead.  http://phosphorglow.net  Right now he is in the process of doing a lot of projects (including a new Model M controller and updating his website etc etc....).
 
If you want to see more pictures of the keyboards I have, you can always go to the link on the imgur site on my signature.  There is a wealth of information here on geekhack, and don't feel intimidated or uncomfortable asking questions.  There are a lot of nice and helpful people here.

I think he's still accepting orders (if that's what you were alluding to with the part about him being busy, if not nevermind me), I just sent him a dirty beat up SSK 1391472 that I got from Cindy a couple weeks ago. I'm having him do the underlay, add LEDs, restore and bolt mod, and controller replacement. So far, I'm really pleased with the experience, he's been really responsive and helpful even though I've been piling tons of questions on him! He even offered to proxy some stuff for me from Unicomp. I'm sure the SSK will return to me looking better than brand new! Perhaps I will write a review when it shows up, if I can keep myself from getting to distracted by the board itself! 

I second that this is a great community, the best I've ever been a part of. It's great to have a wonderful hobby with an even more wonderful community behind it!

I was just wondering if the underlighting makes it more visible in a dark room.

I had seen the phosphorglow site before, that's where I learned about the annoying plastic rivets. Fortunately neither keyboard I've got so far have been extremely bad but I would think about sending him one if it was too much for me.

Most of my searches for model m info seem to end up here so i figured i'd join because it does seem like a great community!

In one of our e-mails, Phosphorglow mentioned to me that it was paint. I don't know if it's paint on the plate, or paint on a mat, or what. I asked him about durability, and he said it's quite durable.

It doesn't glow (although, that could be awesome, and go with his name!), it just looks cool. He offers it in quite a few colours, and all of the examples I've seen look great.

[AkBKukU]

I saw this picture:

From this thread where there were phosphor luminescent strips added under the keys to produce a glow so I thought that's what it was.

[Snowdog993]

I saw this picture:

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From this thread where there were phosphor luminescent strips added under the keys to produce a glow so I thought that's what it was.

That picture is of LED's that are under the Scroll Lock, Caps Lock and Num Lock keys.  That's one of the things he does, but now does it quite a bit differently than that picture.

I think he's still accepting orders (if that's what you were alluding to with the part about him being busy, if not nevermind me).

The part about being busy, is that he has quite a few other projects going even with the keyboard restorations.  Example: Colossus controller and updating his website etc.  Gotta love it!  I do know he is still accepting orders!  I think the guy works 28 hours a day!  Amazing!

[AkBKukU]

oh I see the LEDs now, my apologies. I was thinking of a different thing done with el-wire.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Those old Model M keyboards certainly clean up very well.  I have found (and counting) - two full sized and two SSKs.  I might get an M122 one day, but the ISOness of it would kill me, so I'd have to convert it.  Until I have time to do that, I'll just enjoy the ones I have.

I have heard only good things about Phosphorglow - I just wish shipping keyboards overseas was cheaper.  He's too far away to make it feasible to get him to refurbish mine.

[AkBKukU]

They really do clean up well! I got the 1391401 from an "untested" ebay listing and figured it would be in terrible shape. I had planed to do an internal usb mod and bolt conversion to try messing around with one. But after all my cleaning it was perfectly functional and looked great so I couldn't bring myself to mod it.

I would really like to get my hands on a M122, I'd have so many scripts bound to those keys!

I think I'm lucky because I don't really want a SSK. They're really expensive online but I would get one if I saw it at a thrift store. I use the numpad all the time so having it be missing would be a big deal for me. That rules out the seemingly popular HHK for me as well.

[rowdy]

Often you don't need to do anything apart from give them a good clean!

But if you do need to do a bit more refurbishment, there are detailed guides around here, and even people who do this professionally!