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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: jpc on Mon, 06 September 2010, 17:12:32

Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Mon, 06 September 2010, 17:12:32
Thank you craigslist.

$4 bought a clean, working '96 Lexmark Model M just for bolt mod practice. Ironically it's only missing one rivet. Too bad, I'll have to do a lot of chiseling.

This unit is in great condition. It's also a great guinea pig ... because it's rubber dome.

The rubber dome M is constructed very similar to the BS version. It has the same curved metal backplate, held by the same plastic rivets to the same hunk of black plastic that forms the matrix of key wells. It appears that the differences are limited to the innards of the rivet sandwich, and the key caps.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 06 September 2010, 17:14:31
Yeah. Instead of buckling springs, it had a sheet of rubber domes. Otherwise identical, you could probably convert them easily enough.

Also, the stems on the keycaps are different.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Mon, 06 September 2010, 19:02:01
off topic. ch_123, why are you selling the Expert Mouse? Is it the v5 or v7?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 06 September 2010, 19:07:31
Are you going to convert it to Buckling Spring?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 06 September 2010, 19:10:45
Quote from: jpc;220559
off topic. ch_123, why are you selling the Expert Mouse? Is it the v5 or v7?


v7.

Don't need it any more now that I have the CST. The KEM is a great mouse though.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 06 September 2010, 19:30:58
Are you in the Boston area? There was a guy that kept advertising this $4 71-something Model M...I've been considering buying that M for a while, but too late. Oh well.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 06 September 2010, 19:33:22
Even though Massachusetts is often considered the 33rd county of Ireland, I am most definitely not in the Boston area :P
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Mon, 06 September 2010, 20:22:40
Hi Pylon,

I am in the Boston area and I did just buy a 71G4644 for $4. Maybe the same one.

Are you really looking for a rubber dome model M? That's what it is.

I would trade it for any other AT or PS/2 model M that is at least somewhat functional. I just need a board to practice bolt-modding. A partially working board would be OK.

Or, assuming all goes well, would you like to buy the world's only bolt-modded 71G4644 in a couple weeks? :)
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 06 September 2010, 20:27:49
Could you take some pics of the membrane and rubber domes of the thing if you crack open the backplate?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 06 September 2010, 20:28:35
No, I considered buying it simply because it's better than what I have now (HP rubber dome, KB-9970). I contemplated buying it and eventually converting it to BS, though I realized that it wasn't cost effective as buying a $4 rubber dome M and then $30 worth of springs from Unicomp is more than just buying a model M for $30 on Ebay so I decided that it probably wasn't worth it.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: Pylon on Mon, 06 September 2010, 20:29:20
On the other hand, this guy might have some Ms:
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/zip/1938898984.html
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Mon, 06 September 2010, 21:05:11
ch_123: My camera has been upset. I can't promise pictures of the 71G4644. I'll try.

Pylon: Sometimes model Ms pop up for $5 or $10 on boston craigslist. None now though, unless your ad leads to one.

Would you be interested in either a 1993 Lexmark M5-1 or a 1996 Lexmark 42H1292? These are buckling spring boards in great shape. The M5-1 is rare. The 42H1292 is incredibly clean, it looks like it has hardly ever been used. These were too nice to use as a bolt mod guinea pig. You're welcome to make an offer on either.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: ch_123 on Mon, 06 September 2010, 21:23:03
No worries. They're not going to be terribly interesting, just thought it was something worth documenting for the sake of it if the opportunity presented itself.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: SmallWalrus on Tue, 07 September 2010, 07:16:07
Quote from: jpc;220519
Thank you craigslist.

$4 bought a clean, working '96 Lexmark Model M just for bolt mod practice. Ironically it's only missing one rivet. Too bad, I'll have to do a lot of chiseling.
.


Just curious, how did you find the keyboard on Craig list? Did you search for "Model M"?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 07 September 2010, 09:42:31
A "small" sample?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: Pylon on Tue, 07 September 2010, 13:45:40
This dude:
http://boston.craigslist.org/gbs/sys/1932674960.html

He was formerly selling a Model M that was presumably sold to the OP.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Tue, 07 September 2010, 14:52:06
Yeah that's the ad I replied to. The dude is actually a nice lady.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: SmallWalrus on Tue, 07 September 2010, 18:50:57
Ahh... so the perks of monitoring Craig list like a hawk. The seller didn't even know it is special :)
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Tue, 07 September 2010, 23:38:21
Quote from: SmallWalrus;220793
Ahh... so the perks of monitoring Craig list like a hawk. The seller didn't even know it is special :)


She's a retired computer programmer who uses a Cherry keyboard with a compact layout for her daily driver. I think she knew what she had.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: Pylon on Wed, 08 September 2010, 15:32:38
Quote from: jpc;220757
Yeah that's the ad I replied to. The dude is actually a nice lady.

My mistake. I have rather a sexist prejudice/assumptions that most people selling computer equipment on craigslist are going to be somehow male.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Sat, 11 September 2010, 17:09:12
Got my camera fixed, here are some pics of that sheep in wolf's clothing, the 71G4644

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12457&stc=1&d=1284242816)

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12458&stc=1&d=1284242816)

Wow it looks like someone barfed on it. I didn't. How do digital cameras pick that up?
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Sat, 11 September 2010, 20:55:37
Do Model M's turn yellow as they age?

Most of them seem to look new after the key tops and case top has a bath in soap and water.

Oh looky here.... that yellow fellow is the 71G4644, compared to an '87 1391401

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=12463&stc=1&d=1284256257)
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: jpc on Fri, 17 September 2010, 19:11:23
The rubber dome bolt mod is done, typing on it now. "Done" means it has 15 nuts and bolts total, enough to hold it together and know that it works and it survived.
Title: bolt mod target practice
Post by: GenEric35 on Sat, 18 September 2010, 08:49:52
Quote from: ch_123;220617
No worries. They're not going to be terribly interesting, just thought it was something worth documenting for the sake of it if the opportunity presented itself.


hey ch_123!, I had one of these too, I think they are worth documenting, since they are quiet, solid, and have a quality layout(carved), and it's a IBM board.

Ironically, the switch as far as key press and key travel, it is probably closer to my hhkb than a buckling switch. The dome might just be slightly better quality than most cheaper dome boards of today.

cheers