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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: AtomicChameleon on Thu, 11 October 2018, 20:05:05
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Hi, just picked up this board a coworker had in his attic. I can't find a lot of info on it. Does it really have SKCM Blue Alps?! :eek: Whatever they are feel amazing. I am going to start restoring it tonight. Here are some pictures:
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Yup those are SKCM Blue Alps, very good find.
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Congrats on the find! :)
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Yup those are SKCM Blue Alps, very good find.
Thanks for the confirmation! I thought so. Just couldn't find anything for sure. Can't wait to polish her up.
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Congrats on the find! :)
Thanks, Thomas. For something like this I am having a hard time deciding if I want to completely restore the board or harvest the switches and put them in something else (more new). I am definitely leaning towards restoring it as is. It sounds so nice. Do you have any recommendations?/have any background here?
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Congrats on the find! :)
Thanks, Thomas. For something like this I am having a hard time deciding if I want to completely restore the board or harvest the switches and put them in something else (more new). I am definitely leaning towards restoring it as is. It sounds so nice. Do you have any recommendations?/have any background here?
I would definitely try and restore it. First of all, vintage, roomy, plastic cases make blue Alps sound a lot better than modern, small, dense cases IMO. THe typing sound is amplified hugely, which is great. Second; I wouldn't do anything to the switches if they feel good. We don't have a guaranteed mathod of restoring Alps switches to their full glory, and most manipulations will mess around with the switch lubricant, which is irreplaceable.
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Congrats on the find! :)
Thanks, Thomas. For something like this I am having a hard time deciding if I want to completely restore the board or harvest the switches and put them in something else (more new). I am definitely leaning towards restoring it as is. It sounds so nice. Do you have any recommendations?/have any background here?
I would definitely try and restore it. First of all, vintage, roomy, plastic cases make blue Alps sound a lot better than modern, small, dense cases IMO. THe typing sound is amplified hugely, which is great. Second; I wouldn't do anything to the switches if they feel good. We don't have a guaranteed mathod of restoring Alps switches to their full glory, and most manipulations will mess around with the switch lubricant, which is irreplaceable.
Ok, great! Thanks for that info. I like that roomy plastic sound so I will stick with restoration. I will definitely just clean her up, not touch the switches themselves, and retrobright everything I can.
I know you can buy ps2-usb converters but have you ever heard of anyone replacing the whole ps2 cord with a usb one/how easy that is? I modded a WYSE keyboard awhile back with a teensy board but that was because it has a would connecter. A ps2 connection may be easier to deal with? That cord is the one part I don't feel confident in restoring.
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Been wanting to find another Blue Alps one for ages now on a flea market...
Seems like you don't get that lucky twice in life... "cries"
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I took the board apart, cleaned everything with damp q-tips, paper towels, and compressed air. Once everything was clean I retro-brighted the case and the keycaps. Here's a picture of what it looks like now and a side by side before and after pic. Looks and feels pretty close to new now! So happy with this find. I am going to order a ps2 to usb converter tonight so I can use it soon!
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Definitely the right decision - that looks as good as it no doubt feels!
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Dang, nice find man :thumb: Agree on the restoration versus harvesting approach. It would be nice to have more older boards supported with the Teensy/TMK retro-fit!