ea5f9f16   
   From: uhclemLOSE.jun08@nemesis.lonestar.org   
      
   Blake  Patterson  wrote:   
   : And how does one patch solder a trace?  Scrape off the green layer w/   
   : sandpaper then just solder patch cable to bare points on either side   
   : of crack?  How difficult is this to do?  I am "ok" with a soldering   
   : iron, but no ace.   
      
   Solder jumpers between the destinations.  Don't bother with trying   
   to fix the broken etch itself, just bypass it and the damaged area as   
   much as possible.  Hopefully you can see where a given etch was going   
   to/from, so just latch on a nearby spot, like the solder point on the   
   next key that etch went to.  Similarly, in the area around the damaged   
   part of the PCB, just solder a replacement wire/wires directly on to   
   the pin on the key.  Get the soldering iron on and off that pin fast   
   so that you dont melt or deform any of the plastic parts in the key   
   switch assembly.   
      
   On most of those key switches, each contact had two wires (so a   
   single-pole switch had four legs).  This was done to help anchor the   
   switch and allow PCB designers some ways to route wiring around to avoid   
   having to use jumpers and still produce a single-layer PCB design.   
   So, if one leg on the key is broken off or badly damaged, another   
   should be there that you can connect both wires that would have gone   
   to that side of the switch to the remaining leg.   
      
      
   : Where can I get super tiny wires like I'd want?  Is Radio Shack still   
   : useful enough to offer them or...no?  I am guessing not.   
      
   Radio Shack still sells wire wrap wire (30AWG) (as does DigiKey,   
   Mouser, Frys, Anixter, Granger, Allied, etc), but you will probably   
   need a wire-wrap stripper also to avoid driving yourself nuts trying   
   to get the teflon insulation off with pliers.  You also need   
   a low wattage soldering iron and some fine, no-acid solder.  Do not   
   try to use soldering irons meant for radiator or plumbing repair, or the   
   gas powered soldering irons here.   
      
   For the keyboard, 26 and even 24AWG solid wire will work fine.   
   24AWG is multi-pair, station and cross-connect telephone wire, and   
   that is quite easy to work with and available widely.  Use solid,   
   not stranded wire.  You don't need that extra headache.   
      
      
   : I can't seem to find a photo of the proper layout of that section of   
   : keyboard (between L and ; keys).  Anyone have such a pic?   
      
   I don't have one at the moment.   
      
      
   Frank Durda IV - send mail to this address and remove the "LOSE":   
       http://nemesis.lonestar.org   
      "The Knights who say "LETNi" demand... A SEGMENT REGISTER!!!"   
      "A what?"  "LETNi! LETNi! LETNi!" - 1983   
   Copyright 2008, ask before reprinting.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)