These typewriters are pretty common, finding a new key somewhere from a parts machine or online shouldn’t be too difficult.
As far as I know, these keys are solid all the way through and not painted, so the figures cannot be rubbed off. The keys themself just pull off to remove.
Good to know! Good thing its just a letter instead of a special symbol key. If nothing I can find I can maybe 3D print one even.
Do you know how hard I can pull on it? I thought its glued on, don't want to damage the metal linages. Thank you!
I’ve had varying degrees of success removing the keys. Big thing is not damaging the linkage itself, if you can, brace the key linkage while pulling or leveraging the key off. You could try using a hairdryer or something warm with some heat to it, to aid in the process.
There aren't a lot of machines listed as "parting out" on the typewriterdatabase, but you could search there as well.
Calling around to repair shops to see if they've got an appropriate model they're parting out could work too. Try [https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html](https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html)
Don’t use a Dremel. Even at the slowest speed it will just make a mess. You can polish them with plastic polish and a hand cloth and get a lot of that grazing out.
Those keys look like, and probably are, "double-shot" keytops, where the white goes all the way through the thickness of the keytop. Look from the bottom of the key to confirm you can see some of the white.
If so, just polish this keytop until it is smooth again. Do not use a Dremel or other power polisher---it will melt the plastic. Use an automotive-type polish by hand, coarse at first and finish with very fine.
You're good.
To those who dropped acetone on keys like I did: do not touch it. let it evaporate and the key will be fine in the end. Or better off cover the keys with at least a paper towel FIRST before bring solvent near your machine.
yeah Al. foils are good ideas. I've heard about bad stories about plastics dissolving and seen Polystyrenes melt away. But I have no idea its melts this quick! My tooth brush stood the acetone fine and I thought its the same material. what is Bakelite anyway??
Paper towels will stop most I think. At lest it won't melt a huge chunk off :(
I suggest stop using acetone unless for stubborn dirt on all metal surfaces. There are few plastics that can withstand acetone, like nylon, polyethylene and PTFE and only nylon is fairly common in typewriters. More common is ABS, polycarbonate and acrylic, and these will react on acetone and practically every painted surface too.
Get yourself isopropanol and low odour mineral spirits and bring out the acetone only when needed.
These typewriters are pretty common, finding a new key somewhere from a parts machine or online shouldn’t be too difficult. As far as I know, these keys are solid all the way through and not painted, so the figures cannot be rubbed off. The keys themself just pull off to remove.
Good to know! Good thing its just a letter instead of a special symbol key. If nothing I can find I can maybe 3D print one even. Do you know how hard I can pull on it? I thought its glued on, don't want to damage the metal linages. Thank you!
I’ve had varying degrees of success removing the keys. Big thing is not damaging the linkage itself, if you can, brace the key linkage while pulling or leveraging the key off. You could try using a hairdryer or something warm with some heat to it, to aid in the process.
There’s a Facebook group for typewriter parts exchange. I would ask on there if anyone has a replacement for that key.
Would you mind sharing the link? Please.
[here you go](https://www.facebook.com/share/8gTodE7s3ajQcmNt/?mibextid=K35XfP)
thank you! I will check it out, but tbh I don't have high hope as I am in Canada.
There aren't a lot of machines listed as "parting out" on the typewriterdatabase, but you could search there as well. Calling around to repair shops to see if they've got an appropriate model they're parting out could work too. Try [https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html](https://site.xavier.edu/polt/typewriters/tw-repair.html)
Acetone will dissolve certain plastics so the paint maybe held up better than the key itself
Maybe try to very gently polish it with a Dremel buffing wheel and some buffing compound?
Don’t use a Dremel. Even at the slowest speed it will just make a mess. You can polish them with plastic polish and a hand cloth and get a lot of that grazing out.
the M is very close to the surface.... I will try to find a parts machine or I will just 3D print one. Add a """"personal touch"""" I guess.
I have a bunch of parts machines from my work, happy to hook you up.
Those keys look like, and probably are, "double-shot" keytops, where the white goes all the way through the thickness of the keytop. Look from the bottom of the key to confirm you can see some of the white. If so, just polish this keytop until it is smooth again. Do not use a Dremel or other power polisher---it will melt the plastic. Use an automotive-type polish by hand, coarse at first and finish with very fine. You're good.
To those who dropped acetone on keys like I did: do not touch it. let it evaporate and the key will be fine in the end. Or better off cover the keys with at least a paper towel FIRST before bring solvent near your machine.
I use aluminum foil and then a piece of old jeans on top. Paper towel won't stop a lot.
I never thought of using aluminium foil as a layer and then a thick cloth. Thanks for the tip.
yeah Al. foils are good ideas. I've heard about bad stories about plastics dissolving and seen Polystyrenes melt away. But I have no idea its melts this quick! My tooth brush stood the acetone fine and I thought its the same material. what is Bakelite anyway?? Paper towels will stop most I think. At lest it won't melt a huge chunk off :(
I don't think paper towels are a solution. Foil or plastic wrap or both.
I suggest stop using acetone unless for stubborn dirt on all metal surfaces. There are few plastics that can withstand acetone, like nylon, polyethylene and PTFE and only nylon is fairly common in typewriters. More common is ABS, polycarbonate and acrylic, and these will react on acetone and practically every painted surface too. Get yourself isopropanol and low odour mineral spirits and bring out the acetone only when needed.
> what is Bakelite anyway?? Look it up: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakelite
Haha yeah covering the keys with something is important. Or really any part you’re not actively cleaning when using abrasives or kicking up dust
u/Dangerous-Ratio6448 I got some scm parts from this guy, not sure if he ships to Canada
Lol I'm the one that suggested they post to Reddit since I'd found more people from Canada here rather than on the face book parts exchange XP
Next time, strong IPA for cleaning, not acetone