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Well, as a continuation from this post - https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/risxc7/who_wants_to_buy_vintage_mx_blacks_for_only_10/ - originally from u/Angrymalayman, the keyboard PCBs arrived 14 days ago but only today I had time to touch one of them. Both PCBs are dated from 1992 in terms of production date. One of them is a Wyse.
From the original listing is easy to see that one had caps and other don't. The one that didn't had was the first I take on since it had marks of water damage and extensive rust, so it would be the one in worse condition regarding the switches (that turn to be exactly right later on). That PCB is the Wyse one.
Dust and tons of dirt. Well off to work.
PCB off and heck, that's a lot of rust. The left side on the first row and the numpad zone were the most affected.
Everything Off and the full plate was corroded around each switch. This keyboard was in contact with water/high humidity for a while, expected from a region like SEA were rain and high humidity is constant most of the year. Also as expected from a keyboard reclaimed from a recycling company, where the objective is not to save but destroy and make money with the material recycled.
So lets sort and electrically test each switch:
Without any cleaning, 88 are electrically working without any problem, only with minor oxidation in the leafs are in contact with the stem legs. 14 are damaged in the top housing, or missing a pin that corroded and dislodged after de-soldering, or have the stem broken or even are heavy oxidised.
I expect to be able to use some top housings on others that are working but have some heavy marks on them (cosmetic only) and save the heavy corroded ones and some of the missing pin ones by exchanging one part of the leaf system (all the missing pin ones are not on the part of the leaf that is actuated by the stem legs).
Finally here 2 pictures of how the 88 are in terms of internal and one heavy oxidised from the 14 set aside:
This one is one from the 88. I open 5 more randomly and all are like this in terms of oxidation.
Here's the heavy oxidised NOK.
All switches from the good lot will undergo a "beauty facelift" composed of 3 ultrasonic baths:
- One in cleaning agent, the same kind used to clean the disassembled parts of watch movements;
- Second one is distilled water to remove the cleaning element;
- Third one will be a longer inside a zip bag with 99% Isopropyl Alcohol to displace any water present.
It's inside a zip bag because you NEVER, BUT NEVER use Isopropyl Alcohol in a ultrasonic machine without mixing in water or other liquid to dilute it. There is the chance if used directly of causing a fire/explosion because of the vapours released, so when used pure it's always inside a closed zip bag to reduce the chance of any accident to happen.
Then every switch will be open in the end to check for any debris that may be inside.
Soon I will publish the part two when I de-solder the other keyboard that it is in a way better state than this one. No rust on the plate, no watermarks and except 2 switches with broken stems, all are in perfect condition because of being covered by keycaps.
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