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Hints, Tips and Solutions (Do NOT post requests for help here) If you have any useful general hints and tips for vintage technology repair and restoration, please share them here. PLEASE DO NOT POST REQUESTS FOR HELP HERE! |
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22nd Apr 2020, 12:38 pm | #1 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 705
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Curly cable restoration
Hi all,
Today decided to dig out an old computer which surprisingly worked on bootup, however the curly keyboard cable was stretched and has lost it’s “memory”. Wrapped it around some dowel and immersed it into some boiling water. Going to let it cool and then will post the results later. Cheers, Kev |
22nd Apr 2020, 4:46 pm | #2 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 705
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Re: Curly cable restoration
...and the end result. The cable isn’t as springy as it would have been new but it’s a big improvement on how it was. Maybe another soak or direct heat from a hot air gun would improve it but I don’t want to take the risk as this keyboard is quite rare.
Kev |
22nd Apr 2020, 9:41 pm | #3 |
Hexode
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Magor, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK.
Posts: 436
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Re: Curly cable restoration
What sort of keyboard is that, I've a B&W IBM keyboard about 15+years, not sure, find the black is reall good on the eyes.
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Adapt, Improvise, Oh Bother..... |
22nd Apr 2020, 9:45 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK
Posts: 6,130
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Re: Curly cable restoration
Thanks for the tip. I might try it on a few telephone curly cords that have become rather out-of-shape.
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Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley) |
22nd Apr 2020, 10:23 pm | #5 |
Nonode
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 2,587
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Re: Curly cable restoration
I've done this a good few times with curly telephone cords. Never used dowels but just dropped the entire cord into a pan of boiling water for a couple minutes. Any kinks or twists need to be removed first by runnng the cord through finger and thumb with a tight grip. Seems brutal but has always been successful. Good opportunity to clean off accumulated grime before boiling as well. Cords come up like new.
Alan |
22nd Apr 2020, 10:25 pm | #6 | |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Edinburgh, UK.
Posts: 2,008
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Re: Curly cable restoration
Quote:
As a suggestion, a baked bean can cut down the middle should work OK. Al
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I won't tell you how I discovered that. |
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22nd Apr 2020, 10:52 pm | #7 |
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 705
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Re: Curly cable restoration
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22nd Apr 2020, 10:54 pm | #8 | ||
Heptode
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Liverpool, Merseyside, UK.
Posts: 705
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Re: Curly cable restoration
Quote:
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23rd Apr 2020, 12:53 am | #9 |
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2020
Location: Nijmegen, Netherlands
Posts: 142
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Re: Curly cable restoration
Rare thing that, A CDTV keyboard that hasn't had all it's keys pinched by a 1200 owner going through a goth phase. I wish it and you many years of safety.
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23rd Apr 2020, 1:37 pm | #10 |
Octode
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK.
Posts: 1,453
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Re: Curly cable restoration
I wrap telephone cords 'round a ½" steel bar with the idea that will hold heat and warm it up from the inside as well. I then pour a kettleful of boiling water over it before running it under the cold tap. It's also a good chance to clean the cord with a soapy nail-brush.
Pictures can be seen here. |