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Author Topic: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past  (Read 2705 times)

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Offline lcs

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I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:52:09 »
I recently bought it. I opened to see if I could solve the problem of some stiff keys (to no avail), but I did find a staple and, more impressing, a paper clip:

30124-0
« Last Edit: Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:58:18 by lcs »
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Offline esoomenona

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirty from the past
« Reply #1 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:53:01 »
****, son! A paper clip!? Please don't say it's so...
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Offline hoggy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirty from the past
« Reply #2 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:55:23 »
Hell, I wish all my keyboards were like that. 

Congrats (seriously) on finding one that clean.
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Offline lcs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirty from the past
« Reply #3 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:58:00 »
Quote from: hoggy on Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:55:23
Hell, I wish all my keyboards were like that. 

Congrats (seriously) on finding one that clean.

I had cleaned it already, without removing the case though.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:36:06 »
Quote from: hoggy on Thu, 01 August 2013, 15:55:23
Congrats (seriously) on finding one that clean.

Really. That one is "extremely clean"

many grams of hair and crumbs, unidentified plastic and paper slivers, half a dozen rusty staples - that is more of the norm.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline lcs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:39:36 »
I had no idea they 'came' so dirty!

Would rather it to be dirty than with some stiff springs :(
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Offline Glod

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:51:04 »
heh,

i still have yet to clean up this one i grabbed on ebay for $9



there is like a film of who knows what under the caps,the worst part of it is the smell of it. i have smelled mold and dust before cleaning out barns/garages but this smell could be related to an animal doing something awful to it.

one day......
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Offline snoopy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #7 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:52:28 »
you dont wanna know what I found in Model Ms...
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Offline lcs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #8 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:54:09 »
Quote from: Glod on Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:51:04
heh,

i still have yet to clean up this one i grabbed on ebay for $9

Show Image


there is like a film of who knows what under the caps,the worst part of it is the smell of it. i have smelled mold and dust before cleaning out barns/garages but this smell could be related to an animal doing something awful to it.

one day......



Quote from: snoopy on Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:52:28
you dont wanna know what I found in Model Ms...

I do! :)

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Offline rowdy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #9 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 16:56:27 »
An archaeological dig ;)
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

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Offline jalaj

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #10 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:06:03 »
i found cockroach droppings in one, had to apply a strong scrubbing of hand sanitizer to the kb
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #11 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:16:27 »
The good news with ancient IBM iron is that they can be pretty much completely dis-assembled and thoroughly cleaned, inside and out.

Use a Q-tip and alcohol on the controller, and give just about everything else a hot soapy bath in the kitchen sink.

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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline snoopy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:21:26 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:16:27
The good news with ancient IBM iron is that they can be pretty much completely dis-assembled and thoroughly cleaned, inside and out.

Use a Q-tip and alcohol on the controller, and give just about everything else a hot soapy bath in the kitchen sink.



I always got a bit fear that I destroy the label on the back
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #13 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:36:44 »
Quote from: snoopy on Thu, 01 August 2013, 17:21:26
I always got a bit fear that I destroy the label on the back

I work quickly and wet the label for a short time. They can easily survive a bath if you are quick and careful.

You can also use a piece of plastic and tape to make a "shield" for that area.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline CalmB4tehPwn

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #14 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 22:07:24 »
I've always wanted a model M, but they seem like so much work. I've got enough hobbies already.

Maybe some day.
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Offline rowdy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #15 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 22:41:00 »
Quote from: CalmB4tehPwn on Thu, 01 August 2013, 22:07:24
I've always wanted a model M, but they seem like so much work. I've got enough hobbies already.

Maybe some day.

Keep your eye out, and you might find one for the right price.  If you are lucky, they will need a minimum of care to provide a working solution, and will last you for years to come.

My two cost me $31.

The SDL/USB cable alone that I had to get cost more than both keyboards.  The other cable I fabricated myself from an old rubber dome.
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"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline neoezekiel

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #16 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 23:01:51 »
I found a used condom in one I got off of ebay last week.
I don't know what I should do.
I'm scared...
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Offline blueSmoke

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 01 August 2013, 23:23:59 »
Dont use it since the owner might come back and ask you the result of his experiment or to get his stuff back.

Wait for at lease 10 months  ;)
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:05:52 »
Quote from: neoezekiel on Thu, 01 August 2013, 23:01:51
I'm scared...

Can't believe he sold the keyboard if he loved it that much.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline hoggy

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:13:08 »
I always wear gloves and put newspaper on the work surface before taking keyboards apart now.
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Offline BlueBär

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #20 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 08:11:29 »
Quote from: blueSmoke on Thu, 01 August 2013, 23:23:59
Dont use it

Oh and I would recommend not using the keyboard either.
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #21 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 08:31:00 »
Quote from: hoggy on Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:13:08
I always wear gloves and put newspaper on the work surface before taking keyboards apart now.

^^ This is a great idea.
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Offline Toasty_Ohs

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 14:20:57 »
Quote from: CalmB4tehPwn on Thu, 01 August 2013, 22:07:24
I've always wanted a model M, but they seem like so much work. I've got enough hobbies already.

Maybe some day.

Not at all, other than pulling off the key caps and washing them when they get nasty, they just keep going and going.

Unless, of course, they get filled with milk and the membrane contacts get corroded.  Then they become a fun project.
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Offline Tarzan

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #23 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 15:09:52 »
Quote from: hoggy on Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:13:08
I always wear gloves and put newspaper on the work surface before taking keyboards apart now.

I've taken to opening a garbage bag, and setting the shipping boxes in it before opening them.  Started doing that after getting a luggable vintage PC that was full of rodent feces, and a TTY device that had a couple dozen roaches in it.  Considering I'm violently allergic to cat and dog hair, I should probably get a pack of those disposable dust masks.

The things we do for our hobby...
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #24 on: Fri, 02 August 2013, 15:47:29 »
Quote from: Greystoke on Fri, 02 August 2013, 15:09:52
Quote from: hoggy on Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:13:08
I always wear gloves and put newspaper on the work surface before taking keyboards apart now.

I've taken to opening a garbage bag, and setting the shipping boxes in it before opening them.  Started doing that after getting a luggable vintage PC that was full of rodent feces, and a TTY device that had a couple dozen roaches in it.  Considering I'm violently allergic to cat and dog hair, I should probably get a pack of those disposable dust masks.

The things we do for our hobby...

$26 bucks at amazon

http://www.amazon.com/Israeli-Civilian-Military-Mask-Filter/dp/B0002XJ2P4
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Offline neoezekiel

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Re: I opened my Model M and found dirt from the past
« Reply #25 on: Tue, 06 August 2013, 15:43:43 »
Quote from: Greystoke on Fri, 02 August 2013, 15:09:52
Quote from: hoggy on Fri, 02 August 2013, 07:13:08
I always wear gloves and put newspaper on the work surface before taking keyboards apart now.

I've taken to opening a garbage bag, and setting the shipping boxes in it before opening them.  Started doing that after getting a luggable vintage PC that was full of rodent feces, and a TTY device that had a couple dozen roaches in it.  Considering I'm violently allergic to cat and dog hair, I should probably get a pack of those disposable dust masks.

The things we do for our hobby...

So do I now; goggles, respirator, rubber splash apron, and thick rubber lab gloves, sometimes leather work gloves for bulky items.

The local couriers think I am a nut job, and I get a lot of packages...

I bought a case of CFL panels last year, the shipper decided to ship them loose in the box without any packing material other than a few handfuls of packing peanuts. Beside the vast quantities of broken glass I had to pay for hazardous waste cleanup for my workshop and notify the shipping company that their employee may have come into contact with mercury and phosphates. I still haven't gotten a refund from the seller for the items themselves, what a jerk :( ....

But yes I had gloves and a mask on when I found the condom. Called up the seller and apparently it was a joke played by one of his employees; supposedly there was hand sanitizer in the condom, not biohazardous material.

When I did PC repairs frequently I saw some horrific things inside of old computers and TTY consoles too.
Found a live rat in one once.

It has always made me wonder how people can be so nasty.

Back on topic, I normally take model M's apart and give them a good deep cleaning when they come in. If you are planning to bolt mod anyway you might as well strip it down and soak the barrel plate in hot soapy water at the same time that you do your keys. I have found that long plastic tote boxes do a good job of holding everything with enough room to completely submerge everything.
Labels get cling wrap and tape over them for protection.
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