HP Forum Archive 19

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Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #1 Posted by Michael de Estrada on 11 Sept 2009, 1:39 p.m. I just acquired a functionally perfect HP-27 Woodstock, which has one very annoying cosmetic flaw. The previous owner chose to engrave his last name into the bottom of the red transparent LED cover in the front of the calculator. I have a spare broken Woodstock with a clean cover, and wondered if it is possible to non-destructively remove its red LED cover and re-implant it in the good calculator. I have done this with several Spice calculators, which have LED covers that are simply snapped in place, and are easily removed. However, from what I can tell the Woodstock cover is not removable without being damaged. Perhaps one of you knows otherwise? Thanks, Michael

Re: Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #2 Posted by Dallas Osborne on 11 Sept 2009, 2:57 p.m., in response to message #1 by Michael de Estrada http://www.hpmuseum.org/20intern.jpg From what it looks like, you will be able to push from the front once you open the calculator. I would separate the back by taking off the rubber feet and gently unscrewing the screws underneath. The top will separate with a gentle tug and the bottom connection should lever out. Now I don't know what the cover is glued in with so you will have to play around a little. Sometimes you can heat it up (hair dryer or heat gun - be careful with a heat gun) and the adhesive will soften up.

Re: Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #3 Posted by Michael de Estrada on 11 Sept 2009, 4:48 p.m., in response to message #2 by Dallas Osborne Thanks, Dallas. I already know how to open these up, and in fact have done so many times, but it seems like the red LED cover is stuck on pretty good. I've tried gently prying to no avail. I tried a hair dryer like you said on the donor calculator and it separated on the bottom but didn't budge on the top, so I don't think this approach will work. Michael Edited: 11 Sept 2009, 4:58 p.m.

Re: Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #4 Posted by Dallas Osborne on 11 Sept 2009, 5:48 p.m., in response to message #3 by Michael de Estrada They may have used a cyanoacrylate type glue or epoxy-ish. It that is the case, you will have a much harder time and heat won't help a bit. I would recommend against the solvent route. Sorry, Mate; in your shoes, I would pull out a drill, jewelers saw, files, polishing files, lapping cloth, a hot glue gun, and some nice hard plastic. Acrylic is my favorite for this type of thing, but it can shatter if dropped. Making Frankenstein's monster look good is such a fun hobby.

Re: Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #5 Posted by Gordon Strickland on 11 Sept 2009, 6:34 p.m., in response to message #4 by Dallas Osborne "Debonders" are readily available for loosening cyanoacrylate glue, at many model hobby shops, for instance. Whether they would harm the surrounding plastic, I do not know. Epoxy glue would probably be a more difficult proposition.

Re: Woodstock LED Cover Replacement? Message #6 Posted by Dallas Osborne on 11 Sept 2009, 11:23 p.m., in response to message #5 by Gordon Strickland True and I haven't tested them on the various plastics. I had a bad experience with lacquer thinner when repairing a 41c and have stayed away from solvents. (I know, I know; that was more than dumb and resulted in my first screen transplant operation. I was clearing flux after solding the new LCD on and grabbed the thinner off my shelf instead of alcohol. It was very sad.)

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