Author Topic: model F!!! (Read 3768 times)

Xero · « **on:** Sat, 07 November 2009, 20:07:40 »

So, since I apparently can't get a G80-3000 w/blues any time soon, I was looking around on ebay and saw a model F AT for sale! buy it now was a little high so I made an offer and....it's mine! Model F on the way to be part of the collection! So yeah, I think I'm past the point of no return now. I really need to take some pics of my keyboards once it gets here...it's starting to become a somewhat substantial collection now.

msiegel · « **Reply #1 on:** Sat, 07 November 2009, 20:12:42 »

congratulations!

good choice, that will be a fine addition

maxlugar · « **Reply #2 on:** Sat, 07 November 2009, 23:15:10 »

Quote from: Xero;130926

So, since I apparently can't get a G80-3000 w/blues any time soon, I was looking around on ebay and saw a model F AT for sale! buy it now was a little high so I made an offer and....it's mine! Model F on the way to be part of the collection! So yeah, I think I'm past the point of no return now. I really need to take some pics of my keyboards once it gets here...it's starting to become a somewhat substantial collection now.

Excellent purchase!

If your 84-key AT is in decent condition, you will probably be hard pressed to find a more enjoyable keyboard...I haven't yet!

ak_nala · « **Reply #3 on:** Sun, 08 November 2009, 03:20:32 »

Sweet!

What did you end up paying?

ch_123 · « **Reply #4 on:** Sun, 08 November 2009, 03:48:54 »

Excellent choice, puts any Model M (and just about every other click switch keyboard) to shame.

Xero · « **Reply #5 on:** Sun, 08 November 2009, 07:30:01 »

I paid like $115 or so, they wanted $130 but I sent in an offer. I don't really know what's average for these, but considering how bad my habit has gotten $115 is nothing. From the pics, it looked pretty mint, no missing keys or the likes. I will have to make sure the keys all actually work once it gets here.

ch_123 · « **Reply #6 on:** Sun, 08 November 2009, 09:13:55 »

It depends really. I paid about $60-70 (not including shipping for the beast over to Ireland) for mine. Some have got them for more, some for much less.

Model Fs tend to age quite well - there's no plastic rivets or dodgy membranes to worry about. On mine, the Y key was kinda wonky, but this went away with I disassembled the keyboard, but this seems to be a rare enough occurence. Most stuff can be solved by reseating the keycaps.

Xero · « **Reply #7 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 12:58:07 »

I finally got my at->ps2 adapter for my model f. The spacebar seems really stiff on it for some reason, i might have to do some work on it to bring it into shape. It also seems like some keys need to be bottomed out to trigger more than others. I've been gently stretching the springs on a few of them and that seems to take care of it. I think overall it's a little too hard to type on, after getting used to cherry browns it feels like typing on weighted keys or something hah. It's definitely an interesting keyboard so I'll probably fix it up and put it in the collection. I just got another new toy, model M industrial gray to play with as well.

ch_123 · « **Reply #8 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 12:59:46 »

The spacebar is quite stiff alright.

Was the new Industrial Model M the 1394946 being sold by Brian O' Neill? I was looking at that one too.

Xero · « **Reply #9 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 13:21:29 »

hah yep, that's the one. It's in pretty good shape too. Although after typing on buckling springs for a bit, it had me longing for my g80-3000. I'm so used to the light feel of my browns. I figured this would hold me over til I can get a g80-3000 w/blues but I'm longing for one even more now, I think.

ch_123 · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 13:55:31 »

Fair enough. If you ever wish to part ways with that Industrial, let me know!

Back to the AT - I had some issues with keys not clicking properly... You might want to dismantle it completely, clean it and reassemble it. There's some info -

here

and

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:5492

Xero · « **Reply #11 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 14:46:23 »

definitely gonna have to try that out. Most of the keys work, it's just some require more force than others. I have been popping the keycaps off and just tugging on the springs a few times to stretch em out and it seems to fix most of them, but I probably will have to overhaul anyway. I didn't plan on using it as my main keyboard, but I definitely want to keep it in working condition and maybe use it in some kind of unique way. I might try to find some way to loosen up that space bar too. I've been using this industrial and it's definitely been growing on me, I think the only thing worthy of replacing it will be a g80-3000 with blues! So we'll see what I do once i get one. Still, this thing even SMELLS industrial! It smells like it's been in a metal shop or something anyway.

ch_123 · « **Reply #12 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 15:31:55 »

Probably from where Brian refurbishes those things. And he really means it when he says his keyboards are as good as new. And you musn't have the one I was thinking of - the one I was looking at was sold last night. Maybe you got the ones he had for sale a week or two ago - the 1394950s with the drainage channels.

Be careful with the springs, if you strech them too hard you could cause damage to them. You could also try using some Teflon Powder spray on the keycaps to see if that un-stiffens the action a bit. If you search for teflon powder, you should find Wellington's article.

Xero · « **Reply #13 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 15:46:26 »

He had 2 industrial grays, one from 1990 and one from 1991. both were the same model number IIRC. I got the one from 91 which sounded like it was in better conditional. it's a 1394946
edit: here it is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130337411544

ch_123 · « **Reply #14 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 16:14:30 »

Yeah, he seems to get them in regularly alright. I'll just keep my eye out.

msiegel · « **Reply #15 on:** Sat, 14 November 2009, 19:44:47 »

guys, am i slow or what... i just noticed this t-shirt of the ibm buckling spring patent figure, on zazzle

http://www.zazzle.com/ibm_model_m_4118611_tshirt-235372482606583470

it's incorrectly marked model m, when the illustration is clearly the preferred differential capacitive version of the buckling spring switch... but hey

JBert · « **Reply #16 on:** Sun, 15 November 2009, 04:15:19 »

Quote from: Xero;132463

I finally got my at->ps2 adapter for my model f. The spacebar seems really stiff on it for some reason, i might have to do some work on it to bring it into shape. It also seems like some keys need to be bottomed out to trigger more than others. I've been gently stretching the springs on a few of them and that seems to take care of it. I think overall it's a little too hard to type on, after getting used to cherry browns it feels like typing on weighted keys or something hah. It's definitely an interesting keyboard so I'll probably fix it up and put it in the collection.

Try not to mess with the buckling springs - they are fragile even when they don't look like that.

I have one key which would sometimes stop buckling when I reseated the keycap. Just pull it out again, hold the keyboard vertical and upside down (the label at the bottom) and tap it to make surl all the springs are aligned with their barrels. If you then push in the keycaps, they will make proper contact with the spring to make it buckle again.

The spacebar can be modded. You have to open up the keyboard assembly (a daunting task) and bend the long stabilizer spring underneath it. If you do so, you can get the weight down to 64g, or even to 58-60g when the stabilizer spring is completely flattened and the weight of the spacebar keycap pushes down on the buckling spring.

ch_123 · « **Reply #17 on:** Sun, 15 November 2009, 05:59:57 »

Quote from: ripster;132534

and, and, and..... It's Usable!

[Yawns]

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Author Topic: model F!!! (Read 3768 times)