11yr old working mechanical keyboard, improvements/suggesstions

[ankit_k]

I have a TVS Gold Mechanical that I had bought with my first ever computer in 2004. The quality of the keyboard is so good that its been working for over a decade now. That computer has undergone many upgrade cycles, many membrane keyboards have come and gone, but this keyboard still remains unbeaten.

 

The only problem is that since with was a light coloured keyboard, it has caught a lot of stains over the years. Hence I want to take some efforts to make this keyboard look better again. 

 

I have never-ever done any such project before, and want tips/suggestions/guides from the LTT community.

 

- Can I paint this keyboard using something like a spray paint without damaging the keys and key switches?

 

- Replacing keycaps... Here in India, I do not see keycaps being available easily. There are a few Rosewll keycaps sold on amazon, but are priced far higher than what this keyboard costs now (Yes, these keyboards are still being sold). Can I clean these up to look as new, or is buying new keycaps the only option, any cheaper deals I could get?

 

I hope to make this project fun for myself but, I am not sure to what extent can this be stretched.

 

Thanks.

 

[C0LL0SS0S]

I wouldn't paint it since the Color is most likely to come off due to typing

[samcool55]

Maybe buy a broken mechanical keyboard somewhere and steal the keycaps from that?

[Xenift]

That thing is antique, i would leave it at that, maybe even frame it .

[desertcomputer]

I would clean up the keyboard and get new keycaps

[ankit_k]

Maybe buy a broken mechanical keyboard somewhere and steal the keycaps from that?

Thats a good idea. Thanks. Would be a little tough to find one, but surely worth trying

 

 

That thing is antique, i would leave it at that, maybe even frame it .

lol

[ankit_k]

I would clean up the keyboard and get new keycaps

With what cleaning solution could I get those stains off in the most effective way?

[desertcomputer]

With what cleaning solution could I get those stains off in the most effective way?

Try 99% alcohol isopropyl? and just replace keycaps. 

[pcnoob99]

I would restore it, and get some new keycaps.

[olbaze]

- Can I paint this keyboard using something like a spray paint without damaging the keys and key switches?

 

- Replacing keycaps... Here in India, I do not see keycaps being available easily. There are a few Rosewll keycaps sold on amazon, but are priced far higher than what this keyboard costs now (Yes, these keyboards are still being sold). Can I clean these up to look as new, or is buying new keycaps the only option, any cheaper deals I could get?

 

You should be able to paint it, but you should clean the keyboard before that, otherwise you're just painting the dirt. As long as you mask the keys properly so that you don't accidentally paint on them, it should be fine. Don't know what kind of paint you would use for it, though. Linus has plenty of videos where he has done custom paint jobs on various things, I would probably start there.

 

As for the keycaps, you can remove them and give them a thorough cleaning. I would probably go with a solution of water and dish soap and clean each key individually. After cleaning, you need to let the keys dry properly.

[ankit_k]

This what I have done to it as of now

 

- Opened up the keyboard as far as I could to get the dust out

- Spray painted the frame black

- Cleaned the keycaps with hydrogen-peroxide solution + sunlight, but could not get most the yellow off

 

Also the masking tape din't help much on the logo

 

Happy with this though!

[Wolf_Lbh]