My new(ish) HP-45

[teenix]

(01-13-2020 02:35 PM)rprosperi Wrote:  Nice restoration Tony!

I've picked up a couple 45's myself on the Bay in recent years ($25-30/ea, they are plentiful) and though both are fully working they need serious keyboard cleaning. This great post has motivated me to pull them out and get them into the project queue. I've held off since I didn't want to spoil the rear labels, but this nice job shows that it can be done w/o resulting in the oft-seen 'folded corners' syndrome.

Thanks for sharing this motivational post.

I don't know if it has been mentioned before, (most likely has), but I am careful not to bend the label, resulting in a crease, just gently tease it up.

On replacement, I rub it down with light finger pressure trying not to push the label into the screw hole.

Then to finish, place some paper, like a post-it note, over the label and a bit of the surrounding plastic.

I then use the 1" wide flat end of a steel ruler angled at 45 degrees or so, and drag it over the paper with a little pressure towards the corner of the label. The point contact from the ruler edge seems to iron out any small creases and ripples. The tiny step in the plastic label area serves as a guide to drag the ruler along.

The ruler cannot have any damaged edges or razor sharp corners or you risk scoring the label and ripping the paper. Fine emery paper could take the edge off it.

cheers

Tony