geekhack
geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: Talfrey on Sat, 07 January 2012, 21:06:20
-
I am starting a project I though might actual warrant a post.
I just bought an IBM model M off of ebay and plan to do some modding to it.
First thing I plan to do is replace the current key set with a set of blank black keys from unicomp. Trying to source a location that still sells them since I didn't see them on pckeyboard.com.
The second thing I plan to do is use plastidip to dunk the entire keyboard deck in a nice durable black grippy plastic finish. I already have plastidip, just might actually need more than I currently have to coat the entire board.
The final modification will be in the form of a side embedded LED lighting system, intended to light the area around the keys, but not backlight the keys themselves. I already have a set of LEDs and the everything I need to wire it, only thing I'm not sure of is if the original connection will be able to power the sucker. Does anyone know much about replacing such things?
-
If i were you, i would just dye the keys with RIT. Full black-out is actually easy to get as most dark dye colors end up there if you leave them in the dye bath a few minutes too long.
as for the the LEDs, others get away with adding multiple LEDs so you should be OK. You might check this out:
http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:21436