Whoops I did it again HHKB Pro 1

cookie · 29 Nov 2013, 22:19

Hey there,
I got a HHKB Pro from 2005! I was tired of carrying my Pro2 around with me every day so I decided to get a used one and this one has some vintage charme and is in a ratherdirty condition.

Typing was quite neat but some keys are stumbling. Thok is nice but this baby needs some serious cleaning!

My plans on it are:
1: Disassambling DONE
2: Cleaning it up DONE
3: Do the Type-S MOD DONE See here: Ghetto-S
4: Lube everything! FAILED!
5: Reassamble it DONE

Edit (Will maybe do later):
6: Retrobrighting or repainting case
7: Sandblasting caps
8: Dyeing caps

This is the Keyboard as it came out of the Box, unfortunately the original box is missing:

This is a heavy used spacebar, all other keys are in a really nice condition:

Logo of the Pro1:

Side:

Caps removed:

Filthy:

Caps and stems plus cleaning tabs:

Inside:

Domes:

Springs:

Stems removed:

Drying:

002 · 30 Nov 2013, 01:38

Nice

Case looks like it would be good candidate for some retrobrighting.
Seems that the Topre model number for this one is NA0113...although that's a guess as there appear to be a lot of NA01xx numbers on your board. I'm not sure which one Topre use for the board in general but I suppose for their OEM boards it doesn't really matter. I'd like to know if there is a similar model number on the other HHKB PCBs.

dustinhxc · 30 Nov 2013, 04:49

Wow that's awesome. What's the pro 1 differences? I have a pro2 which I did the silence mod to and it looks the same. Sweet find

hasu · 30 Nov 2013, 06:49

Sweet. And that space bar! Beloved
I certainly prefer pro than pro2, it has no crappy hub! Minimal is beautiful.

ماء · 30 Nov 2013, 10:24

really nice cookie,i just know you have 3 i guess 2

dustinhxc wrote:Wow that's awesome. What's the pro 1 differences? I have a pro2 which I did the silence mod to and it looks the same. Sweet find

without usb port

cookie · 30 Nov 2013, 14:37

The keyboard is really nice actually but I fucked up the whole cleaning with some thick silicone lube.... man I am so mad at me right now and it is a pain to remove all the sticky parts and clean them up.

Pro1 and Pro2 are exactely the same, the Pro2 has an USB port on it.

@002 Such a number is on all parts, It's on both pbc on the top and bottom part of the housing

ماء wrote:really nice cookie,i just know you have 3 i guess 2
dustinhxc wrote:Wow that's awesome. What's the pro 1 differences? I have a pro2 which I did the silence mod to and it looks the same. Sweet find
without usb port

I currently have 2 HHKBs, sold all my other stuff dig into topre, never looked back

cookie · 30 Nov 2013, 19:17

I cleaned up the silicone lube mess, reassambled everything together and what can I say.
Man this keyboard is nice, I can not feel much difference to my Pro2 it is a bit stiffer, feels more like a 55g topre and I must say I like it

The Thok is nice, all keys are working perfektly this will be my dayli driver at work and the Pro2 will stay at home

As soon as I get the neccessary tools to do the Type - S Mod, I will start doing this

Pictures:

Reassambled after cleaning:

rindorbrot · 01 Dec 2013, 03:35

What is the difference between the 1 and the 2? The only obvious to me is the USB hub.

matt3o · 01 Dec 2013, 08:51

great work cookie. thanks for sharing!

that board screams for retr0bright though!

ماء · 01 Dec 2013, 09:05

need to formalin

for white permanent

Elrick · 01 Dec 2013, 11:26

matt3o wrote:great work cookie. thanks for sharing!

that board screams for retr0bright though!

No keep it original because I love the yellowish tint because it means that it stood the test of time and must therefore be celebrated and adored.

I never liked pristine white on keyboards, means it came out of a factory yesterday.......

cookie · 01 Dec 2013, 12:44

I think I will keep the keyboard how it is. I like the aged abs plastic

Elrick · 01 Dec 2013, 12:55

cookie wrote:I think I will keep the keyboard how it is. I like the aged abs plastic

Good choice

. I always liked old Model-M's that have that golden yellow hue that shows to the rest of the world that it was made a long time ago, when quality keyboards ruled the world.

matt3o · 01 Dec 2013, 13:28

oh c'mon admit it... you are just lazy

(kidding)

cookie · 01 Dec 2013, 13:31

Haha, actually I am

mj45 · 01 Dec 2013, 15:51

cookie wrote:The keyboard is really nice actually but I fucked up the whole cleaning with some thick silicone lube.... man I am so mad at me right now and it is a pain to remove all the sticky parts and clean them up.

Pro1 and Pro2 are exactely the same, the Pro2 has an USB port on it.

@002 Such a number is on all parts, It's on both pbc on the top and bottom part of the housing

ماء wrote:really nice cookie,i just know you have 3 i guess 2
dustinhxc wrote:Wow that's awesome. What's the pro 1 differences? I have a pro2 which I did the silence mod to and it looks the same. Sweet find
without usb port
I currently have 2 HHKBs, sold all my other stuff dig into topre, never looked back

Do you think its better off skipping the lube on HHKB's or using some other type than the lube you used?

cookie · 02 Dec 2013, 14:04

I prefere to use lube only on the stabilizers and not the stems, if they are scratchy, clean them if this doesn't help i'd use a lube with high viscosity and only a little bit of it... I used verry thick stuff.. was a bad idea and a waste of money

Scheider · 07 Dec 2013, 18:22

I've seen that here already http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=258988

ImClueless · 08 Dec 2013, 01:08

Silly question, but what are you soaking the keys in specifically?

cookie · 09 Dec 2013, 12:01

@Schneider: This is not what I have planned, those O rings are way to thick and will reduce travel to much. I got 0,5 mm thick silicone and a few punches. Pictures are comming soon.

@ImClueless: I used hot water and cleaning tabs for false teeth. Results are really nice!

fifkikker · 09 Dec 2013, 21:48

Very nice project, thanks for sharing. Do you prefer to use either one of your HHKB's ? Any difference in tactile or auditory feedback?

cookie · 10 Dec 2013, 10:51

Thank you!

They are a bit different, the Pro needs more force to press down than the Pro2, that results in a bit different sound and feel. The "Thok" on the Pro is a lot deeper. I already put the selfmade Orings into the Pro, I didn't noticed that much difference in travel than before (as I said, 0,5 mm silicone). It kinda feels lighter now what I like.

I will post pictures soon.

They keys are also a bit shiny, for a so heavy used keyboard from 2005 the shine is totally acceptable! But I will definately sandblast them and buy a replacement spacebar from EK soon.

dustinhxc · 23 Jul 2014, 06:22

I know this thread is old now but anyways. Since my last post. I sold my hhkb pro 2 and I had 45g and 55g in it before. I have a pro 1 coming this week, manufacture 2003! Stoked to restore it! 11 year old pro! I hope my 45g feel like 55g too. Also hope my thock is loud as well. Stoked to clean everything w denture tabs and then dental bands for the sliders, maybe lube. Can't decide to leave it yellow, retro brite it, or paint it and waterslide a new logo on it. Exciting!!!

cookie · 24 Jul 2014, 16:40

Congratulations!
A Pro1 is hard to find those days, they introduced it on may 2003 and discontinued 2006.
I made the mistake to dyesup the caps... it turned out okay but it isn't original anymore.

I planed to repaint the whole keyboard but I am hesitating a lot lately, becasue the yellowed look is like a nice patina.
It showes that the thing has done a lot of work... It gives it some kind of "elitist" look. Maybe I will change my mind again, time will show. It is my daily driver at work now and I am verry satisfyed with it.

What can I guarantee you is that the rubber gets stiffer over the years (Something I absolutely dislike) and it will feel like a 55g topre! Louder THOK etc. The good thing is that they stiffen up evenly!

I'd imediately trade the domes with newer once if I had the chance!

Eszett · 25 Jul 2014, 05:07

Hi cookie. What I haven’t understood yet is, what kind of problem you had with the lube? What exactly went wrong?

sth · 25 Jul 2014, 08:57

cookie wrote: Congratulations!
I planed to repaint the whole keyboard but I am hesitating a lot lately, becasue the yellowed look is like a nice patina.
It showes that the thing has done a lot of work... It gives it some kind of "elitist" look. Maybe I will change my mind again, time will show. It is my daily driver at work now and I am verry satisfyed with it.

i'm pretty fond of my yellowing pro1 as well!

we are the champions my friend

002 · 25 Jul 2014, 09:46

You guys are trendsetters...could there be a market for distressed HHKB's? Maybe someone will come up with Anter0Bright to speed up yellowing

HipsterPunks · 25 Jul 2014, 10:01

002 wrote: You guys are trendsetters...could there be a market for distressed HHKB's? Maybe someone will come up with Anter0Bright to speed up yellowing

Gonna start smoking and using my HHKB as an ash tray for that vintage yellow'd

002 · 25 Jul 2014, 10:07

If you get addicted, you can start selling the distressed boards to the hipster punks to support your habit. Distressed items are an expensive commodity these days. Check out these $500 dirty sneakers

Medowy · 25 Jul 2014, 10:40

002 wrote: If you get addicted, you can start selling the distressed boards to the hipster punks to support your habit. Distressed items are an expensive commodity these days. Check out these $500 dirty sneakers

...or you could save a few hundred dollars and make your own dirty sneakers!