I recall I saw a simple solution of fixing the rubber keys on TV remote which have the carbon part on the bottom.. But it has completely gone out of my head..
Basically the volume up button does not work on the remote any more I know there is the keypad fix stuff but that is £15 and id only use a tiny bit, not worth it.
My only thought is maybe trying to heat up carbon area to see if it will re-amalgamate without destroying the rubber..
exxos wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2026 2:02 pm
I recall I saw a simple solution of fixing the rubber keys on TV remote which have the carbon part on the bottom.. But it has completely gone out of my head..
Basically the volume up button does not work on the remote any more I know there is the keypad fix stuff but that is £15 and id only use a tiny bit, not worth it.
My only thought is maybe trying to heat up carbon area to see if it will re-amalgamate without destroying the rubber..
Anyone any ideas on how to simply fix it ?
Only with carbon conductive paint.
Some of these rubber mats have the carbon impregnated within the surface. I think the carbon on the surface oxidises and leaves the surface non-conductive. Washing with an organic solvent just makes things worse.
Other rubber mats just have carbon paint on them which corrodes or gets rubbed off (as my Zero 1 mat did).
Intro retro computers since before they were retro...
ZX81->Spectrum->Memotech MTX->Sinclair QL->520STM->BBC Micro->TT030->PCs & Sun Workstations.
Added code to the MiNT kernel (still there the last time I checked) + put together MiNTOS.
Collection now with added Macs, Amigas, Suns and Acorns.
exxos wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2026 2:02 pm
I recall I saw a simple solution of fixing the rubber keys on TV remote which have the carbon part on the bottom.. But it has completely gone out of my head..
Basically the volume up button does not work on the remote any more I know there is the keypad fix stuff but that is £15 and id only use a tiny bit, not worth it.
My only thought is maybe trying to heat up carbon area to see if it will re-amalgamate without destroying the rubber..
Anyone any ideas on how to simply fix it ?
Might be as simple as pulling apart and cleaning. Had problems with our Sky remote and there was some kind of liquid inside so I cleaned it IPA and that did the trick.
Trouble is, some have carbon traces on the PCB and they wear out quickly and also are susceptible to being slightly washed out by IPA so care is needed.
I wouldn't try heating the carbon area, you may damage it. Carbon paint all the way if cleaning fails.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2026 2:09 pm
I wouldn't try heating the carbon area, you may damage it. Carbon paint all the way if cleaning fails.
Yeah the pain is more expensive than a new remote. Only problem is the new ones are "universal" so its pretty huge remove just to change the volume on the sound bar
rubber_jonnie wrote: Thu Nov 12, 2026 2:09 pm
I wouldn't try heating the carbon area, you may damage it. Carbon paint all the way if cleaning fails.
Yeah the pain is more expensive than a new remote. Only problem is the new ones are "universal" so its pretty huge remove just to change the volume on the sound bar
An MG Chemical carbon paint pen is £17 and will last ages though.
Collector of many retro things!
800XL and 65XE both with Ultimate1MB,VBXL/XE & PokeyMax, SIDE3, SDrive Max, 2x 1010 cassette, 2x 1050 one with Happy mod, 3x 2600 Jr, 7800 and Lynx II
Approx 20 STs, including a 520 STM, 520 STFMs, 3x Mega ST, MSTE & 2x 32 Mhz boosted STEs
Plus the rest, totalling around 50 machines including a QL, 3x BBC Model B, Electron, Spectrums, ZX81 etc...
I know there is the keypad fix stuff but that is £15 and id only use a tiny bit, not worth it. 
