IBM Model M Rubber Dome

[Culinia]

Please help,

I just got sold a rubber dome IBM Model M on ebay.

I thought it was a buckling spring hence the whole ****ing reason of getting one.

Now looking at it it does not specifically say.
What do I do?

I feel pissed off and cheated now.

[ch_123]

Did the seller specify the part number?

[Culinia]

Did the seller specify the part number?

Yes, stupid me didn't look it up. And there's a bloody picture! Maybe I deserve to be ripped off cauze of my stupidness.

[phate408]

Dude, that sucks. I didn't even know they made rubber dome Model Ms.

[WhiteRice]

You can always save it for parts/bolt modding practice.

[keyboardlover]

Can you swap the keys on a buckling spring Model M? If so, then keeping the keys is worth it (if you like them).

[ch_123]

No. They use different stems.

[Parabellum]

What do you want us to do about it

[keyboardlover]

What do you want us to do about it

Maybe we could form a small orchestra and play a sweet melody on the smallest violins in the world?

[Culinia]

What do you want us to do about it

Yh I know...That was me when I was not in the right/disappointed frame of mind.
If you really wanted you could hold me and tell me that everything will be al-right? lol. Although keyboardlover's suggestion would be sufficient!

And yes it is partly my fault cause I didn't check/even know the they even made rubber dome M's.
Last ebay impulse buy.

lol that's true there for that ebay guide, ripster!

/goes back into depression.

[Daniel Beaver]

Are the keycaps the same as regular model Ms?

I have enough broken ones laying around that I might be able to send you a full set of hammers and springs. May not be a lost cause yet. And in any case, the rubber dome Ms are fairly good as rubber domes go. The way the stems are designed means that they don't have the frictiony feel of cheaper boards when you hit the keys off-center.

[itlnstln]

They're not.  The rubber dome caps are missing a stem in the center used for pushing the spring; it's space is taken up with more plastic to press the rubber dome.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Buy springs and put them in on your own. This is what I'm currently doing with a different IBM rubber, the SK8820. The rods under keys that are used for pushing the rubber dimple down there can hold a spring inside. In some cases, the spring even stays firmly lodges once you stick it there. This results in a very funky feel.

[keyb_gr]

Rubber dome M... hmm, didn't someone get one to practise the bolt mod on recently?

[jpc]

Rubber dome M... hmm, didn't someone get one to practise the bolt mod on recently?

That was me. You can bolt mod a rubber dome M.

The key feel of a buckling spring switch depends on the spacing of the barrel plate and backplate. Mistakes during a bolt mod can change that spacing and screw up the key feel. Rubber dome boards are less sensitive to this spacing, so you won't detect this type of mistake until you bolt up a buckling spring board.

Don't be discouraged by the possibility of mistakes. Most mistakes are reversible. You might have to open up the board again to remove debris or ensure that the membranes are seated flat. On my first try, I opened the board three times before it sounded perfectly solid and uniform. Once you get there it's totally worth it. And then the next board is a cinch.