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Keyboard springs

Posted: Mon Feb 29, 2016 7:00 am
by mrr19121970
RobertBe wrote:No, that VIC-20 needs case retro-brighting, and the keys need cleaning and re-springing.
I did a few keyboard teardowns at the weekend, and found out the hard way that treating rust on the keyboard springs with 25% acid vinegar is maybe not the best way to restore.

I am currently speaking to a 'spring manufacturer' in the far east, and hope that they now understand what I want. The order is submitted, and I am awaiting delivery.

Assuming the order gets executed correctly, I hope to be able to offer a full set of 'breadbin key springs' here on the forum. Is anyone interested? I don't plan to make a profit on this, just share the costs.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 12:55 pm
by mrr19121970
As promised, VIC20 spings are there. They look super.

Asking 15.70 euros for a set (64 keys + 1 space bar) including worldwide postage.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 6:09 pm
by eslapion
mrr19121970 wrote:I did a few keyboard teardowns at the weekend, and found out the hard way that treating rust on the keyboard springs with 25% acid vinegar is maybe not the best way to restore.
If you end the treatment there then I guess not. The acetic acid will cause damage.

However, if you wash away the acetic acid after the rust is gone by soaking the spring in pure alcohol and then lubricate the springs with sewing machine oil or another type of fine mineral oil such as WD-40 then you should be ok.

Make sure you let all the oil excess drip away before reinstalling them in your VIC-20/C64.

Having perfectly new springs is nonetheless fantastic. Did you advertise them on Amibay ?

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:13 pm
by mrr19121970
Yes. 2 sets already gone. I was fed up of paying 50ct each for "used" ones. Theses are less than 20ct each.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2016 12:45 am
by mrr19121970
The 2nd lot that I ordered arrived. @elaspion can vouch for me that they are good.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 5:36 am
by eslapion
mrr19121970 wrote:The 2nd lot that I ordered arrived. @eslapion can vouch for me that they are good.
They are!

As I noted elsewhere, these springs aren't just good for VIC-20 keyboard, they are also good for all C64 keyboards and C16 keyboards.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2016 6:30 am
by mrr19121970
This is true, but it seems interest dried up.

Re: Keyboard springs

Posted: Sun May 14, 2017 4:00 am
by mrr19121970
I still have a few sets left.

All BRAND NEW