Monterey k108 from hell

M9HM

09 Sep 2020, 19:31

Hi guys.
I got this today. It is a Monterey k108. I was hoping for Monterey switches, but they are Hua-Jie AK-CN2. (what do you guys think of them?)

The bad news is that someone probably spilled a coke over the keyboard, and some of the switches got transformed into linears!!! (my guess is that the syrup from the coke is keeping the clicky leaf from moving or something like that.

At the same time, one of the switches (arrow cluster left key) is desoldered and with one broken pin, so, probably that one is gone for good.

I will try to clean the board, although it has almost no dirt or dust inside. and I will try to open the switches and clean the mess.

What I dont like about the board is its construction, as it flexes like hell. I am thinking about doing something creative with it (like a wooden case or something like that and turn it into a custom profanity).

The thing is, I have like a thousand artsy projects (non keyboard related) a couple keyboard related projects and more work from my actual job than what I can manage right now, so, if there is someone that thinks they could use the board as it is for something, let me know down here.
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Weezer

09 Sep 2020, 20:19

Looks pretty clean for having come all the way up from Hell.

M9HM

09 Sep 2020, 20:26

Weezer wrote:
09 Sep 2020, 20:19
Looks pretty clean for having come all the way up from Hell.
Well, have you ever experienced a key that is not clicky, not linear, not tactile, but STICKY? in this board you have like 6 or 7 of those XD

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Weezer

09 Sep 2020, 20:56

Oh, no, that sounds like a pain in the rear for sure. I was just saying it looks pretty clean all things considered. I don't see any rust or dirt or anything. I think once you get the switches desoldered and cleaned and put back together it will be a nice keyboard.

M9HM

09 Sep 2020, 21:17

Yes, it seems like it. I can come up with a nice idea to turn it into something special, but if it happens it will take a couple months, because I'm drowning in work now.

That's why I said, if someone is interested and pays for shipping, they can be the one in charge of cleaning old soda from the switches XD

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hellothere

09 Sep 2020, 21:56

I was going to say that I'd happily take that off your hands, but I see you're in Spain, so that shipping would probably be fairly high to the US.

M9HM

09 Sep 2020, 22:20

hellothere wrote:
09 Sep 2020, 21:56
I was going to say that I'd happily take that off your hands, but I see you're in Spain, so that shipping would probably be fairly high to the US.
Yeah it would be kinda expensive, and my last shipping to the US (a painting for a friend) took forever to deliver with all the covid-19 situation.

Anyway, I could check if you want. Cheers!

M9HM

10 Sep 2020, 01:19

ntv242 wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 00:28
This is not even remotely close to “coming from hell”. You should have seen some of my recent purchases lol
Pictures please! It's always fun! :D

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Polecat

10 Sep 2020, 05:31

M9HM wrote:
09 Sep 2020, 19:31
Hi guys.
I got this today. It is a Monterey k108. I was hoping for Monterey switches, but they are Hua-Jie AK-CN2. (what do you guys think of them?)
Neat to see the "W" (Winkeys) version of the K108! I found a K104W a while back, also with Hua-Jie switches. In my experience these switches are ok when new, but they don't age well. I have a SIIG MiniTouch with these (well, three of them actually...) and after a couple years of light use several of the switches stopped working.

M9HM

10 Sep 2020, 09:49

Polecat wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 05:31
M9HM wrote:
09 Sep 2020, 19:31
Hi guys.
I got this today. It is a Monterey k108. I was hoping for Monterey switches, but they are Hua-Jie AK-CN2. (what do you guys think of them?)
Neat to see the "W" (Winkeys) version of the K108! I found a K104W a while back, also with Hua-Jie switches. In my experience these switches are ok when new, but they don't age well. I have a SIIG MiniTouch with these (well, three of them actually...) and after a couple years of light use several of the switches stopped working.

Well, I paid 3 bucks for it hoping for Montereys, its not the end of the world, I kinda like the feeling of the ones free of sticky coke, but they are a little scratchy, probably due to age.
The thing is that the k108 can have montereys, white alps or these ones, 2 out of 3 chances of really cool switches, so... thats my life. XD

M9HM

10 Sep 2020, 12:13

I think it is a great idea. Today or tomorrow I should receive my new IBM 5155 board, I hope I wont have to post it on that hypothetical new thread. XD

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hellothere

10 Sep 2020, 19:31

ntv242 wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 10:12
M9HM wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 01:19
ntv242 wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 00:28
This is not even remotely close to “coming from hell”. You should have seen some of my recent purchases lol
Pictures please! It's always fun! :D
As requested
Spoiler:
Image
Anyways, I think it would be fun too to start a thread about "pictures of your keyboards that went through hell (and hopefully back)". I think this is quite novel? And this specific community would have vast experience and pictures in this regards to share.
I +1 the thread.

BTW, are those supposed to be green Alps?

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hellothere

11 Sep 2020, 00:25

ntv242 wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 21:31
hellothere wrote:
10 Sep 2020, 19:31

I +1 the thread.

BTW, are those supposed to be green Alps?
they are :D
They seriously look grey on my monitor. I'm also surprised that, even though it looks like that KB was buried for 30 years, the remaining key caps look as good as they do.

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