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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Reimu_64 on Mon, 27 April 2020, 06:11:04

Title: How do you fix a broken stabilizer on a vintage keyboard? [SOLVED]
Post by: Reimu_64 on Mon, 27 April 2020, 06:11:04
The little plastic nub that holds the stabilizer has broken off. It happened when I removed the keycap.

What are your methods to fixing this?


(https://i.imgur.com/E9b2QAd.png)
The keyboard just arrived an hour ago and I've already broken it :(
(Made the same thread on Deskthority)
Title: Re: How do you fix a broken stabilizer on a vintage keyboard?
Post by: Reimu_64 on Mon, 27 April 2020, 10:42:37
I managed to "fix" it by using duct tape with a piece of small plastic from another keyboard. It doesn't feel as nice as the other keys, but at least it's stabilized...somewhat.
(https://i.imgur.com/26cqxtw.jpg)
Title: Re: How do you fix a broken stabilizer on a vintage keyboard? [SOLVED]
Post by: Maledicted on Mon, 27 April 2020, 14:18:15
JB weld and some needle files, maybe? To make and form a new hook for the wire. Super glue might melt the plastic. I imagine that duct tape won't hold up long unless you got some particularly good stuff, like gorilla, or better. One can only imagine what the engineers were thinking making those parts out of plastic.
Title: Re: How do you fix a broken stabilizer on a vintage keyboard? [SOLVED]
Post by: Reimu_64 on Mon, 27 April 2020, 18:29:47
JB weld and some needle files, maybe? To make and form a new hook for the wire. Super glue might melt the plastic. I imagine that duct tape won't hold up long unless you got some particularly good stuff, like gorilla, or better. One can only imagine what the engineers were thinking making those parts out of plastic.

To be fair, those engineers probably didn't think a cheapish 90s keyboard would be tampered with years later. I'll look out for some JB weld for plastics in the meantime, thanks!
Title: Re: How do you fix a broken stabilizer on a vintage keyboard? [SOLVED]
Post by: Maledicted on Mon, 27 April 2020, 19:17:57
JB weld and some needle files, maybe? To make and form a new hook for the wire. Super glue might melt the plastic. I imagine that duct tape won't hold up long unless you got some particularly good stuff, like gorilla, or better. One can only imagine what the engineers were thinking making those parts out of plastic.

To be fair, those engineers probably didn't think a cheapish 90s keyboard would be tampered with years later. I'll look out for some JB weld for plastics in the meantime, thanks!

Also to be fair, I have never tried that before, but I know people have tried things as outlandish as making cylinder heads out of J.B. weld, and it does seem to be very strong and bond to a lot of surfaces. I hope it works out. I can't even think of a keyboard I may have that has stabilizers where everything but the wire is plastic.