Thinkpads Forum

I have an extra titanium Z61t lid that I would like to trade for one of the classic black rubberized ones.

This lid is in very good condition, though all of the clear coat has been washed off, so it has a smooth metal surface. There are a couple very small (1-2mm) nicks, but nothing noticeable.

I'm looking for the black rubberized lid in similar condition. No big scratches or scuffs that won't come out, but I don't mind some wear around the edges.

The titanium lid has the classic "IBM Thinkpad" logo and I'd like to get a black lid with the IBM logo as well, though I will consider one with the later "Thinkpad Z61" logo if no one offers an IBM one.

Looking for a straight swap of just the lid with no attached accessories.

Send PM! Thanks.

Are you sure any Z-series lids were rubberized? At the college where my wife works they had a bunch of various Z61s, and I only saw the black units with smooth and unpainted plastic lids. Like the R-series lids, if you have any of those.

What method did you use to remove the clear coat, btw? The clear coat is gone on one of the corners of my Z61 too, so I'm wondering if I should just leave it alone or try to remove the rest of the clear coat as well.

The only black Z61t I've ever seen in person did have a rubberized lid, so I know they made them. I'm not familiar with the R-series, but I take it they're just matte black plastic? Looking at the TAbook from that era, I see that the black Z61m, Z61e, and Z61p are listed with an ABS lid material just like the R60. The black Z61t is listed with a CFRP lid, so maybe this variation in the type of plastic also relates to the rubberized finish?

For the titanium lids, I'm definitely happier with the clear coat off. I just used a wet sponge and it all rubbed off cleanly with a little bit of pressure. I've seen other people recommend rubbing alcohol (isopropyl), but water worked perfectly for me. I don't remember the original finish well since it's been so long, but I think I even prefer it this way to what it was like new. It picks up smudges, but not nearly as bad as many other laptops I've seen.

You are in fact right, the Z61t has indeed a rubberized lid. I looked it up last night, and it came with both Titanium and rubberized black. The t-model is 14.1", so it's a different form factor than the other Z61 models. I couldn't understand why they made black lids with and without rubberized surface for one model, but the different form factor is probably the clue.

It was water that removed my clear coat too. I used a wet cloth to wipe clean what appeared to be a dirty, matte area, but instead the clear coat went away. Smudges and dirt is no big issue for this one, as this laptop is a collectible and is literally never used.

Once the clear coat is removed you'd literally have to handle it with gloves to prevent staining. If you have a friend in an autobody shop you could have it resprayed with a clear coat, but make sure it's one that can be removed without abrasives. To preserve your clearcoat I've used a liquid "wax as you dry" product, just spray some on a clean cloth and wipe down the lid and you will have a very thin wax coating to help protect it from environmental effects and fingerprints. I'm not sure if this is the best way to care for it, but it worked for me.

I've also found windex or another glass cleaner to be good for removing the factory clearcoat and rather than rubbing, let is soak in and don't try to remove it all at once, if you're patient you can remove it all over the course of a few days.

Your trade offer does sound fair, but between the shipping cost and the work involved I don't think I'd invest the time money and effort since I already have a couple nice titanium lid models, but I'm sure many members here would like to have a nice titanium lid.

As for the plastic vs rubberized plastic, the R61 also came both ways depending on the model. I'm not really a fan of the rubberized lids, the matt plastic seems much more durable and although I don't have them in front of me now, I do recall the 15.4" Z series is not rubberized but I think the 14.1 and 14" are.

It's also important to make sure the lids you are trading are 14.1" (uses 1280x800 or 1440x900 screen) not 14" (uses 1280x768 screen only). The lid and bezel are both different between these two options.