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My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 31 Mar 2020, 07:20
by Erderm_
Image

Blue caps from a IBM 029 punchcard reader + badge from a IBM PS/2 to TV thingy :)

Someday it will get a black paintjob!

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 31 Mar 2020, 10:27
by AJM
Congratulations! That's a very nice specimen. (and with very nice German keycaps, too!)
But please think carefully before painting it, because the original paint is in quite good condition and - unless done very professionally - a repainted keyboard can become a very sticky, unpleasant affair. Especially with a keyboard like this, where the case acts also as a wrist rest.

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 31 Mar 2020, 13:12
by Fkazim
Looks really nice great job. I would keep the original paint it looks good.

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 31 Mar 2020, 16:05
by shine
I have a 3276 and I'll paint the case with RAL 9010, love the keycaps though. I got a spare set of gray keycaps from a selectric but blues are... hmmm, love!

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 31 Mar 2020, 20:16
by dcopellino
Erderm_ wrote: 31 Mar 2020, 07:20 Image

Blue caps from a IBM 029 punchcard reader + badge from a IBM PS/2 to TV thingy :)

Someday it will get a black paintjob!
Hey man, really a belvedere your little beast. I think the best specimen among all the beamsprings I have seen around. Do you use it as daily driver? and if yes how do you do with key layout. What key do you miss more. Del key, alt, ctrl, command or something else?

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 16 Sep 2020, 17:54
by darkcruix
I did powder-coat mine and it turned out to be really the only way to properly get it restored ... paint was horrible (used it before):
IMG_0003.jpeg
IMG_0003.jpeg (2.81 MiB) Viewed 3139 times

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 16 Sep 2020, 18:54
by JP!
darkcruix wrote: 16 Sep 2020, 17:54 I did powder-coat mine and it turned out to be really the only way to properly get it restored ... paint was horrible (used it before):
IMG_0003.jpeg
Beautiful :D What did you do for the plastic door since you can't powder coat plastic?

Also as far as paint there is better stuff than what comes in a rattle can that hobbyists typically use.

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 16 Sep 2020, 18:58
by M9HM
JP! wrote: 16 Sep 2020, 18:54
darkcruix wrote: 16 Sep 2020, 17:54 I did powder-coat mine and it turned out to be really the only way to properly get it restored ... paint was horrible (used it before):
IMG_0003.jpeg
Beautiful :D What did you do for the plastic door since you can't powder coat plastic?

Also as far as paint there is better stuff than what comes in a rattle can that hobbyists typically use.
I have used spray cans before for pieces (not keyboars and I am not suggesting doing this to a beamspring) with good results. I even painted the bullbar of my old Nissan Patrol with spray paint in order to get rid of a horrible looking 25 year old chrome finish, and my conclusion is that, as long as you go for the really good quality cans, they work pretty well, Montana Colors and such, work great.

Re: My customized IBM 3278 Beamspring!

Posted: 16 Sep 2020, 19:07
by darkcruix
JP! wrote: 16 Sep 2020, 18:54
darkcruix wrote: 16 Sep 2020, 17:54 I did powder-coat mine and it turned out to be really the only way to properly get it restored ... paint was horrible (used it before):
IMG_0003.jpeg
Beautiful :D What did you do for the plastic door since you can't powder coat plastic?

Also as far as paint there is better stuff than what comes in a rattle can that hobbyists typically use.
Plastic door is a two component paint - very thin