The market is full of affordable mechanical keyboards, but any true hardcore enthusiast will eventually cross paths with an IBM Model M. Many users see it as the "Nokia 3310 of keyboards" for its solid construction… though it's not exactly indestructible, to say the least. Add to that the lack of compatibility with modern systems, and you have a challenge. That's why Odd Tinkering on YouTube decided to address all these issues at once, besides removing three decades of dust and grime…
I have an IBM Model M less than two meters away. Unfortunately, it stopped working (eight keys failed, all associated with the same section of the circuit), and my current situation prevents me from obtaining the necessary parts for a complete restoration. Even with those resources available, the process wouldn't be easy: a quick search on "bolt-modding" reveals an intense task that demands a lot of patience.
However, my case is unusual. If you happen to find an IBM Model M, chances are it only needs a deep cleaning, a general check of its electronics, and an active adapter to convert the PS/2 port to USB. That's exactly what Odd Tinkering did on his channel. His Model M looks pretty bad at first, but the final result is excellent:
Restoring an IBM Model M keyboard
One advantage that Odd Tinkering has here is that he decided to restore a relatively young unit from 1995. That means the Model M has an integrated cable (instead of using an SDL connector) that he must replace entirely. Cleaning the case is not complicated: a good dose of detergent and a brush is more than enough to remove any accumulation of dust and grease. The "yellow effect" is not as severe on IBM Model M (and the keycaps don't need it because they are PBT plastic), but Odd Tinkering did a retrobright session anyway.
The most complicated part of this restoration is the conversion of the keyboard to USB. Odd Tinkering could have used another PS/2 cable and left the adapter outside the case, but he preferred to create an internal solution, printing a bracket so that the USB port fits perfectly in the original cable slot. Also, the adapter must be "active". Passive PS/2-to-USB adapters that came with many keyboards and mice will never work with the Model M. A minimal amount of grease on the spacebar stabilizer, and the keyboard is ready for another 30 years of action.
