[sdiy] Gold Plated Key Contact Tip

[Keith Winstanley]

Had a look at the SX2000 I just acquired and although it makes noise
it is bad noise. Looking at the spring and bar key contacts they look
pretty black - a cleaning job I usually hate.

I took out the keyboard PCB completely and sucked the solder connecting
the bar to the PCB and slid the bar carefully out of its supports.

I was expecting the whole lot to be full of WD40 residue so I gave it
all a careful wipe down with a solvent. To clean up the bars and springs
I used "Goddard's Silver Dip", sorry I dont know any non UK
equivalents but its the clear sulphur smelling liquid used to remove tarnish
from silver items - dip in and the tarnish is gone! I know that it will also
remove tarnish from gold so I soaked a tissue in the stuff and carefully
rubbed the bar lightly up and down and all the tarnish turned to a lovely
'new looking' gold colour. (Use gloves, I am sure its not good for your hands)
The springs were a little more difficult. I wiped across them all one at
a time from one end to the other, soaked a new tissue and did the same
again spending more time on more stubborn areas. When it was all
gleaming gold I washed the springs and board down very well with warm
running water, dried it off with kitchen towel and left it to thoroughly dry.
Then I carefully inserted the board back into its supports being careful not
to bend it and soldered it back in place.

The result I have a key contact assembly that look brand new,
and importantly, no damage to the gold plate.
Not tested yet but I know it will be perfect.

Hope this helps someone

cheers..


Keith

http://home.freeuk.net/lowpass