IBM Model F XT restoration
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- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F XT
- DT Pro Member: -
There was that guy in Germany on E-Bay selling this as "I don't know what it is and I don't know anything about computers". So I got the set for around 50 Euro with postage back to the UK. What it appears, is brand new spare IBM Model F parts. Almost entire keyboard without keys, springs and hammers. Everything looks pristine. Parts have no marks of any use on them. Just dust and old dirt. Now, is anyone selling a dead XT F or its parts?
Last edited by tatsurou on 27 May 2018, 20:26, edited 2 times in total.
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- Location: Des Moines / Cedar Falls, IA, USA
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F107
- DT Pro Member: 0190
Hmm, iteresting find indeed. If I had to guess, I'd say someone harvested the hammers/springs, then recycled it. I'll be selling lots of XT parts starting tomorrow. Keycap sets for $25 and hammer/spring sets for $65. May be cheaper to just buy a different XT though, but shipping will definitely cost less to get just the parts you need
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Dang, I'd say try and find a donor unit in poor cosmetic condition if you can without spending a lot, otherwise you might have more into it than buying a complete unit.
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
Well that's up to you. My opinion is keep or sell as is, no need to refurbish. I like the bigfoot better.tatsurou wrote: ↑I found a Bigfoot Model F instead. Do you guys think it's okay to butcher it or is it better to just refurbish and sell it as it is?
- JP!
- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: Currently a Model M
- Main mouse: Steel Series Sensei
- Favorite switch: Beam Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0194
- Contact:
The internals of the bigfoot are the same dimensions so it would a drop in replacement. You just would need a Teensy or ProMicro to convert it.tatsurou wrote: ↑Bigfoot is too big for me really. Also I like modest and minimalist XT look. AT looks better imo, but I went for the build quality this time. I will keep looking
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- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F XT
- DT Pro Member: -
Might do that! Found some other ones with more suitable layout than a terminal one. I just started refurbishing it properly. The IBM badge has even a protective foil on it still! Gonna get the keys soon. And thus, pictures to be posted shortly!
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- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F XT
- DT Pro Member: -
Time to work! Everything has been cleaned thoroughly:
Plate cleaned and will be thinly painted to prevent rusting:
Board needed only wiping. It's pristine. Also logo still has a protective foil over it:
Back plate:
Space bar is the only key I had:
Cleaned body looks absolutely beautiful and is spotless:
Key bearings(is that how you call them?) rinsed out of ages old dust:
Cleaned the wire too:
I didn't need a bed anyway:
Now I'm away to get some machine oil for the springs bathing, gotta find some mat material too as the one has deteriorated. Also gonna get some primer and paint to make it look just right.
That is gonna be a nice daily driver I think
Plate cleaned and will be thinly painted to prevent rusting:
Board needed only wiping. It's pristine. Also logo still has a protective foil over it:
Back plate:
Space bar is the only key I had:
Cleaned body looks absolutely beautiful and is spotless:
Key bearings(is that how you call them?) rinsed out of ages old dust:
Cleaned the wire too:
I didn't need a bed anyway:
Now I'm away to get some machine oil for the springs bathing, gotta find some mat material too as the one has deteriorated. Also gonna get some primer and paint to make it look just right.
That is gonna be a nice daily driver I think
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
Really good job on the cleaning!
If you do transplant the innards of a bigfoot onto the empty body that is currently this XT, would the resulting keyboard become a "smallfoot"?
If you do transplant the innards of a bigfoot onto the empty body that is currently this XT, would the resulting keyboard become a "smallfoot"?
- depletedvespene
- Location: Chile
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F122
- Main mouse: Logitech G700s
- Favorite switch: buckling spring
- DT Pro Member: 0224
- Contact:
Oh... we could trade 'em...
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- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F XT
- DT Pro Member: -
More hnnngg for you - board thinly coated with a primer and three layers of black Toyota Astral Black body colour. Once it dries out, I will sand it down to make it even and smooth and then thinly spray-coat it with non-horribly-glossy black colour. Everything is super thin as I want to preserve as much of the original pingy sound as I can.
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- Location: Seville, Spain
- Main keyboard: SSK,Novatouch
- Main mouse: Logitech M510, Slimblade
- Favorite switch: blucking spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
I have a XT to clean too. Interested in the replacement for the mat.
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- Location: Seville, Spain
- Main keyboard: SSK,Novatouch
- Main mouse: Logitech M510, Slimblade
- Favorite switch: blucking spring
- DT Pro Member: -
- Contact:
Not for sell. To found a model F in Spain is difficult. I am going to repair it and use an internal converter.tatsurou wrote: ↑You willing to sell it?
- PlacaFromHell
- Location: Argentina
- Main keyboard: IBM 3101
- Main mouse: Optical piece of shit
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
Can you tell me how did you removed the badge? I need to swap mine and it's a nightmare made of glue.
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- Location: United States
- Main keyboard: IBM Model F XT
- DT Pro Member: -
Very hot (but not boiling hot) shower water and a little screwdriver to lift it slowly. Plenty of water and patience requiredPlacaFromHell wrote: ↑Can you tell me how did you removed the badge? I need to swap mine and it's a nightmare made of glue.
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
I use old-fashioned cigarette lighter fluid (naptha). Squirt a few drops into the depression where the badge sits and wait 10-20 seconds, then pry it up with a sharp blade. Work quickly and then quickly remove the naptha, which can damage plastic. I do it beside the kitchen sink, wipe up the adhesive residue with a paper towel, and then wash it in hot soapy water.
- PlacaFromHell
- Location: Argentina
- Main keyboard: IBM 3101
- Main mouse: Optical piece of shit
- Favorite switch: Beamspring
- DT Pro Member: -
[/quote]
I use old-fashioned cigarette lighter fluid (naptha). Squirt a few drops into the depression where the badge sits and wait 10-20 seconds, then pry it up with a sharp blade. Work quickly and then quickly remove the naptha, which can damage plastic. I do it beside the kitchen sink, wipe up the adhesive residue with a paper towel, and then wash it in hot soapy water.[/quote]
Thanks Fohat, my F XT loves you.
I use old-fashioned cigarette lighter fluid (naptha). Squirt a few drops into the depression where the badge sits and wait 10-20 seconds, then pry it up with a sharp blade. Work quickly and then quickly remove the naptha, which can damage plastic. I do it beside the kitchen sink, wipe up the adhesive residue with a paper towel, and then wash it in hot soapy water.[/quote]
Thanks Fohat, my F XT loves you.