Busy hands | Disquiet mind

I guess this is a disassembly, modification, repair, upgrade type project? Basically, I got a keyboard during lockdown. It's my first 'proper' programmable mechanical keyboard. But the switches I actually wanted were permanently out of stock so I settled for Cherry Blacks. Which are fine? But since getting other keyboards I realised how not enjoyable this is for me to use. That's the thing about owning a soldering iron though, you can change things.

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Step 12; When happy, replace the top case frame, and add keycaps of your choice. Enjoy improved typing experience. And next time you want to try different switches you won't need the soldering iron.

(This isn't perfect. The case is so full that the bottom case seam (under the space bar) bulges open. And I broke some of those clips holding the top case frame on. Removing it isn't something you want to do often. But it really does feel better. More solid to type on, less hollow sounding. It feels noticeably heavier. And the switches are much more to my taste. Actually enjoying using this keyboard again.)

Reassembled upgraded keyboard
Photo by chebe

The Panasonic RQ-CW03 portable cassette player is a basic (stereo) tape player from the turn of the millennium. It plays tapes, even has an extra-bass switch, but that's it. No recording, no radio. I remember having to go out and buy this, because I had moved on to CDs, but unfortunately my Irish language exam prep hadn't. As a result, this has largely sat in a drawer unused, slowly yellowing, since that exam. And, predictably, when I last pulled it out to listen to some tapes it was no longer functioning.

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A delicate arrangement but workable. Unfortunately, every screwdriver I had was either too big or too small for the trimpot, except, oddly, the one on my Leatherman (Free T2). It fits almost perfectly, like, suspiciously so. A bit like how the Bic biros are (still) exactly the right size and shape to wind the cassettes. But I'm lucky it did fit as it enabled me to adjust the speed, which was wildly out.

Then I partially reassembled the player, and tested with a music tape. The extra-bass still works, but the volume pot is scratchy. I hit it with some electrical contact cleaner spray, worked the wheel back and forth, and let it dry. Cleared that crackling right up.

And this friends is everything I remember tape being. The sound is amazing, and the extra bass mode really delivers. All while conveniently attached to my belt/waistband. I think it's incredibly sad that this quality of player is no longer readily available. Especially considering the low cost of it when brand new. But I'm delighted to have mine working again!

Speed trimpot adjustment procedure
Photo by chebe

I've had a bunch of watches sitting in a drawer for years now. These are the ones that survived; loose occasion wear, and those with leather protecting the metal. (Strangely my skin rots the backs of watches.) They're not expensive watches, just mass-market fashion watches. But having given up the fitbit lifestyle a long time ago, I feel drawn to some wristwatch action.

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I got a bug a while back. One that demanded I get myself sorted with some vinyl. So I got the parents old turntable (Technics SL-B3) down from the attic. It was dusty, and had suffered some grim build-up around the controls, so my first order of business was to wash it down with some gently soapy water. My dad suggested that maybe it might need a new belt.

( Proof of one man's powers of understatement )

So I ordered the new belt from Turntable Basics who told me what length I needed from the model number, and it arrived swiftly complete with instructions.

Next thing I needed was new needles. This was much more difficult, and had me attempting to track down some 20/30 year old manuals online, before realising the replacement part number was written on the turntable itself. I found a nice place on eBay that sold them, and snapped them up.

But, it's an old turntable, and my stereo is a fair bit newer. It's Aux port expects pre-amped input to be able to drive the speakers. Something this turntable doesn't do. So I needed a pre-amp. I found a very pretty one for £100 that I'd have to order from Belfast. But I'm not a patient lass. So I wandered from A/V and electronics shops, getting looked at as if I was insane. Only two sales assistants had even heard of them. One told me to order from Belfast, the other, in Peats, sold me this with a very dismissive and rude attitude.

A phono-phono cable acquisition later and everything was in place. But to be sure I needed a record I knew the air of by heart but didn't mind getting damaged. Cue a 7" copy of Moonlight Sonata I picked up in a charity shop.

( All fired up and looking pretty )

But alas! The pre-amp is complete shite. I had to turn the stereo up a lot to even vaguely hear the music, and as I did the background noise and hum got so loud it actually drowned out what little sound was present. To give it another chance I hooked up my mp3-player to it. And yep, the same result. So tomorrow I begin my attempt to return the useless piece of scrap-metal that is far from fit for it's purpose, and order the pretty pre-amp from Belfast. Once again I learn that it's impossible to walk into Peats as a female and actually get anything useful from them. But now I'm only a hairs breadth, or about two weeks, away from getting to listen to my brand new LPs. This is an event I greatly look forward to.