First post, hi!
In my eagerness to complete a screw mod on my Model M SSK, I used entirely too large screws. As a result, well, it's perhaps easier to show you.
In case the photo isn't clear, the plate is bent upwards on either side of the screw holes, relative to how the keyboard would be when in use.
The end result is that I've got a few pairs of keys where the caps snag each other, making typing a nightmare and potentially causing both keys to press at once. I've contacted Unicomp and currently at least, they don't have any SSK barrel frames.
I've discussed it with my housemate and we've come up with a few possible solutions.
1. Drill extra holes into the dead space of the barrel plate and back plate and cut the mat and membranes to accommodate extra bolts to try and force the barrel plate back into shape. This seems like the trickiest approach, and was really just the first idea I had.
2. Cut away the damaged areas and fill them with some Humbrol model filler and clamp the barrel plate and back plate together whilst it dries, then redo the mod, possibly with bolts instead of screws.
3. Cut away the damaged areas and just use a bolt there instead of a screw. This really just occurred to me as I was typing the post and I'm not sure how much good it would even do.
4. Sand down the edges of the keycaps I've ordered from Unicomp to prevent the keys from snagging each other. This is almost certainly the easiest solution, but I'd much prefer to get the barrel plate closer to being straight, if possible.
I'm wondering what your opinions are? Anyone have any other suggestions or a similar experience?
And yeah, I know I'm a colossal idiot. Lessons learned and what have you.
Rescuing a Model M barrel plate from my botched screw mod
- Darkshado
- Location: Montréal, Québec, Canada
- Main keyboard: WASD V2 MX Clears (work); M, F, Matias, etc (home)
- Main mouse: Logitech G502 (work), G502 + CST L-Trac (home)
- Favorite switch: Buckling spring, SKCM Cream Dampened, MX Clear
- DT Pro Member: 0237
Regular barrel frame + an appropriate saw?
Otherwise straightening the frame and through bolts are probably your best bet.
Otherwise straightening the frame and through bolts are probably your best bet.
- hellothere
- Location: Mesa, AZ USA
- Main keyboard: Lots
- Main mouse: CST2545W-RC
- Favorite switch: TopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlpsHallEffectTopreAlps
How about e-mailing Unicomp to see if they have the exact part or you can get a 101 Model M barrel plate and cut it to fit? I'd also ask at clickykeyboards.com and modelfkeyboards.com. Might be a good idea to also check ebay and post a "wanted to buy" ad in the Marketplace here.
Thanks for the responses, peeps
I doubt that Model F have any in, since their own boards are so different and the Ms that they're selling are wow OMG prices. I must've beaten the rush when I picked this board up years ago. But yeah, I guess asking around is at least worth a go. I already had a ticket open with Unicomp and I'd seen someone else mention that they stock them, but I guess that time has passed. To be honest, I'm more interested in correcting my own work, since I'm the kind that just can't abide waste.hellothere wrote: ↑16 Sep 2020, 21:55How about e-mailing Unicomp to see if they have the exact part or you can get a 101 Model M barrel plate and cut it to fit? I'd also ask at clickykeyboards.com and modelfkeyboards.com. Might be a good idea to also check ebay and post a "wanted to buy" ad in the Marketplace here.
I'm embarrassed to say that cutting down a full size frame hadn't occurred to me. I'll see whether Unicomp can supply that. Do they have mounting holes in the same position? Also, by through bolts do you mean putting in extra holes in the dead space or trying to use the existing, gnarled up holes?
- inmbolmie
- Location: Spain
- Main keyboard: Model M SSK
- Main mouse: Some random Logitech
- Favorite switch: Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0230
- Contact:
Answered my own question in the end, and if my ancient pre-USB Unicomp is anything to go by, the mounting holes are identical Thanks peeps, this is almost certainly the route I'll be taking if I can source one, which seems likely.
- 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