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Author Topic: Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?  (Read 2801 times)

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Offline Chaoticmass

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 16
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 00:18:15 »
I have two Model Ms. My oldest one was used heavily back when I used to live with my parents, who both smoked in the house. Over the years their cigarette smoke would ruin everything, even my Model M it seems. Compared to my like new Model M, which had only been used with a form fitting cover on it before I got it, the old cigarette smoke ruined board is almost unbearable to type on. The key switches are gummed up. They're harder to press than they should be. It's awful. It's weird to think I used to type on the gummed up smoked out board every day and didn't think anything was wrong with it until I got a board in better condition.

I'd like to bring the old smoked out board back up to spec. Anyone have any experience with cleaning the key switches that have been gummed up with years of cigarette smoke?
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Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #1 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 00:51:53 »
Pictures of the keyboards and close-up of the buckling spring please.
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Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline bluecar5556

  • Posts: 126
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #2 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 01:10:21 »
That's repulsive and I wouldn't doubt it for a second.  Walked into a neighbors house one day and the walls were tan colored after countless years of heavy smoking, no joke.  Needless to say, the walls used to be white.  Have you considered selling it on eBay and state it was in a smoking household, cut you loses to buy another M?  By all means, you could always completely disassemble and attempt to clean everything with a strong solvent such as <90% alcohol.  Not sure if alcohol would phase cigarette muck though.
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Offline Thinkpad Fan

  • Posts: 43
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #3 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 05:15:10 »
Sounds like a really good test case for the denture cleaner treatment posted here.  I don't know if the cylinders on the board the keys run in would require a different form of cleaning, to make it all work.  CC
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Offline IvanIvanovich

  • Mr. Silk Underwear
  • Posts: 8199
  • Location: USA
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #4 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 13:56:51 »
Denture tabs for the plastics, you might try Purple Power degreaser for the internals, follows by alcohol to remove any residue left. Then let it dry out 48hrs. I got a bunch of computers from an old call center that apparently allowed employees to smoke all day. The insides of the computer were coated with the usual greasy yellow orange nicotines residue. Use a toothbrush for the stubborn spots.
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Offline jpc

  • Posts: 363
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #5 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 14:06:16 »
If you're ambitious and don't mind buying tools, spending a lot of time, and maybe trashing the board ... why not bolt mod it? There's a howto in my sig.

That gives you the opportunity to clean the barrel plate and any other internal component.
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RSI prevention recipe:[/B] Kinesis Contoured, Colemak layout, touch typing, Contour Design Rollermouse,  Logitech TrackMan Wheel, Logitech m570 trackball, "workrave" break timer software, "awesome" window manager, tenkeyless boards, cherry browns, Wang 724 with "ghetto green" ALPS, standing desk and/or comfy adjustable chairs, stress reduction, computer time reduction.

Fun non-ergonomic things: bolt modded Model M Space Saving Keyboards with new springs, Kensington Expert Mouse v7, Unicomp Endurapro, Northgates

Offline Chaoticmass

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 16
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #6 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 15:23:07 »
I've been having the urge to mod a Model M so this board may be my first. Maybe disassemble, clean, bolt-mod, paint and custom keycaps. Pictures will be shared of course if/when I decide to undertake the project.
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Offline ch_123

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Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #7 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 16:22:26 »
Older ones were stiffer than newer ones, this could be at least some of what you are experiencing.
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Offline Chaoticmass

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 16
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #8 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 18:45:37 »
Quote from: ch_123;389555
Older ones were stiffer than newer ones, this could be at least some of what you are experiencing.

I should clarify, the smoked up one is 1990, my good one is 1989. The 1990 has been in my possession and in use longer. The stiff keys are the ones that are not as frequently used and they even rebound more slowly after you release a key.
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Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #9 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 19:05:05 »
Yeah, you really need to fully disassemble it and bolt mod it. You can get new springs from Unicomp to replace the gross ones, or you can try to clean them, but they might be beyond saving.

Bolt modding is pretty easy, especially if you follow jpc's guide. That's where I learned to do it, and I've done several dozen all told now. Just be patient, pay attention to the details, and make sure everything is dry before you put it all back together.
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HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline sordna

  • Posts: 2249
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #10 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 19:08:15 »
Man, if cigarette second-hand smoke can foul up buckling springs, imagine what first-hand smoke does to the lungs. YUCK!
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Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline ch_123

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Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #11 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 19:16:44 »
I'd find it hard to believe that much residue would get into the internal assembly, it's pretty well sealed up.
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Offline theferenc

  • Posts: 1327
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #12 on: Fri, 29 July 2011, 19:39:34 »
The springs themselves are likely the problem, though. And those are not well sealed, after all. Of course, you could swap the springs without a bolt mod, but I can't believe it would be any easier.
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HHKB Pro 2 -- Custom UNIX layout Unicomp Customizer 101 -- IBM Model M 1391401 (modded to UNIX layout) -- IBM 1397000 (also UNIX layout) -- SSK in UNIX layout -- Model F 122 key in UNIX layout (Soarer USB "native")
 
CST L-TracX trackball -- Kensington Expert Mouse trackball

Offline mich

  • Posts: 156
Cleaning Model M switches stiff/sticky from cigarette smoke?
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 31 July 2011, 02:24:38 »
If it feels like excessive friction, thoroughly clean all keys and the cylinders in which they move. Sometimes this really makes wonders.
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