Thinkpads Forum

I have an IBM usb trackpoint keyboard that I use a lot at work. Apparently the oils in my hands have been wearing off the finish, because there are a few spots where the nice matte finish is gone. This is particularly noticeable on the right side of the space bar.
I'm pretty sure this keyboard is beyond warranty, and I really do love using this keyboard - it has of course the fringe benefit of scaring other users away from my desk.
So I ask therefore if there is a way to fix this myself? I suspect others have encountered this problem as well. Could I either get replacement keys for it somewhere, or is there something I could refinish the space bar with?

Unfortunately, this is common problem on thinkpad keyboards once they start to wear out, it's called shiny keys/keyboard for that matter.

I don't think there is any fix, at least I haven't ever heard of one.

Actually, I should clarify that this is an external keyboard (an ultranav with the trackpoint and touchpad). The keyboard on my 6 year old R32 looks great - the ultranav keyboard that is barely a year or two old looks lousy.
I've tried looking into sources for replacement keys, but no luck so far. My main problem is the spacebar on the keyboard. I contacted one group through kijiji, but once the seller of laptop keyboard keys and I managed to complete a conversation, they decided they didn't have the key I needed.
Has anyone ever found replacement keys for an ultranav keyboard? Equally important, does anyone know how to remove the keys from one? I would be willing to experiment with the surface of the key myself if I could figure out how to safely remove it. I'm just not sure what is underneath it.
Kinda makes me want to switch back to my old M4 keyboard. I moved to an ultranav not because there was anything wrong with my M4, but because my coworkers complained that my typing was too loud on the M4 (the person I share my office with actually moved across the hall for a week in protest).

AFAIK, the manufacturers for external keyboards are the same as thinkpad’s.

There are many threads available on this forum explaining various key removal techniques, I suggest you to use the search feature too.

Here are few threads:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=20614

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=6748

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=26987

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=11920

Also, there are some sellers on ebay selling keys for thinkpad keyboards however I’ve never seen anyone sell them for external one. You may note that IBM/Lenovo has remained consistent with keyboard's key size/proportion on thinkpad/external keyboards; so chances are the keys for thinkpad's keyboard will fit the external counterpart too.

My current external keyboard is a Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard 4000. It must have pretty soft plastic in its keycaps because most of them are pretty shiny now. (I've been using it about 8 mo, I think.)

There is definitely a texture applied to the molds that made these keys. Pressure/rubbing from my fingers really seems to have polished them smooth.

Just for grins, I tried lightly sanding the spacebar with 600-grit aluminum oxide sandpaper. Definitely got rid of the shiny and feels nicer than the still-shiny keys. Looks awful until the dust is removed and finger oils start to fill in again to restore some of the gloss that exists even with non-shiny keys. Does not remotely match the original texture. But I think I like it better than shiny/slippery.

Of course, your results will probably vary with your keycap material, sanding technique, and personal sense of aesthetics.

ryengineer wrote:AFAIK, the manufacturers for external keyboards are the same as thinkpad’s.
<snip>You may note that IBM/Lenovo has remained consistent with keyboard's key size/proportion on thinkpad/external keyboards; so chances are the keys for thinkpad's keyboard will fit the external counterpart too.

Unfortunately not all use the same design. My IBM external keyboard FRU 02R0400 has a broken "Q" key. I purchased a used T41 keyboard FRU 08K4986 with some broken keys, only to find the mechanism under each key is different - and not compatible

HTH