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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: lot_lizard on Sat, 19 March 2016, 18:11:07
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I have a rare IBM 3279 beamspring with a faded red double shot that is part of the secondary panel to control the legacy console itself. It runs off a separate controller with a completely independent cable coming into the board. I was just curious if anyone had suggestions for bringing the bright red back. I would sacrifice texture for color if the results could be excellent. Thoughts welcomed
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Maybe retrobrite?
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I should have mentioned... I've tried all the conventional methods. This is actually faded on the surface, and not a film. Afraid the only real option is "cutting" into the surface with either chemical or abrasive, but there really hasn't been much information on any of those attempts that I can find. All poor man's testing (water buoyancy and acetone) would suggest this is PBT plastic
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I don't know if this would help in your case but I remembered seeing a post about someone sand blasting keys to get rid of the shine. Maybe you can use a similar method to remove the faded layer?
Here's a link to the image gallery
imgur.com/gallery/4eYLT (http://imgur.com/gallery/4eYLT)
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Actually... This is very clever, and something I hadn't even consider using on plastic. I have a blaster cabinet, and a few mediums on hand to experiment with, along with some PBT keycaps from a Wheelwriter that I could practice on. I would still welcome other thoughts, but this would be hard to beat I think. Thanks again
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Glad I could help :)
Also, here's the original deskthority thread
https://deskthority.net/workshop-f7/keycap-sand-blasting-t12946.html
Probably has a lot more info than the Imgur gallery.
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just drop it into some paint thinner 10/10
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The results... I had the advantage of having a completely flat top, and decided to wet sand using 400, 600, 1000, 1500. I originally anticipated that I would sandblast to just to texturize at the very end (and might still) but wanted it as flat as possible before I did. The UV fade was deeper than expected, and I might just pass on the additional texture since the 1500 leaves an unpolished look and this cap is literally irreplaceable
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Now hit it with a UV protecting sealant so you don't run into it fading again.
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The results... I had the advantage of having a completely flat top, and decided to wet sand using 400, 600, 1000, 1500. I originally anticipated that I would sandblast to just to texturize at the very end (and might still) but wanted it as flat as possible before I did. The UV fade was deeper than expected, and I might just pass on the additional texture since the 1500 leaves an unpolished look and this cap is literally irreplaceable
That looks great, considering where you started!
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Appreciate that... I was pleased. I finally worked up the courage to completely tear this one down, clean, and add the xwhatsit controller and solenoid driver. I took quite a few pictures along the way and will write something up in the coming week (or so)... After I wire up the lamps at the top of the board for capslock, numlock, and the "Lamp Test" switch. The beamspring really is a fun animal. I have a couple, and this one has always been my favorite for layout and appearance.
Re: nubbinator... Great idea on the UV sealant
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Making stuff together (https://geekhack.org/index.php?board=117.0) would be a great place for a restore log :)