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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mrhead on Mon, 05 March 2018, 23:07:10

Title: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: mrhead on Mon, 05 March 2018, 23:07:10

So, I've been spending a LOT of time cleaning keyboards up and salvaging them for work.  We only buy Dell computers, so we have tons of the keyboards around - the problem is that the newer keyboards are hated by a lot of our users.   Because I am the only one who would actually do this, I'm cleaning up the fully functional but dirty/worn keyboards to reuse for those who may possibly die if forced to use the kb216 keyboards.

So... has anyone else developed an affinity for the shiny/smooth keys on heavily used rubber domes?  There are a handful of desks in the office that I can almost guarantee will yield a nicely worn keyboard in a month or so.  Unfortunately, it also comes back filled with food and debris.  These stations are in use 24/7.

[/weirdo]

Title: Re: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: iLLucionist on Thu, 08 March 2018, 04:44:03

Yes, those are probably keycaps made out of ABS plastic, which gets shiny over time. Probably the legends are pad printed as well (like some sort of paint or "sticker" over the caps) which also wears down.

Time to buy yourself a decent board!

Title: Re: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: chyros on Thu, 08 March 2018, 05:45:32

Yup, pad-printed ABS. They generally go completely to **** in less than 10 years.

Title: Re: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 08 March 2018, 15:08:49

People are usually very heavy handed on public keyboards/ wurk keyboards.

But the super super worn ones are usually by users with long finger nails,  It creates those weird wear patterns.

Title: Re: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: iLLucionist on Fri, 09 March 2018, 12:48:31

Quote from: tp4tissue on Thu, 08 March 2018, 15:08:49

People are usually very heavy handed on public keyboards/ wurk keyboards.

But the super super worn ones are usually by users with long finger nails,  It creates those weird wear patterns.

Remember folks: always clip thy nails. Old GH wisdom..

Title: Re: Heavily worn keys on rubber domes? Is this weird?
Post by: mrhead on Fri, 09 March 2018, 15:49:50

I've received more than a few with the space bar pitted so badly it was almost all the way through the keys.  It seems like it's just from fingernails repeatedly striking the keys, though I have seen a few people wearing thumb rings.

I have found some enjoyment in the feel of the smooth keycaps (after washing them!).