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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: salem on Sat, 08 August 2009, 23:13:48

Title: What lubricant to use w/ Model M
Post by: salem on Sat, 08 August 2009, 23:13:48

Hey guys, just got my 1988 Model M in the mail today, and I'm loving it except some of the keys such as the backspace and right shift keys don't have as nice of a travel as the rest of the keys, and I'm thinking a little lubricant can fix this.

Does anyone know a good commercial lubricant to use for plastic on plastic contact that I can use?

Thanks

Title: What lubricant to use w/ Model M
Post by: wellington1869 on Sat, 08 August 2009, 23:37:38

I've used "dry" silicon spray to good effect.
Like this one. (http://www.amazon.com/CRC-05074-Silicone-Multi-Use-Lubricant/dp/B000BXKZUG/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1249792540&sr=8-2). I like the dry ones because it gaurantees no drips into the circuit board below.

I basically sprayed it on a lint free paper napkin first, then rubbed the napkin on the plastic stem of the key. That seemed to make a good difference.

Title: What lubricant to use w/ Model M
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 09 August 2009, 06:15:22

Quote from: salem;108348

Hey guys, just got my 1988 Model M in the mail today, and I'm loving it except some of the keys such as the backspace and right shift keys don't have as nice of a travel as the rest of the keys, and I'm thinking a little lubricant can fix this.

Does anyone know a good commercial lubricant to use for plastic on plastic contact that I can use?

Thanks

If some of the keys are sticking, a good bet may be to remove the keycaps in question, shake the keyboard a bit, and then turn it upside-down and reinsert the keycaps.

Title: What lubricant to use w/ Model M
Post by: keyb_gr on Wed, 19 August 2009, 14:39:09

Bumping this thread because I'd like to like to do something about the right shift key on my main M which isn't operating as smoothly as it should.

Anyone from Germany familiar with the stuff you can get here?
This silicone spray (http://www.nigrin.de/produkte-7/produktsortiment-149/produktdetails-151/article/nigrin-hybrid-silikon-gleitspray.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=158&cHash=ffc5fe1eff) is readily available locally. Says it's suited for plastic, rubber, wood and metal and both resin-free and acid-free. No real details on ingredients though. Any good?
The same company (rooted more in car-related products) also has a PTFE spray (http://www.nigrin.de/produkte-7/produktsortiment-149/produktdetails-151/article/nigrin-repairtec-ptfe-spray.html?tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=158&cHash=896739cc2f). No details on whether it's a dry teflon spray like Kontaflon 85 though.