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Anyone ever repaired a beamspring keycap before?
Posted: 18 Jul 2017, 23:48
by just_add_coffee
I've got some ideas, but none of 'em are
good ideas.
Posted: 19 Jul 2017, 08:26
by DiodeHead
green stuff, what modelers use to sculp miniatures and such, take somo old keys you dont want and break them, then try to reapear them with the green stuff, also i heard bondo is also a good option for this kind of repairs.
hope it helps

Posted: 19 Jul 2017, 11:03
by Scottex
sweet jesus that plate looks SICK
As DiodeHead said, the modeling crap used for warhammer miniatures should work
Also you could buy a cheap ibm typewritter and replace the stem with a dremmel and some glue
Posted: 19 Jul 2017, 11:23
by MrDuul
How did you turn plate green?
Posted: 19 Jul 2017, 15:27
by just_add_coffee
I'm using green vinyl wrap for the plate there. But because the beamspring switches are so tall, once the case goes back on, it's almost impossible to see.
I've used Kato Polyclay before to make a replacement ear for a Model F leg and making a replacement for the missing keycap pieces is easy enough. It's strong stuff, but it's reliably securing it in position that I'm unsure about.
Maybe reinforcing the new piece with copious amounts epoxy behind it will suffice?
Posted: 20 Jul 2017, 17:04
by orihalcon
For the record, your spacebar is not broken. It is supposed to look like that on a displaywriter

Posted: 20 Jul 2017, 18:00
by MrDuul
just_add_coffee wrote: I'm using green vinyl wrap for the plate there. But because the beamspring switches are so tall, once the case goes back on, it's almost impossible to see.
I've used Kato Polyclay before to make a replacement ear for a Model F leg and making a replacement for the missing keycap pieces is easy enough. It's strong stuff, but it's reliably securing it in position that I'm unsure about.
Maybe reinforcing the new piece with copious amounts epoxy behind it will suffice?
Green vinyl, nice good idea!!!
Posted: 20 Jul 2017, 18:10
by just_add_coffee
orihalcon wrote: For the record, your spacebar is not broken. It is supposed to look like that on a displaywriter

Oh. Thanks!
I actually don't understand how this spacebar is supposed to work. The funky stabilizers didn't seem to exert any upward force and seemed otherwise unnecessary, so I left them off. That, and they were ugly, like that silly Caps Lock pusher-back-upper-rod.
Posted: 20 Jul 2017, 18:16
by just_add_coffee
MrDuul wrote:
Green vinyl, nice good idea!!!
It's pretty easy also.
But what isn't easy: Vinyl wrapping the case. I couldn't get it to adhere to the inside corners of the keywell, and it would loosen and interfere with the corner keys.
I was really hoping that I could vinyl wrap the case since I can't exactly match the case color, and it would make it all pretty without the permanence of paint.
Posted: 22 Jul 2017, 07:48
by orihalcon
just_add_coffee wrote: orihalcon wrote: For the record, your spacebar is not broken. It is supposed to look like that on a displaywriter

Oh. Thanks!
I actually don't understand how this spacebar is supposed to work. The funky stabilizers didn't seem to exert any upward force and seemed otherwise unnecessary, so I left them off. That, and they were ugly, like that silly Caps Lock pusher-back-upper-rod.
They basically are there for stabilization and alignment purposes, so I think you'll need to add those back on. Making a video on how to remove and reinstall the Displaywriter spacebar is on my to do list

Posted: 22 Jul 2017, 17:20
by just_add_coffee
orihalcon wrote: Making a video on how to remove and reinstall the Displaywriter spacebar is on my to do list

What a coincidence! Watching your video on removing and reinstalling the Displaywriter spacebar is on MY to do list.
