IBM F XT 83 Foam

[hellothere]

Aaaaaaiiiiiaaagggghhhhhh!!!!

One of my current project keyboards is a Model F. I need to replace the foam. I read a couple of repair/restoration threads saying that 1.5mm art foam would be just fine. I forgot to bookmark that thread, so I searched for XT and foam today and found sizes that range from 1mm to 2.5mm. Is there any consensus as to the right size? The disintegrating foam on my XT looks like only a couple pieces of paper thick.

I do not have a model stamp or date stamp on my board. It has a silver IBM badge with "Personal Computer" on it and that's it.

[kelvinhall05]

I used 2mm foam and a 2mm punch for small hole, 1/2 inch punch for big hole.

[Fkazim]

I use 3mm foam and a leather hole punch to make the holes for the barrels for my Model F restorations with great results. Check out my video showing the sound with 3mm foam on my AT.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPbfjpYlUTk

[fohat]

I really like "art foam" from Michaels Art Supply. It is about 1.5mm (1/16") and just the right combination of firmness and compressiblity.

It is cheap, colorful, and made for scrapbooking so it is acid-free.