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Author Topic: BS boards and lubrication  (Read 2069 times)

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Offline ibell7945

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BS boards and lubrication
« on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 12:49:48 »
As I anticipate the arrival of my Teensy for my Model M 122 key, I've naturally tapped on the keys, just to enjoy that wonderful buckling spring sound. In the course of this, I've discovered that some of these keys seem a little rough and stiff. Though I've heard that lubing is bad for buckling springs (especially membrane models), I've been wondering if this is just urban keyboard legend. Also, if I decide to lube my board, what kind of lube should I use? Will the same lube that works well for cherry MX (stuff like krytox and other PTFE lubricants), work here?

TL;DR

Should I lube my BS board?
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IBM 122 Key Model M

Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 12:52:30 »
This mini discussion might be a good starting point.
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Offline E TwentyNine

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 13:14:56 »
I've been using BS keyboards for a long time and have never lubricated one.

Did you take a look at the springs on the keys which are stiff for any dirt/corrosion/rust/deformity?  Or dirt in the barrel?

It could be as simple as the key sitting wrong on the spring, pulling it and putting it back may be enough.

If there is damage to the springs they can be replaced without dismantling the keyboard.

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Daily driver: SSK or Tenkeyless IBM AT
1984 Model M Industrial Prototype ⌨ 1992 Black Oval Industrial SSK ⌨ 1982 5251 Beam Spring ⌨ 89 Key "SSK" ⌨ M13 triplets

Offline terrpn

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 14:30:11 »
i actually took an old bs board that has passed its hey day and shoved a bunch of silicone in the spring barrel

linear bs without the click, nothing special and really did not see much of a change in pressure- albeit i did not measure
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Offline Wildcard

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 14:32:43 »
nvm
« Last Edit: Tue, 14 January 2014, 14:34:52 by Wildcard »
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 14 January 2014, 16:44:21 »
The grease mod that Captain Bad Ass referred you to is a noise-reduction scheme with similar results to the floss mod, not strictly a "lubrication" concept to reduce friction.

I have never lubed anything on buckling springs except for greasing the wire stabilizer clips.

When I get a buckling spring keyboard, I completely disassemble it and thoroughly clean everything, including barrels and sometimes (but rarely) even the spring hammers.

My strong guess is that you have a dirt or corrosion issue.
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Offline ibell7945

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 08:44:30 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Tue, 14 January 2014, 16:44:21
The grease mod that Captain Bad Ass referred you to is a noise-reduction scheme with similar results to the floss mod, not strictly a "lubrication" concept to reduce friction.

I have never lubed anything on buckling springs except for greasing the wire stabilizer clips.

When I get a buckling spring keyboard, I completely disassemble it and thoroughly clean everything, including barrels and sometimes (but rarely) even the spring hammers.

My strong guess is that you have a dirt or corrosion issue.

Yes, upon further inspection it seems to be an issue with dirt. I don't think I have a corrosion issue because it seems that the barrels are plastic.
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IBM 122 Key Model M

Offline fohat.digs

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 10:40:55 »
Quote from: ibell7945 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 08:44:30
I don't think I have a corrosion issue because it seems that the barrels are plastic.

I have seen springs rust, especially near the bottom. The barrels (aka chimneys) are always plastic, but on the F they are individual and mount into a steel plate.
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"Starting in 2011, the deficits again started to shrink. During Obama’s term  the deficit was reduced by $900 Billion  before finally in 2015 the GOP managed to wrangle a “reconciliation” bill out of Obama where he again cut corporate taxes, as well as made permanent some of George W. Bush’s original tax cuts. This is the year everything reversed. Before this, under Clinton, Bush and Obama the deficit in almost every year was gradually decreasing. The balance we had of taxes and the economy was bringing the deficit down, the money coming in was slowly catching up with the money going out until 2015. Trump’s subsequent tax cut has continued the new trend even after the rest of Bush’s cuts have since expired. Obama had an average GDP of 2.3%, with 11.6 million jobs created and unemployment peaking at 10% in 2009, then falling to 4.3% in 2016. If we had continued on that downward deficit track, we would have again reached balance and another surplus in 2017-2018.
– Frank V Walton 2025-07-01

Offline E TwentyNine

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Re: BS boards and lubrication
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 15 January 2014, 12:31:53 »
Quote from: fohat.digs on Wed, 15 January 2014, 10:40:55
Quote from: ibell7945 on Wed, 15 January 2014, 08:44:30
I don't think I have a corrosion issue because it seems that the barrels are plastic.

I have seen springs rust, especially near the bottom. The barrels (aka chimneys) are always plastic, but on the F they are individual and mount into a steel plate.

I have an M with a few rusted springs that I need to change out.  Surprisingly enough, the keys do not feel that much different...
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Daily driver: SSK or Tenkeyless IBM AT
1984 Model M Industrial Prototype ⌨ 1992 Black Oval Industrial SSK ⌨ 1982 5251 Beam Spring ⌨ 89 Key "SSK" ⌨ M13 triplets
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