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Keyboard Restoration

2024-10-18

Retrobrighting the Keycaps

Keycaps were yellowed. Typical ABS plastic problem. Bromine flame retardant reacts with UV over the years, plastic turns yellow-brown.

The Hydrogen Peroxide Method

Fix is hydrogen peroxide. I used SalonCare 40 Volume Creme Developer from Sally Beauty Supply. About 12% hydrogen peroxide in a thick cream that clings to plastic. Basically retrobright in a bottle.

What You Need

Process

I went with the heat method. Heat replaces UV as the catalyst. More even results since everything is submerged, and you don’t need to wait for a sunny day.

  1. Remove all keycaps from the keyboard.
  2. Fill a pot with SalonCare 40 Volume Creme Developer and enough water to fully submerge the keycaps.
  3. Heat on the stove at low heat, use a thermometer and keep the temperature low. You want a gentle simmer, not a boil.
  4. Submerge the keycaps and let them cook. Check periodically, results are typically visible within 1-2 hours depending on the severity of yellowing.
  5. Remove and wash thoroughly in warm soapy water and allow to air dry before reinstalling.

TODO: Add before/after photos.

Keyboard Cable

Proprietary connector. Cable gets brittle with age and falls apart. Mine was damaged but still functional enough to tape up. Planning to custom coil a replacement at some point.

TODO: Add photo of the cable and connector.

Credits

Technique from The 8-Bit Guy (David Murray). His experiments showed heat works as a catalyst replacement for UV, more consistent and accessible.

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