F104+SSK+122+62+77+50+Ergo orders now open! New Kishsaver+Industrial Model F Keyboards

[Ellipse]

With permission I am posting some interesting photos:

First, here is a customized New F122 with third party extras: an IBM badge and LED overlay.

IMG_7293 - Copy.jpeg (1.57 MiB) Viewed 354 times

And here is a very rare IBM Selectric I typewriter repair log / service transcript. A true testament to the repairability of built to last IBM products.

IMG_7256.jpg (4.9 MiB) Viewed 354 times

IMG_7259.jpg (4.59 MiB) Viewed 354 times

[edbods]

I have been using my F122, but I've found a minor issue I've not been able to work out on my own. Sometimes the solenoid will stick for an indefinite amount of time. I don't know what the core of the solenoid is binding on, but it is randomly binding on something. But it always unsticks itself with a modest thump.

I don't know if Ellipse has a solution to this already, but I'm hesitant to just do something like throwing a bit of instrument and tool oil into it until I have at least asked if the solenoid would be damaged by doing so. I'd rather not screw up my daily driver, especially when I don't know if the solenoid binding occasionally is a known issue, or a defect specific to my unit.

I'm pretty sure it's physically binding, as I can't see any issues on the driver board, but the process of opening the keyboard to look at the solenoid always frees it, and I can't reproduce the issue when I have the case open and am moving the solenoid by hand. Any suggestions on that front are welcome. If Ellipse thinks that it's not a mechanical issue, I can probably figure out tapping an oscilloscope into the solenoid circuit if he wants to look at the electrical side of things.

It's the one and only frustration on what is absolutely the best keyboard I've ever used. It has made writing so much more of a joy, and I'm still looking forward to actually trying it out on a game that actually requires precise and fast key inputs since I've been spending my free time writing instead of playing games.

If you need to lube up the solenoid find something that's safe for electronics and won't harm plastics. Dielectric grease sounds like something that'd work. Get a tube from an auto parts store or something.
I've been using mine daily since August playing shooters like Insurgency, I've had no real problems with it so far aside from occasionally trying to double tap a key but not releasing it fully, so that it thinks it's just being held down instead, but that's just something I can adjust to easily. I still grin like an idiot whenever I have to type really quick in a game.
I did have a bug where some keys seemed to not register upon turning the computer on from standby, but that was apparently an issue with the firmware at the time and updating it a few days ago that issue has gone away. The num lock light seems to randomly turn on when the computer's sleeping though. Just something worth mentioning.

[Green Maned Lion]

I actually recomend this stuff:

https://boeshield.com

It was engineered by Boeing for use in aerospace, before Boeing forgot how to engineer their way out of a paper bag.

[edbods]

I think I spoke too soon, seems like when resuming from sleep the keyboard seems to miss some keys despite updating to the latest firmware...doesn't happen consistently though, very strange. it's acting exactly like a wireless keyboard that's low on batteries.

update: the leyden jar diag program showed the level monitor was spazzing out on all the keys. as usual, restarting the computer fixed it lol

[Ellipse]

Chyrosran22 has just posted the new F122 trailer - I am looking forward to the full video!

[Ellipse]

Pad print update:

After the other pad print supplier failed to produce keycaps that met my requirements, I changed to another factory earlier this year. They have been in business for a couple decades and focus on computer peripherals.

A reminder to sign the Google form (link below) to reserve a pad printed key set. The first batch of about 250-300 will be white text on black keys, US key sets only, no front printing. Additional sets will proceed based on demand.

https://forms.gle/moBjiL2uPUGTosWZ6

To protect the pad printing which is less durable than sublimation printing by design, these keycaps will be packaged both before and after the pad print process in custom blister packaging. The first sample blister pack is below (apologies for the low quality image). These should be available to order separately in the future, to store other Model F keycap sets. Note: by design, the blister packs do not hold a spacebar, and they contain additional spaces for keycaps, more than what would fill a regular board.

2025 12 04 blister packaging.jpg (140.94 KiB) Viewed 41 times

[setiawan]

Anyone here gone ahead with repainting yet? Mine's wearing pretty badly so it's been on my mind more. Any tips or advice are very welcome

IMG_0744.jpeg (1.86 MiB) Viewed 7 times

[Tendrilloz]

You could sand it and get it cerakoted or powder coated if you have someone that does that locally.