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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: LiquidEvilGaming on Fri, 18 March 2016, 15:05:53

Title: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: LiquidEvilGaming on Fri, 18 March 2016, 15:05:53
Odd question i know, but as i look more into the HHKB Vs the Leopold FC i noticed quite a few pictures of yellowed HHKB's (Older ones not Pro 2's) show up in Google images.....is this super common?  And if it is was the problem alleviated in the Pro 2?  I'd hate to buy a white one and have it look so horrid =/  Almost reminds me of the look most older Super Nintendos have due to the flame retardant chemical used in the plastic that caused yellowing over long periods of time.


Cheers and thanks!
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: klennkellon on Fri, 18 March 2016, 16:44:00
Most ABS plastic will yellow after awhile due to exposure to UV.

I don't think they coat them with UV resistant coatings or anything.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: chyros on Fri, 18 March 2016, 16:55:28
Most ABS plastic will yellow after awhile due to exposure to UV.

I don't think they coat them with UV resistant coatings or anything.
They use UV stabilisers in the plastic mix. ABS materials from a certain age, particularly the late 80s and 90s, are more vulnerable than those of later formulations.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: illitirit on Sat, 19 March 2016, 19:52:57
I have a recent model HHKB pro 2, manufactured 2015. 

I might be a weird one but I actually wish my case would get yellow.  Just one of those rustic things i suppose.  Its like the keyboard ages with me lol.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 19 March 2016, 20:40:26
Very common.

HHKBs are used EXCLUSIVELY by hackers. And we know that ALL 1337 h4ck3r5 smoke while they work.

Nicotine and light coloured plastics don't mix well.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: digi on Sat, 19 March 2016, 20:41:03
Very common.

HHKBs are used EXCLUSIVELY by hackers. And we know that ALL 1337 h4ck3r5 smoke while they work.

Nicotine and light coloured plastics don't mix well.

Beat me to it..
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: klennkellon on Sat, 19 March 2016, 23:56:50
Most ABS plastic will yellow after awhile due to exposure to UV.

I don't think they coat them with UV resistant coatings or anything.
They use UV stabilisers in the plastic mix. ABS materials from a certain age, particularly the late 80s and 90s, are more vulnerable than those of later formulations.
Didn't know this, thanks.

Does this explain why Model M's cases don't yellow despite being entirely made out of ABS?
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: fanpeople on Sun, 20 March 2016, 00:03:45
Very common.

HHKBs are used EXCLUSIVELY by hackers. And we know that ALL 1337 h4ck3r5 smoke while they work.

Nicotine and light coloured plastics don't mix well.

Beat me to it..

Yeah me also///
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 20 March 2016, 02:29:51
the space bar WILL yellow  , eventually, you can not prevent it..  but it takes a LONG time.

Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 21 March 2016, 05:09:55
I have an HHKB from Feb-2011.  No signs of yellowing at all.

Mind you I do not have a fresh new HHKB to compare it to, but I have other yellowed keyboards that are fairly obviously yellowed.

A yellowed HHKB can be restored - dustin did (https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=61502.0) - bloody good job of it too!
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: davkol on Thu, 24 March 2016, 16:19:32
Very common.

HHKBs are used EXCLUSIVELY by hackers. And we know that ALL 1337 h4ck3r5 smoke while they work.

Nicotine and light coloured plastics don't mix well.
Smoking, nicotine and let me add tobacco… those are three different things.

On topic, I haven't seen a non-yellowed first-generation HHKB yet.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: khakis1111 on Tue, 07 February 2017, 11:10:44
That's why I love the color of the white/gray FC660C. It's off white/beige. Pretty old school looking. But I may just swap the white case with black one of these days.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: Puddsy on Tue, 07 February 2017, 13:26:01
Yellowing is common on most white ABS boards. My realforce is definitely not the same shade of white it was when I got it.
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: OfTheWild on Wed, 08 February 2017, 17:04:04
mmmmmm 'butterscotch'.

I like the yellowing personally.  :thumb:
Title: Re: How common is HHKB yellowing?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 06 June 2017, 22:09:00
I'll take a beige keyboard any day, but I'm not too keen on yellowing.  It's not always even across the board, and looks like bad sunburn on the keyboard.