geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 18:49:24

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 18:49:24

Hi guys, my used ABS M1 just arrived and I decided to wipe the keys down with some alcohol, yet something weird happened, after the alcohol dried off it's as if the alcohol was acidic and took some of the paint coating with it. Every key that made contact with the alcohol has what seems like white residue left, yet it isn't residue since I can't wipe it off with water or even scrape it off for that matter.

Would it be possible that the alcohol did indeed ruined the paint coating? If so, wouldn't this be a manufacturer defect?

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 18:59:21

I actually have no clue, the label ripped off a while ago so it's just an opaque bottle.

If it really is 70% isopropyl alcohol, why would this happen?

And is there any way to fix it?

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:13:44

Are there replacement key caps available for the ABS M!/Cherry MX Blacks? I've found a few sites but I have no bloody clue what model the switches on the ABS M1's are.

Edit: On the plus side, I got most of it off with soap & water, to the point where it's hardly noticeable.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: lmnop on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:15:18

you need to be careful isopropyl is a solvent. how long did it take you to get a ABS M1?

Simplified Alps in Black (Fukkas). you could try harvesting from a black Dell AT101W but I don't know if they will all fit probably not.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: lmnop on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:19:28

you need to be more careful isopropyl is a solvent. how long did it take you to get a ABS M1?

Simplified Alps in Black (Fukkas). you could try harvesting from a black Dell AT101W but I don't know if they will all fit probably not.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:32:43

Quote from: lmnop;224548

you need to be more careful isopropyl is a solvent. how long did it take you to get a ABS M1?

Simplified Alps in Black (Fukkas). you could try harvesting from a black Dell AT101W but I don't know if they will all fit probably not.

Oh I haven't stripped the entire thing yet, just a few F keys to experiment with water, soap, and hot water.

If it's too much of an effort, I'll just forget about it. It really isn't that big of a deal.

Thanks a lot guys!

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:32:52

If you contact the manufacturer they might help you, that or they'll tell you to go pee up a rope.

In any case, don't mix alcohol and keyboards, it leads to nothing good.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: lmnop on Sat, 18 September 2010, 19:34:31

you're welcome. stick around you may learn something :)

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Nadger on Sat, 18 September 2010, 20:18:36

Dont drink and type

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: Kantastic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 21:15:58

Ahaha, I'm seeing some geek humor here aren't I?

Anyway, I had an idea. Would it help if I took some very fine sandpaper and "lapped" the keys? Though, after washing all of them with soap they're almost back to normal.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: didjamatic on Sat, 18 September 2010, 21:51:57

Quote from: ripster;224560

I do it all the time.

See?  If you drink and type, you'll end up like Ripster and the "I learned it by watching you" only flys in commercials, this isn't TV, this is the internet.

(http://www.blogcadre.com/files/images/anti-drugPSA_0.jpg)

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: laden3 on Sun, 19 September 2010, 00:02:24

http://cgi.ebay.com/96-Keys-Standard-Keyboard-w-2-ADB-Ports-MK-96-/390122951204?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item5ad523d224 cheap ALPS keycaps

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:4441 the shape

;)

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: aegrotatio on Sun, 19 September 2010, 01:32:52

Jesus.  They tell you not to use anything but a damp cloth to clean your keyboard.

Title: ABS M1 + Alcohol Issue
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 19 September 2010, 10:40:09

Ah, pad printed keycaps... I remember those vaguely.