Restoring old IBM XT case

[Carter of Mars]

Hello,

I have just joined this forum so please excuse me if I get the protocol wrong or have sent this to the wrong area as I am not used to forums...

I have an old IBM XT 5160 that I got on ebay a while ago and the case, though in resonable condition, has a few very small scrapes and scratches.

Has anybody successfully restored the the paintwork to the case lid before? And, has anybody got any ideas on restoring the front case panel so it looks new - It looks like it may be difficult because it has a sort of crinkly finish to it...

If it's a question of getting immaculate replacement parts does anybody know where from?

I probably sound a bit anal but it's such a piece of history that I would like to have it looking really nice.

Many thanks,

Nick.

[tezza]

I probably sound a bit anal but it's such a piece of history that I would like to have it looking really nice.


Not anal at all, and I can understand you wanting to restore it to original condition.

I can't provide any help but I'm sure someone here can.

Tez

[Carter of Mars]

Thanks tezza,

See that you have some older macs too... I have and old colour classic that I got to run at 800x600 after reading lots from people like Stuart Bell. Not so hot with soldering though I managed to do the modification... my first mac and its gorgeous.

Hopefully somebody will have some advice for me regards the XT. I paid more for the postage from the US than the actual PC! Nice old machine though and good solid American engineering.

Nick.

[idlebiker]

I not long ago just found a IBM XT with the original 256kb motherboard and 2 ibm tandon floppy drives.

If I sell this on ebay how much would it go for?

I'm in the UK

[Carter of Mars]

Um, depends on model I guess, 5150 or 5160 and of course, the condition. I picked up an XT for £50.00 on ebay a year ago, reasonable nick. postage horrendous as they weigh a ton... I don't see many on ebay these days so you might get some interest going.

[per]

I not long ago just found a IBM XT with the original 256kb motherboard and 2 ibm tandon floppy drives.

If I sell this on ebay how much would it go for?

I'm in the UK

That's the model I got too, does it have MDA (Green monochrome 5151 monitor)?

[Tinkerer]

Don't laugh, but I've had good results using all purpose/glass cleaner and a cloth for general cleaning of old cases and plastic panels. For stubborn areas I use rubbing alcohol and a brillo pad. Many that started out yellow when I got them are now a nice factory white.
As for scratches, there is a wrinkle paint available but I don't know where you can get it. I was introduced to it when I was in the military. A google may help in that area.

[Carter of Mars]

Don't laugh, but I've had good results using all purpose/glass cleaner and a cloth for general cleaning of old cases and plastic panels. For stubborn areas I use rubbing alcohol and a brillo pad. Many that started out yellow when I got them are now a nice factory white.
As for scratches, there is a wrinkle paint available but I don't know where you can get it. I was introduced to it when I was in the military. A google may help in that area.
Thanks Tinkerer,

I'll look into the alcohol approach and do some more searching for the wrinkle paint - I'll let you know how I get on.

[dongfeng]

I used Cif (Jif) cream cleaner on my 5150 case which came up a treat. That was very dirty, and very scratched, and now you can't tell. For the more stubborn scratches on the side, I removed them with Farecela G3 - which is an industrial paint cutting compound used for paint finishing on cars.

[dongfeng]

Before...

http://www.howard81.co.uk/upload/vcf/5150/5150_case.JPG

http://www.howard81.co.uk/upload/vcf/5150/5150_dirty2.JPG

...and after!

http://www.howard81.co.uk/upload/vcf/5150/5150_left.JPG

[Trixter]

I used Cif (Jif) cream cleaner on my 5150 case which came up a treat. That was very dirty, and very scratched, and now you can't tell. For the more stubborn scratches on the side, I removed them with Farecela G3 - which is an industrial paint cutting compound used for paint finishing on cars.

We don't have Cif in the states; would an appropriate alternative be something like Soft Scrub?

[Jorg]

I used the same CIF, like Dongfeng.

Its a (supposedly) non-scratching cleaner intended for bathroom sinks and the like.

This gives some information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cif

Apparently its called VIM in Canada- over here VIM is a dry powder- that supposedly does scratch.
I remember the commercial when Cif (then Jif) was introduced- its USP was that it didn't scratch, like 'other products' - clearly referring to VIM..

Maybe just ask Unilever on the consumers website where to get it in the US- I'm sure they will tell you.

[Druid6900]

If you're going to use stuff like that to abrade the surface of something, use toothpaste, it's a much finer abrasive.

[Micom 2000]

Many years ago I picked up a very pristine IBMPC. Along with a multitude of other stuff I brought it with me when I moved out here to mid-central Manitoba. A forum member was looking for a PC and I sold him the PC, but when I unburied it found that the paint had peeled. No rust, still shiny connectors, and I embarassedly transferred covers with another PC that I could see the cover was in good condition. The insides were still pristine, not a bit of dust, looking like a new machine.

However, now I have this cover on my only unmodified PC with bare metal showing. My other PC has a sticker proclaiming it's "Intel 386 Onboard". To me, Untouchable.

Has anyone found a paint which could cover some bare metal with authentic IBM grey ?

Lawrence

[Tinkerer]

Many years ago I picked up a very pristine IBMPC. Along with a multitude of other stuff I brought it with me when I moved out here to mid-central Manitoba. A forum member was looking for a PC and I sold him the PC, but when I unburied it found that the paint had peeled. No rust, still shiny connectors, and I embarassedly transferred covers with another PC that I could see the cover was in good condition. The insides were still pristine, not a bit of dust, looking like a new machine.

However, now I have this cover on my only unmodified PC with bare metal showing. My other PC has a sticker proclaiming it's "Intel 386 Onboard". To me, Untouchable.

Has anyone found a paint which could cover some bare metal with authentic IBM grey ?

Lawrence

I stumbled upon this: https://bomdetail.services.ibm.com/matcodes/matcodes.nsf/pages/mat61.htm

Is it possible the original code is on that list?

[Micom 2000]

A very rare IBM insight, but how does one decipher and implement the code. Would that be something paint people would understand and be able to duplicate ?

Lawrence

I stumbled upon this: https://bomdetail.services.ibm.com/matcodes/matcodes.nsf/pages/mat61.htm

Is it possible the original code is on that list?