IBM Model F AT restoration

snacksthecat · 03 Dec 2018, 04:10

//gainsborough · 03 Dec 2018, 04:13

Time for a classic snacks resto project, I'm thinking!

Should go all out with alt + ANSI mod!

Darkshado · 03 Dec 2018, 05:22

Interesting stickers on it, the one with the faded red "WARNING" text also reads: "BOEING LIMITED PROPRIETARY information must be properly controlled."

snacksthecat · 15 Dec 2018, 05:35

I got all the stickers off and the top case cleaned up super nice.

The feet were a little bit yellow so I decided to put them in some peroxide. We'll see if those can be restored as well.

snacksthecat · 16 Dec 2018, 04:40

The feet brightened up a little bit. The color at least looks less ancient now.

The foam on the keyboard has turned to sticky mush. It was a pain to get all the remnants off of the barrels. That stuff likes to stick to everything.

Anyone know where I can get some good replacement foam?

__red__ · 16 Dec 2018, 17:27

Hobby Lobby and its ilk

Engicoder · 17 Dec 2018, 00:21

This thread covers the various options people use
keyboards-f2/replacement-foam-mat-for-i ... t8033.html
and this one from GH
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58814.0

snot · 17 Dec 2018, 07:21

I used the standard craft foam they got at Micheal's although it was very difficult compressing it enough to slide the plates back together.

fohat · 18 Dec 2018, 00:22

snacksthecat wrote: ↑
The foam on the keyboard has turned to sticky mush. It was a pain to get all the remnants off of the barrels.

Anyone know where I can get some good replacement foam?

Usually it gets sticky on one side and turns to grit on the other. A few hours or overnight soak in water or soapy water loosens it up considerably.

John Doe · 18 Dec 2018, 10:05

Nice work again. Any mod plan?

snacksthecat · 21 Dec 2018, 06:17

fohat · 21 Dec 2018, 14:53

Whoa!

That mat looks very thick and stiff.

Engicoder · 21 Dec 2018, 19:39

fohat wrote: ↑Whoa!

That mat looks very thick and stiff.

Will it squish?

snacksthecat · 22 Dec 2018, 01:38

Engicoder wrote: ↑
fohat wrote: ↑Whoa!

That mat looks very thick and stiff.
Will it squish?

Yeah, most people make the mistake of going with civilian grade off-the-shelf foam. I went with the military spec tactical foam.

snacksthecat · 23 Dec 2018, 05:53

All cleaned up. I didn't consider doing any mods for this. Should I reconsider?

fohat · 23 Dec 2018, 15:32

ANSI Enter and 2x Backspace are essential to me.

Adding Alts requires Dremel work but moves it into the modern world.

Beautiful work, by the way.

Engicoder · 24 Dec 2018, 05:16

Looks great! I agree with fohat, the ANSI enter/backslash and backspace mod is well worth doing for the 2u backspace and does not require any non reversible modifications.

Darkshado · 24 Dec 2018, 06:33

Regarding the addition of Alt keys, the Dremel work can also be done on the caps instead of the case. I'd have to double check, but using 1.25 ISO left shift sized keys might also fit decently and wouldn't require any changes to the case or caps.