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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Jesterfox on Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:32:47

Title: Repairing a vintage rubber dome keyboard from HP
Post by: Jesterfox on Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:32:47
Hi,

this is maybe not the best place to ask for it but I know no RD forum ;-)

I have an old keyboard from a HP Vectra PC wich has some problems with keys not responding. The keyboard is not like modern rubber dome keyboards build with 2 films with contacts. It has only one and the rubber matt has some electrical material for bridging the contacts. The problem is that some contacts on the film have been rubbed off over time. Is there a way to restore them?

I thought about some silver conductive paint but I don't know if this would work and just trying could damage the keyboard beyond repair if its not working...

I just like that old kyboard and another one is extremely hard to get. (If someone has one that is working, I'm interested)
Title: Re: Repairing a vintage rubber dome keyboard from HP
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:39:49
I don't know if this would work and just trying could damage the keyboard beyond repair if its not working...

What do you have to lose?

I have never tried this, but that is the only solution that comes to mind.
Title: Re: Repairing a vintage rubber dome keyboard from HP
Post by: Jesterfox on Fri, 02 August 2013, 08:30:07
What I have to lose? A second try with some more promising material ;-)

Thats why I'm asking here before doing it. Maybe someone has already done something similar.
Title: Re: Repairing a vintage rubber dome keyboard from HP
Post by: MJ45 on Fri, 02 August 2013, 16:43:33
Maybe one of those circuit writers/trace repair pens might work ? I've seen those around for $8-$10.
Title: Re: Repairing a vintage rubber dome keyboard from HP
Post by: Jesterfox on Sun, 04 August 2013, 12:09:45
Hey, that looks good. Didn't know such pens exist. Should be similar to the conductive paint but easier to apply (which was one of my main concerns)