« previous next »
Pages:  [1]     Go Down

Author Topic: Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?  (Read 2173 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Internetlad

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 710
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 12:20:44 »
So having picked up a couple of "vintage" keyboards as of late, I was wondering if anybody could provide tips on how to take various substances off of em. I know that for a general cleaning it has been suggested diluted Bleach or OxyClean, any other suggestions?

Also, Is there anything to be done about removing the yellowing effect from old plastics? I know it's a chemical reaction, but past stripping off the top layer of the plastic, i have no knowledge of how you'd rectify the situation?

Tips? Tricks?
Logged
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline flyball

  • Posts: 258
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #1 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 12:21:59 »
Logged
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

Offline Internetlad

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 710
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 12:50:49 »
I checked the wiki, but i looked at the full keyboard wiki instead of just the keys wiki. As we all know the cases themselves do not get dirty.
Logged
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline Kurk

  • Posts: 24
  • Location: The Netherlands
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 13:26:57 »
For cleaning the caps:
1) Put them into a bra washing bag (or a pillow case) and wash them with the rest of your laundry.
2) If necessary, ABS caps can be bleached with bleach (hypochlorite), hydrogen peroxide or some other "oxy"-products (commonly containing perborates or percarbonates).

ABS is also the stuff LEGO is made from. When in doubt, search for cleaning LEGO.
Logged

Offline Internetlad

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 710
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 16:23:33 »
Has anybody ever given that retr0bright gel a shot? It's piqued my interest, as I have 2 or 3 old NES' that i like to tinker with as well.
Logged
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline bloodygood

  • Posts: 310
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 16:51:16 »
The quick and easy solution I had to a yellowed Super Nintendo. I had purchased 1 that had a yellowed upper casing. After about a week of searching craigslist I found another one selling for about 5$ when I saw it in person the upper casing was perfect and the lower casing was yellowed. So that night I swapped the upper casings on both, I now have a full gray and a full yellowed Super Nintendo, both for a total of $15.
I had been considering trying out the RetrObrite with the yellowed case both halves but I haven't had the determination (or need) to do it yet. I would be happy to document my process and results when I give it a shot though.
Logged
Current collection: Filco Tenkeyless MX Brown, IBM Model M, Happy Hacking Keyboard Lite II, Dell AT101W.
Looking for: IBM Model M SpaceSaver, HHKB Topre keychain. >> Feedback Thread

Offline Internetlad

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 710
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 17:08:48 »
why does everybody use hair bleach? Why can't i just run to the drugstore and get a bottle of hydrogen peroxide?

EDIT: yeah I think the Super Nintendo's fare the worst with age of ANY home console system I've seen as far as plastic yellowing. It can get downright ugly.

I have several NES'es but they all look pretty good, and my personal one (had it for ~20 years now) still looks daisy fresh.
Logged
"Beep . . . Beep . . . Beep" -Sputnik I


Visit the Typing Test and try!

Offline AMoody

  • Posts: 14
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 19:26:17 »
Quote from: Internetlad;453513
why does everybody use hair bleach? Why can't i just run to the drugstore and get a bottle of hydrogen peroxide?


Because the concentration is much higher on the hair products.
Logged
Looking for an access AKC110

Offline dorkvader

  • Posts: 6289
  • Location: Boston area
  • all about the "hack" in "geekhack"
Cleaning old keyboards, a howto?
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 16 November 2011, 21:06:02 »
Quote from: Internetlad;453513
why does everybody use hair bleach? Why can't i just run to the drugstore and get a bottle of hydrogen peroxide?
'cause it took an hour to boil off enough water to concentrate it enough.
Logged
Pages:  [1]     Go Up
« previous next »