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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Rotsiser Mho on Sat, 27 March 2010, 02:34:46

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: Rotsiser Mho on Sat, 27 March 2010, 02:34:46

So I ended up getting a black M13 from the eBay listing mentioned in another thread and it's in pretty good shape -- no mushy mouse buttons or anything.  However, all the key labels have yellowed it looks like.  Anyone know of a simple way to whiten them up without dissolving them?  I've tried a bit of diluted bleach but that didn't seem to do much.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: ricercar on Sat, 27 March 2010, 04:45:41

Ripster posted a thread last week on whitening. See mods section.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: mrbill on Sat, 27 March 2010, 07:58:01

Also, for just general cleaning, I've found a $15 ultrasonic jewelry cleaner from eBay to work great on both my fountain pens and my keycaps.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: kishy on Sat, 27 March 2010, 09:53:49

Worth noting, the denture cleaning method could probably strip the legends off entirely, or at least weaken them.

Don't feel like trying it to test though.

I think someone was interested in removing the legends from black M13 keys though, so they could perhaps try denture cleaning tablets.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: kishy on Sat, 27 March 2010, 10:16:05

Very quick exposure to bleach maybe?

Don't want to discolour the rest of the key, but since the lettering is so 'exposed' it probably wouldnt take much time for the bleach to whiten it.

(haven't read the whitening thread, sorry if this is already in it)

DO NOT TRY until someone who knows more advises you one way or the other.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: Rotsiser Mho on Sat, 27 March 2010, 13:36:07

I'm going to try the denture cleaner later today.  Surprisingly, diluted bleach seemed to have no effect on the lettering or the key itself.  I let it soak in a solution for over half an hour.  Maybe it was too diluted?

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: skcheng on Sat, 27 March 2010, 13:39:38

Quote from: Rotsiser Mho;167403

I'm going to try the denture cleaner later today.  Surprisingly, diluted bleach seemed to have no effect on the lettering or the key itself.  I let it soak in a solution for over half an hour.  Maybe it was too diluted?

I just saw this thread.   I threw my M13 keys into my heated ultrasonic unit for an hour with a Fixodent table.    Didn't seem to damage the keys/lettering, but they're still a little yellow.   Much cleaner though....

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: sethstorm on Sat, 27 March 2010, 16:16:57

Quote from: ripster;167351

The RetrObrite method is too strong for M13 keys.  I'd be REAL careful with those.  Even toothpaste would be too abrasive.

Then what do you do if your goal is to produce blank keys, obliterating the text but not damaging the key?  I already have more than a few keys that are ready for that, but I do not have a sand/bead blaster.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: microsoft windows on Sat, 27 March 2010, 16:59:55

Quote from: ripster;167377

I think the dirt may be embedded into the paint and impossible to get out.

Lasered keys (the M13 is pad printed), like the Cherry Corps and Das keys are PERMANENTLY dirty looking.  It's inherent to the process.

And I'm not the only one who things this.  Even the all knowing Chloe thought it might have been dirt  (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=5167).

Chloe's Pad printed G84 on left, Lasered keypad on right

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=1961&d=1232455040)

Where's the dirty-looking keyboard?

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Sat, 27 March 2010, 17:10:21

I have the dirtiest keyboard ever, I bought it of eBay a while back and never got around to cleaning it.  It looks like it is covered in soot.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: sethstorm on Sat, 27 March 2010, 17:55:00

Quote from: microsoft windows;167453

Where's the dirty-looking keyboard?

Note the keypad on the right, slight yellowing.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: EverythingIBM on Sat, 27 March 2010, 22:53:42

Quote from: ripster;167509

Actually the keypad is brand new out of the box (NIB).  

That's just the way Cherry keys look.

Of course if they are NOD (New Outta Dumpster) they tend to look worse.

OR, if they are NOD, they can also look like this:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a0/Cc_kane_shot.jpg)

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: skcheng on Mon, 29 March 2010, 15:52:22

Okay, I've completely disassembled and cleaned out my black  M13.   Personally speaking, I think the printing on the keycaps SUCKS!!  The lettering is weak, prone to fading and not durable at all imho.   I much prefer the standard Model M keys.  

Also, the case is just flimsly compared to the IBM Model M.  Thin, flexible ABS or something.  

I put the black M13 printed keycaps on and took them back off almost immediately.    My 2c.

skc

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: pfink on Mon, 29 March 2010, 16:17:42

Whenever I buy used keyboards I disassemble them and use vinyl cleaning wipes for car interiors on all the plastic parts:

(http://www.team.ie/images/99110EN.jpg)

I've used them on M13 and other pad printed keys without any damage to the paint, just don't wipe too hard or too long.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Mon, 29 March 2010, 16:26:59

Don't stroke your keys too hard.  Or too long.  Like pfink says.

Title: Cleaning M13 Keys
Post by: pfink on Mon, 29 March 2010, 16:50:09

Quote from: Computer-Lab in Basement;167862

Don't stroke your keys too hard.  Or too long.  Like pfink says.

Actually I said "wipe", not "stroke". However, moderation in all things is a virtue.