Resto: Symbolics 364000 "dug up from ground"

snuci · 28 Aug 2020, 18:22

Well, I was the one who acquired the Symbolics 364000 (3600) from eBay recently. I thought it would make a good restoration project but let's see where I can get to this. To say these key switches are "scratchy" is an understatement as they are covered in sand. I am not even sure if these switches can be opened or properly cleaned. Any advise is appreciated.

They are Micro Switch SD series switches with most being of type 4B3E.

This will take me a while so these are the "before" pictures:

: Symbolics 3600 keyboard top; Symbolics3600before-top.jpg (451.95 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

: Keyboard rear; Symbolics3600before-rear.jpg (548.64 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

: Keyboard mechanism top; Symbolics3600before-mechanism.jpg (545.88 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

: Keyboard mechanism PCB; Symbolics3600before-pcb.jpg (710.61 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

: Keyboard condition; Symbolics3600before-key switches.jpg (603.03 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

: Micro Switch SD Series switch; Symbolics3600before-SDseries.jpg (475.65 KiB) Viewed 4200 times

Update: After desoldering all switches from the PCB. Ya, a little bit dusty there...

: Mud under switches.; Symbolics3600before-mud under switches.jpg (810.63 KiB) Viewed 4146 times

snuci · 28 Aug 2020, 18:22

The restoration continues.

The switch plate:

: Symbolics3600After-switch plate.jpg (301.57 KiB) Viewed 4065 times

First round of switches washed that are drying. They are a hell of a lot smoother as the odd one didn't even return when depressed before. I'll have to do this a couple more times. First round was water in an ultrasonic cleaner followed by a 99% alcohol bath to remove the water.

: Symbolics3600After-switches drying1.jpg (1.06 MiB) Viewed 4065 times

JP! · 28 Aug 2020, 19:04

Ah so you got the one that was buried in the ground and left to rot.

I think it might be easier to find a donor Micro Switch board and replace all the switches in this one.

Edit: If you can feasibly go through replacing switches just be mindful of using too much heat which could damage these switch sensors but shouldn't be too big of an issue with proper tools and technique.

Weezer · 28 Aug 2020, 19:09

All things considered, it looks better than I expected.

snuci · 28 Aug 2020, 22:28

Weezer wrote: 28 Aug 2020, 19:09 All things considered, it looks better than I expected.

Yes. While the switch plate looked rusty, it was actually red dirt/dust. The key switch mounting plate actually came out almost like new. The switches themselves will be a whole other matter.

: After switch plate; Symbolics3600After-switch plate.jpg (301.57 KiB) Viewed 4102 times

PlacaFromHell · 29 Aug 2020, 00:04

Oh man, that's such a nice keyboard, glad to see it in the correct hands. Would you mind take some pics from the side when you have it done?

snuci · 29 Aug 2020, 00:41

PlacaFromHell wrote: 29 Aug 2020, 00:04 Oh man, that's such a nice keyboard, glad to see it in the correct hands. Would you mind take some pics from the side when you have it done?

Will do. No problem.

snuci · 31 Aug 2020, 00:26

Done.

Looks and feels great considering what it looked like when I got it. I just wish I had the missing "ESCAPE" key but otherwise, I will try to convert it at some point but make sure it is reversible in case I find a Symbolics 3600 series computer to go with this. If anyone has the original keyboard cable they are not using, I'd love to buy it from you.

I took a picture of it next to an Apple M0110 Macintosh 128k keyboard as I always thought they might be sort of similar sizes but you can see the Symbolics keyboard is actually much bigger comparatively. The case is made out of a painted composite wood material, I think, which adds some weight to it as well. It's a well built keyboard.

: Symbolics3600After-internal1.jpg (928.07 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-internal.jpg (803.57 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-internal2.jpg (782.06 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-internal4.jpg (818.83 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-external0.jpg (735.7 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-external5.jpg (982.46 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-external6.jpg (974.55 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-external3.jpg (618.34 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

: Symbolics3600After-external1.jpg (711.65 KiB) Viewed 3956 times

PlacaFromHell · 31 Aug 2020, 00:37

Impressive! I didn't expected such a fast work, also it came out very clean. Thanks for the side picture, that curve is unique.

zrrion · 31 Aug 2020, 00:40

That is looking a lot better in such short order! glad this thing went to someone who is loving it

snuci · 31 Aug 2020, 00:50

PlacaFromHell wrote: 31 Aug 2020, 00:37 Impressive! I didn't expected such a fast work, also it came out very clean. Thanks for the side picture, that curve is unique.

Thanks. There were quite a few steps but I wanted to get this out of the way as I have a few other projects to get to. Thankfully I have a Hakko desoldering gun to remove the switches or it would have taken me forever AND I would have likely done damage. Worth every penny (picture attached for when I was restoring an Apple Lisa).

Spoiler:

It also took me a bit of time to wax cleaner for the oxidization and then put a finishing wax on the individual key caps. I also used the wax cleaner/wax on the exterior case.

zzxx53 · 31 Aug 2020, 16:40

Congrats on fixing such a rare find!

JP! · 31 Aug 2020, 17:44

Wow, now that's the way to do it.