Before and After pics - My .70 Northgate Omnikey 102

[ThirdLap]

Here's my Northgate Omnikey 102 that I picked up at a local thrift store for seventy cents. Since I am still relatively new to the world of mechanical keyboards, I actually had no idea what this was when I purchased it.

Between the cleaning supplies, adapter, and PS/2 wire, I have about $18 into the keyboard as it sits right now.  For the time being I had to replace an inoperable white Alps switch with a black Alps, but under regular use the difference is more or less unnoticeable.

Before:









And the after. The variations in color seen in this pic are far less noticeable in person.



Not bad, eh?   Now if I can only find a darn Model M!

[TexasFlood]

Here's my Northgate Omnikey 102 that I picked up at a local thrift store for seventy cents. Since I am still relatively new to the world of mechanical keyboards, I actually had no idea what this was when I purchased it.

Between the cleaning supplies, adapter, and PS/2 wire, I have about $18 into the keyboard as it sits right now.  For the time being I had to replace an inoperable white Alps switch with a black Alps, but under regular use the difference is more or less unnoticeable.

And the after. The variations in color seen in this pic are far less noticeable in person.

Not bad, eh?   Now if I can only find a darn Model M!

Pretty good.  What did you clean it with?

[ThirdLap]

Pretty good.  What did you clean it with?

Thanks.  Its my first effort, so I'm still learning.  

Since I did not have immediate access to high concentration hydrogen peroxide, I used a product called Clairol Professional Premium Creme 40 from the local beauty supply store.  I applied several applications over the course of two days, and allowed it to sit in the sun.  I also made a solution for the keys using 3% peroxide and the Clairol product, and allowed those to sit in the sun as well.

I image I could get the color variations out with a bit more work, but I'm fairly content with it for now.

[didjamatic]

Awesome, welcome to Geekhack!  Can you give more details as to how you did it?  

Not to be picking at your work, but on the enter key is that some remaining yellow splotchiness or is it just the photo?

[ThirdLap]

Awesome, welcome to Geekhack!  Can you give more details as to how you did it?

Thanks! I used a product called Clairol Professional Creme 40 ($5 at local Sally Beauty Supply) and sunlight.  Three applications and about 12 hours of sunlight got it to where it is now. I basically just painted it on with a Q-tip and allowed it to sit outside.  Repeat X3.

Not to be picking at your work, but on the enter key is that some remaining yellow splotchiness or is it just the photo?

No worries.  Yes, it is slightly splotchy, but not yellow.  Some of the dark beige keys developed some slight splotchiness after exposure to the chemicals.  I may try cleaning it some more, but it honestly doesn't bother me enough to start messing with all those harsh chemicals more.

[didjamatic]

Awesome, Ripster has some info here.

I have some that I've hoped to give this a try on.

[kriminal]

hmm great effect you got there from the cleaning.

[TexasFlood]

That layered on finger gook that develops on the most used keys can be a challenge, might require mild abrasion to get off.  I usually try scrubbing with some "Wet Ones" wipes with my a fingernail or equivalent behind it as needed.  Not sure what that stuff is, but it's like a lacquered layer on there.  Guess finger oil & acid combined with whatever gook you might have on your fingers.

FYI AOL and Dominos did an analysis in the U.K. of identifiable components of "keyboard grime" and found the following:
Corn Flakes 15%
Boiled sweet 15%
Noodles 7%
Vegetable piece 4%
Leaf 1%
Pencil lead/shavings 1%
Staple 1%
Finger nail 1%
Tape/plastic 1%
Insect 1%
Foil 1%
Hair 1%

[ThirdLap]

That layered on finger gook that develops on the most used keys can be a challenge, might require mild abrasion to get off.

Tried scrubbing to no avail. It seems the discoloration might be due to uneven exposure (and possible overexposure) to the cleaning product I used.

FYI AOL and Dominos did an analysis in the U.K. of identifiable components of "keyboard grime" and found the following:
Corn Flakes 15%
Boiled sweet 15%
Noodles 7%
Vegetable piece 4%
Leaf 1%
Pencil lead/shavings 1%
Staple 1%
Finger nail 1%
Tape/plastic 1%
Insect 1%
Foil 1%
Hair 1%

Heads up - don't read that while eating.  And what it the world is 'boiled sweet'?

[hyperlinked]

FYI AOL and Dominos did an analysis in the U.K. of identifiable components of "keyboard grime" and found the following:
Corn Flakes 15%
...Hair 1%

Corn flakes!? I mean like literally corn flakes at 15% or did they mean it in a more generic sense as in cereals, breads, and pastries? I'd think that if corn flakes were that high, milk and sliced strawberries or banannas would hit at least 5%.

I'm also surprised that hair would be a paltry 1% given that everyone's shedding hair over their desks regardless of if they're eating or not.

[ThirdLap]

So I clicked on the yellow bar in my pics above to see the images at full size, and now I understand the concern about the yellow appearance on the beige keys.  

Looking at the keys right now, they don't appear even the slightest bit yellow.  The yellowness in the shots above must be due to angles and lighting. In person it looks essentially brand new, save for some slight variation in shades of beige.

[TexasFlood]

Corn flakes!? I mean like literally corn flakes at 15% or did they mean it in a more generic sense as in cereals, breads, and pastries? I'd think that if corn flakes were that high, milk and sliced strawberries or banannas would hit at least 5%.

I'm also surprised that hair would be a paltry 1% given that everyone's shedding hair over their desks regardless of if they're eating or not.

Hah, it was just an interesting google result, an old register article.  I thought of the same questions of you but also thought it was interesting so posted it.

[TexasFlood]

Heads up - don't read that while eating.  And what it the world is 'boiled sweet'?

Apparently an English thing, what I would call hard candy.

[kishy]

That layered on finger gook that develops on the most used keys can be a challenge, might require mild abrasion to get off.  I usually try scrubbing with some "Wet Ones" wipes with my a fingernail or equivalent behind it as needed.  Not sure what that stuff is, but it's like a lacquered layer on there.  Guess finger oil & acid combined with whatever gook you might have on your fingers.

FYI AOL and Dominos did an analysis in the U.K. of identifiable components of "keyboard grime" and found the following:
Corn Flakes 15%
Boiled sweet 15%
Noodles 7%
Vegetable piece 4%
Leaf 1%
Pencil lead/shavings 1%
Staple 1%
Finger nail 1%
Tape/plastic 1%
Insect 1%
Foil 1%
Hair 1%

Denture cleaning tablets do all the scrubbing labour for you with regards to keys. Rather nice to rip them all off, set them in a bowl with 3 or 4 of the things, let them go to work and then take care of cleaning the case and area around switches in the meantime. Half an hour later your keys require only rinsing and drying.

(YMMV, different brands may have differing success rates. I use Life brand.)

[ThirdLap]

Apparently an English thing, what I would call hard candy.

Ah, makes sense. You'd think I would know that, having lived in the UK for a few years.

[1839cc]

FYI AOL and Dominos did an analysis in the U.K. of identifiable components of "keyboard grime" and found the following:
Corn Flakes 15%
Boiled sweet 15%
Noodles 7%
Vegetable piece 4%
Leaf 1%
Pencil lead/shavings 1%
Staple 1%
Finger nail 1%
Tape/plastic 1%
Insect 1%
Foil 1%
Hair 1%

This is only 49%.

[1839cc]

Haha probably true.

[Rusty Rat]

Apparently an English thing, what I would call hard candy.

And an Aussie thing to. The only Candy we have is that silly Candy Floss spun sugar invented by Dentists to provide them with a continuous supply of new child patients.

[TexasFlood]

This is only 49%.

I noticed that to, guess the key word being "identifiable", apparently only 51% was identifiable.  Guess the analysis wasn't exactly exhaustive, :wink:.  Luckily ripster filled in the blank there, :smile:.