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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
What about refurbishing C64s?
Recently I acquired quite a stack of C64s in various conditions. Some work, but have a lot of yellowing, others work but lakc a SID chip or have broken ports and some don't even boot but do have an almost perfect housing.
I'm considering to refurbish those: take all the good parts and build a nice looking and working C64.
Anyone here done that before?
Any thoughts on the fact that the 'authenticity' of a refurbished machine is gone? |
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Radiant
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 639 |
I say fuck authenticity as long as it works as intended, but I'm certainly no collector. I'd prefer a 100% working, refurbished machine over a 99% working "authentic" one any day. |
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Twoflower
Registered: Jan 2002
Posts: 434 |
Agreed. Just make sure to match the right SID's to the right computers. I find it quite interesting to note down the numbers of the VIC+SID, boardtype, serialnumber and productionfacility before switching stuff, just in case. |
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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
Ah, good point, TwoFlower.
Thanks! |
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Master of Chaos
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 25 |
If these machines are not originally yours, who cares about 'authenticity'?
But if there is one which holds your memories, uhh, the motherboard, and of course the case shpuld not be replaced. Then i think, the SID should sound like the one you have heard the years before.
Other parts are exchangeable , i think .
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Style
Registered: Jun 2004
Posts: 498 |
Im forever refurbing stuff. At the moment Im refurbing an 8032. It will rock :)
Cleaning the c64 keyboard is the worst job. I pull them completely apart, clean everything part by part with metho, then put it all back again. Takes AGES, but is worth it cos usually they come up like new again.
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Radiant
Registered: Sep 2004
Posts: 639 |
I can only agree about cleaning the keyboard. I didn't take mine completely apart, but unscrewed it and cleaned it up as good as I could without removing the keys. The result: spacebar went from hammer-with-force-and-hope-for-the-best state into working-like-any-other-key state. |
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Mace
Registered: May 2002
Posts: 1799 |
Agreed about the 'original' machine.
It's holy! :-)
About cleaning the keyboard, I can advice to use 'green soap'. It's a soap based on vegetable oil and sodiumhydroxide without artificial odors. It smells a bit odd, but it's incredibly effective.
I pull off all the keys and throw them in hot water with a dash of green soap. Works like a charm, clean in just a few seconds.
The same water and soap can be used to clean the housing with a soft sponge.
Here's some results:
This is the keyboard of the C128 above, which I took apart completely (incl. desoldering):
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Devia
Registered: Oct 2004
Posts: 401 |
I clean C64 keyboards fully assembled simply by using regular dishwashing soap and a danish (scandinavian?) dishwashing brush with long horse hair. Then I flush it under a bit of pressure and hang it to dry. If the keys are crap, I take off the back plate and clean the underside of all the caps using isopropylalchohol.
For cleaning the cases I use something with a low PH value. (use gloves)
If the case is yellow from UV light, you can bleach it using hydrogenperoxide (40%)... but it has to soak in that shit for about 48 hours depending on the discoloration. Remember to remove any stickers and whatnots. ..oh and DON'T stick your fingers in that shit either! - flush with plenty of water afterwards.
I have had positive results with even bleeching keyboard caps without visibly damaging the black print. This was on some Amiga keyboard. Be carefull with this and test it thoroughly before risking bleeching the letters off ;-)
-remember those gloves!!
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dalezy
Registered: Apr 2002
Posts: 476 |
nice pics there, mace.
i did the same some years ago with an awfully molested c64 that is now the red one i have and use. gotta see if i find the pics somewhere in the folder-mess. |
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maestro
Registered: Mar 2004
Posts: 727 |
dalezy didnt know you where a smoggie!!! |
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