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  • compressed air - keyboard

    From Alan Browne@bitbucket@blackhole.com to comp.sys.mac.system on Friday, October 18, 2024 14:42:36
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system


    About 2 weeks ago, the spacebar on my keyboard (Mac Magic Keyboard)
    began causing me heck: to whit: the right most portion of the keyboard
    didn't respond to my usual amount of pressure. Either needed a touch (a teensy touch) more pressure or that my right thumb hit further to the left.

    When one types a lot (and I do) the 'muscle memory' is important - but
    also hard to re-train.

    I gave up and started a warranty return with Apple via their chat
    service. They agreed to replace the keyboard but suggested I give it an
    air blast first. OK.

    Should I remove the key? No.

    Of course I didn't have a can lying around - last used such probably a
    year ago and I didn't replace it.

    So ordered a can. With the thin tube attached, blasted it in the gap
    around the rightmost cm or so. Two rounds.

    Instant improvement. Back to normal.

    Basics often reward.
    --
    "It would be a measureless disaster if Russian barbarism overlaid
    the culture and independence of the ancient States of Europe."
    Winston Churchill
    --- Synchronet 3.21e-Win32 NewsLink 1.2
  • From Jolly Roger@jollyroger@pobox.com to comp.sys.mac.system on Friday, October 18, 2024 20:31:24
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

    On 2024-10-18, Alan Browne <bitbucket@blackhole.com> wrote:

    About 2 weeks ago, the spacebar on my keyboard (Mac Magic Keyboard)
    began causing me heck: to whit: the right most portion of the keyboard didn't respond to my usual amount of pressure. Either needed a touch (a teensy touch) more pressure or that my right thumb hit further to the left.

    When one types a lot (and I do) the 'muscle memory' is important - but
    also hard to re-train.

    I gave up and started a warranty return with Apple via their chat
    service. They agreed to replace the keyboard but suggested I give it an
    air blast first. OK.

    Should I remove the key? No.

    Of course I didn't have a can lying around - last used such probably a
    year ago and I didn't replace it.

    So ordered a can. With the thin tube attached, blasted it in the gap
    around the rightmost cm or so. Two rounds.

    Instant improvement. Back to normal.

    Basics often reward.

    That's a good tip.

    I regularly turn my keyboards upside down while wiping the keys with a
    damp microfiber towel, and haven't had such issues (knock on wood), but
    if I ever do, I'll definitely try this first.
    --
    E-mail sent to this address may be devoured by my ravenous SPAM filter.
    I often ignore posts from Google. Use a real news client instead.

    JR
    --- Synchronet 3.21e-Win32 NewsLink 1.2
  • From J Burns@burns@nospam.com to comp.sys.mac.system on Friday, November 01, 2024 21:52:16
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

    On 10/18/24 4:31 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
    On 2024-10-18, Alan Browne <bitbucket@blackhole.com> wrote:

    About 2 weeks ago, the spacebar on my keyboard (Mac Magic Keyboard)
    began causing me heck: to whit: the right most portion of the keyboard
    didn't respond to my usual amount of pressure. Either needed a touch (a
    teensy touch) more pressure or that my right thumb hit further to the left. >>
    When one types a lot (and I do) the 'muscle memory' is important - but
    also hard to re-train.

    I gave up and started a warranty return with Apple via their chat
    service. They agreed to replace the keyboard but suggested I give it an
    air blast first. OK.

    Should I remove the key? No.

    Of course I didn't have a can lying around - last used such probably a
    year ago and I didn't replace it.

    So ordered a can. With the thin tube attached, blasted it in the gap
    around the rightmost cm or so. Two rounds.

    Instant improvement. Back to normal.

    Basics often reward.

    That's a good tip.

    I regularly turn my keyboards upside down while wiping the keys with a
    damp microfiber towel, and haven't had such issues (knock on wood), but
    if I ever do, I'll definitely try this first.
    I keep a rechargeable vac handy. In suction, charge, and dust capacity
    it's no good for housecleaning, but it's perfect for cleaning my desk
    and keyboard. First, I'll invert a keyboard and tap it on the desk to
    knock debris loose.

    I keep needlenose tweezers to pluck stuff from between keys. If
    necessary, I can take a keyboard to the garage for a shot of air from a compressor tank. The compressor will deliver a greater volume than a
    can. I can regulate the pressure, and the 25-foot hose lets the air warm
    to ambient temperature.

    I used to pop off key caps to reveal debris. I don't recall keyboard
    trouble in the 20th Century. IIRC, Apple keyboards were mechanical then.


    Six months ago I bought a mechanical keyboard. No more trouble! There
    seems to be 6mm or clearance below the key caps.
    --- Synchronet 3.21e-Win32 NewsLink 1.2
  • From J Burns@burns@nospam.com to comp.sys.mac.system on Friday, November 01, 2024 21:58:23
    From Newsgroup: comp.sys.mac.system

    On 10/18/24 4:31 PM, Jolly Roger wrote:
    On 2024-10-18, Alan Browne <bitbucket@blackhole.com> wrote:

    About 2 weeks ago, the spacebar on my keyboard (Mac Magic Keyboard)
    began causing me heck: to whit: the right most portion of the keyboard
    didn't respond to my usual amount of pressure. Either needed a touch (a
    teensy touch) more pressure or that my right thumb hit further to the left. >>
    When one types a lot (and I do) the 'muscle memory' is important - but
    also hard to re-train.

    I gave up and started a warranty return with Apple via their chat
    service. They agreed to replace the keyboard but suggested I give it an
    air blast first. OK.

    Should I remove the key? No.

    Of course I didn't have a can lying around - last used such probably a
    year ago and I didn't replace it.

    So ordered a can. With the thin tube attached, blasted it in the gap
    around the rightmost cm or so. Two rounds.

    Instant improvement. Back to normal.

    Basics often reward.

    That's a good tip.

    I regularly turn my keyboards upside down while wiping the keys with a
    damp microfiber towel, and haven't had such issues (knock on wood), but
    if I ever do, I'll definitely try this first.


    I keep a rechargeable vac handy. In suction, charge, and dust capacity
    it's no good for housecleaning, but it's perfect for cleaning my desk
    and keyboard. First, I'll invert a keyboard and tap it on the desk to
    knock debris loose.

    I keep needlenose tweezers to pluck stuff from between keys. If
    necessary, I can take a keyboard to the garage for a shot of air from a compressor tank. The compressor will deliver a greater volume than a
    can. I can regulate the pressure, and the 25-foot hose lets the air warm
    to ambient temperature.

    I used to pop off key caps to reveal debris. I don't recall keyboard
    trouble in the 20th Century. IIRC, Apple keyboards were mechanical then.


    Six months ago I bought a mechanical keyboard. No more trouble! There
    seems to be 6mm of clearance below the key caps.
    --- Synchronet 3.21e-Win32 NewsLink 1.2