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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => DIY Discussions ARCHIVE => Topic started by: pfink on Sun, 09 August 2009, 20:22:00

Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: pfink on Sun, 09 August 2009, 20:22:00: I decided to give one of my Model M Space Savers a makeover last week. I wanted to paint the case black and replace the coiled beige cable with a straight black one.

First, the cable. Since straight black SDL->PS/2 cables are near impossible to find I ended up sacrificing one of my coiled cables. I clipped the straight segments from either end and stripped off the outer cover and the inner wire insulation from both segments. Some wire twisting and a bit of electrical tape later I had a short straight SDL->PS/2 cable, which I coated with black Plasti Dip spray. I mated this with a black PS/2 extension cable and voila! The ugly section where the joint was covered with electrical tape was hidden by attaching it with zip ties to the speaker grill on the bottom of the board. Not the most elegant solution but I always keep the risers up so this isn't a problem for me.

(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/BlackSpaceSaver2-sm.jpg)

For the case I did some digging around online and found a couple people recommending Dupli-Color Vinyl and Fabric Coating for case and keyboard mods so I picked up a couple cans of flat black and a can of Dupli-Color Adhesion Promoter at the local Pep Boys.

(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/DupliColor.jpg)

After disassembling the keyboard and masking off the bottom of the board around the label I roughed up the plastic slightly using 600 grit sandpaper. Then I sprayed both sections with two coats of adhesion promoter, waited about 8 minutes and sprayed the first color coat. The second coat went on an hour later. I let it dry overnight and reassembled.

(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/BlackSpaceSaver1-sm.jpg)

The nice thing about this vinyl coating product is that any overspraying gets absorbed back into the plastic rather than showing up as drips on the painted surface, so you end up with a nice uniform finish.

(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/BlackSpaceSaver4-sm.jpg)
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: rdjack21 on Sun, 09 August 2009, 22:07:25: Very nice. Makes me want to take mine apart and do it as well.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: microsoft windows on Mon, 10 August 2009, 09:05:46: Interesting. Going to put black keycaps where the beige ones are?
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: pfink on Mon, 10 August 2009, 10:51:11: Quote from: microsoft windows;108583
Interesting. Going to put black keycaps where the beige ones are?

I don't mind the way the keys look and I like the feel of the stock Model M keys so I don't really want to mess around with them too much.

If I ever get my mitts on an M13 I may swap in the black keys but otherwise I'll probably leave it as is.

Update: I got me some black keys...

(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/BlackSpaceSaver5-sm.jpg)
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: Half-Saint on Wed, 28 April 2010, 07:16:47: How well is that paint job holding up?

Cheers,
SainT
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: bigpook on Wed, 28 April 2010, 08:41:31: I am wanting to know too. From the pic it looks very nice and evenly applied. Almost like OEM?
The question of course is how well it will hold up. How does it handle nicks and scrapes and can you scratch at it with your fingernail?
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: pfink on Wed, 28 April 2010, 11:40:07: Quote from: Half-Saint;176794
How well is that paint job holding up?

Excellent, it looks pretty much the same as when I first applied it.

I took a screwdriver and tried to scrape some of the coloring off of the bottom of the keyboard. I had to use a decent amount of pressure to gouge it enough for the beige color to show through, the vinyl Dupli-Color paint/dye spray penetrates the surface really well.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: audioave10 on Tue, 18 May 2010, 10:44:37: I actually like the contrast of the original keys on a black case.
I so need a Space Saver.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: volvo244t on Tue, 18 May 2010, 12:13:25: Nice speakers buddy!

I want to see a pearl white or industrial grey SpaceSaver with black keys. I think that combination gives it a really cool "70s typewriter" look...
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: bicycle_wreck on Tue, 18 May 2010, 12:40:22: Nice work. Where did you end up getting the black keys?
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: bettablue on Sun, 27 February 2011, 10:25:53: The paint job on this looks great! I love the contrast of the light keyboard with black keys too. In just over a week, I'll have two model M keyboards I will be working on to make one. I think I'll paint the case following your instructions and see how it all comes together. After that I want to try RIT die and make some red keys for it. If everything works the way it's supposed to, it will make a nice gift for my sister and brother-in-law.

I'll try to photoshop some of my ideas and post them in modifications later.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: kill will on Sun, 27 February 2011, 14:10:08: Buckling springs are the gift that keeps giving
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 27 February 2011, 14:10:59: Quote from: kill will;301812
Buckling springs are the gift that keeps giving

I thought that was Herpes?
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: YetAnotherDeveloper on Wed, 02 March 2011, 22:57:00: Yeah i would love to know what this looks like today.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: pfink on Thu, 03 March 2011, 17:34:43: Quote from: ripster;301817
Since this is a necro thread ever notice that nobody ever posts pictures after 3 years of heavy use of painted keyboards?

My black mini still looks the same as when I first painted it, although I've been mainly using the semi-industrial lately.

Seriously though, if you're just painting the case how much wear-and-tear is it going to get sitting on a desk? I can see paint on keys wearing off but I barely touch the case when typing.
Title: Model M Space Saver Makeover
Post by: YetAnotherDeveloper on Thu, 03 March 2011, 20:37:58: Quote from: pfink;304556
My black mini still looks the same as when I first painted it, although I've been mainly using the semi-industrial lately.

Seriously though, if you're just painting the case how much wear-and-tear is it going to get sitting on a desk? I can see paint on keys wearing off but I barely touch the case when typing.

I do a lot of resting on the edge of the keyboard with my thumbs below the spacebar and if the keyboard has built in wrist rests then i would prob use those as well. Other than that i wouldnt think you would get much wear.