Washable Keyboard and Replacing a Laptop Keyboard

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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:19 pm

Today I found the perfect keyboard that can take the abuse in the form of spilling beverages. we dole out to our keyboards when reading others baits, etc.

Logitech makes a washable keyboard. Y'all may have know about it before, but it is the first time in our market area. It is supposed to be safe in water up to 12 inches (or 30 cm) and has holes in the back for draining.

As for the monitors getting spewed with cold (or hot) beverages, maybe one can put some Saran Wrap or Press N Seal over the monitor.

Baiting Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 12237

I like clean keyboards and you can pick up used ones for next to nothing. I have done some research on cleaning keyboards in the dishwasher and have had about an 80% success rate.

Best results: Put on top shelf (no soap), face down. After the wash shake vigorously and blow out remaining water with an air compressor. Let dry for at least 3 days (preferably in the sunshine, and occasionally rotate from side to side and face down).

I have also used soap (for really dirty ones), but washed it for a second time without soap to completely rinse it out, with great success. PS/2 connectors seem to have a greater success rate than usb connectors. I'm forming a theory as we speak.

I wouldn't do this with a Model M. (I wish I had one, I loved those things)

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 2:08 pm

One of my problems with keyboards is the letters wearing off.

Sometimes I use a white marker and re-letter the keys.

This new keyboard states the key letter characters are laser printed and UV coated to ensure the letters don't fade and wear off. They also state that the keys are durable up to 5 million keystrokes and promise "quiet" keys

I really don't need the letters except when carefully trying to enter passwords and with no visible letters it can get a little dicey.

Keyboards only last me about 3 to 6 months because of the amount of use. We will see about this "special" keyboard.

****

One of my doctors uses one of those roll up keyboards, which are also completely washable.

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 4:51 pm

You can get splashproof monitors for industrial applications. These are for machine control applications such as CNC lathes, milling machines and such like. Many of them are touchscreens these days. These could eventually pay for themselves if you spend more than about eight hours a day baiting.
My main problem with washing Keyboards is that moisture gets into the two contact films that form the switches. Equally if coffee gets in there it leaves a layer like varnish which prevents contact being made and disables the key. So the last time I washed a keyboard I dismantled it completely. It was a long job but ultimately it was successful and I got about five years out of that keyboard.

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 5:41 pm

Should I have to wash the new keyboard, I will report back on it - a consumer report so the speak. I don't seem to spill coffee on the keyboards -- just cold beverages and the letters wearing off. When one types about 100 wpm it wears the character letters off pretty fast.

Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:17 pm

I have been washing electronic gear for the past 48 years with about 98% success rate. I use ispropyl alcohol to chase the last few drops out. Best success was a tv that was thrown through a window at the husband. It missed him and landed in deep mud outside the house. It was given to me for parts and after a wash out with clean water and a week drying, I sold it for a good profit to the woman who threw it in the first place! She thought it was a new one....... Very Happy

I wish I could type at 100wpm. My two fingers keep tripping over each other..

Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2012 10:00 pm

I have one of the roll-up washable ones. It's completely enclosed/rubberized, nothing for anything to spill into. Perfect for reading baits LMAO.

Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 4:52 am

Morgain Le Fay wrote:

One of my problems with keyboards is the letters wearing off.

The M and N keys always fade out on me within a year. The rest are as good as new. It doesn't bother me because I learned to type on an Underwood manual with caps on all of the keys.

Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 12:21 pm

I learned to type on a manual typewriter also. Our typing class in high school only had 2 new electric typewriters. I don't use the hunt n peck method of typing so do know where the keys are, however, I have complicated, long passwords on my online accounts and do need to look to see what I am doing.

Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 3:12 pm

I ahve been using an iPad as well to read the site - very good and nice to repsond to the lads wherever I can find a Wifi signal.

I have a 2 year Applecare - so I should be able to take some spit-take abuse Laughing

Posted: Fri Nov 09, 2012 2:45 pm

How to replace a laptop keyboard.

http://www.saving4six.com/2012/10/is-your-keyboard-gooey-and-grimy.html

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