From: joe@user.com   
      
   I would NEVER EVER tell someone that hasn't done it to use a Q-Tip   
   to clean or lubricate an original type Model I keyboard with the metal   
   leaves.  The risk of damage is just too great.   
      
   Q-Tips have 'hairs' that can very easily catch on the metal fingers.   
   Once you bend them, forget it.  Someone who hasn't been 'in there'   
   just doesn't understand how careful you have to be around those   
   fingers.   
      
   If you want to clean the contacts, I always use a 'felt card' cut to strips   
   just over 1/8" wide.  I would carefully press them down between the   
   two sides of the contacts and then carefully wipe up and down.  If a   
   dry felt didn't do it, then use a felt dampened with alcohol.   
      
   As to the drives, if the drive has a 'spiral on a disk' to position the   
   head,   
   and the rail have a 'green appearance, they are 'Teflon' rails, and they   
   are best kept totally dry with no lubricant.  If you have the steel rails,   
   then a SLIGHT amount of silicon MAY be acceptable, but that's it.   
      
   Mike   
      
   "Computer News 80"  wrote in message   
   news:1157739864.347998.189430@d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com...   
   > After reviewing several questions about keyboard sticking keys we   
   > thought this might be of interest.   
   > After testing several lubricating methods we found that the best was a   
   > Silicone based lubricant made by Garcia for fishing reels. This does   
   > not conduct electricity. But it should be used with caution always   
   > using a Qtip dipped in the lubricant.   
   >   
   > For sticking keys used the Qtip to apply a thin coating on the Plunger   
   > of  the key cap if it is the type that has two half arrows.  For the   
   > keyboard that has the + plunger sticking out of the mechanical key   
   > under the key cap   
   > Never pour any into the mechanical key plunger key hole.   
   >   
   > Do not go beyond pulling off the key cap when fixing a sticking or   
   > non-working key.  If the keyboard is the sandwich type that uses a   
   > Mylar printed circuit sheet folded over it can not be repaired.   
   >   
   >  If is the type of keyboard that uses mechanical keys that are soldered   
   > it can be repaired by replacing the mechanical key contact block   
   > itself.   
   >   
   > We have repaired hundreds of key boards using this product without   
   > difficulty. It is also a good lubricate for disk drive rails that the   
   > read/write head travels on.  Over a period of time they become dry and   
   > gummy when not used, preventing the head to travel smoothly to properly   
   > read or write to a disk.   
   >   
   > This information has been also posted to our blog at   
   > http://cn80.blogspot.com   
   >   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)