Restoration - The Worst VIC-20 I've ever seen - Part 1
The 8-Bit Guy・18 minutes read
Rob found a VIC-20 computer coated in oil and corrosion at a flea market for $5, facing challenges in restoration despite trying various cleaning methods. Despite initial skepticism, Rob spent hours cleaning and restoring the computer, now seeing old computers as collectible and worth saving.
Insights
- The VIC-20 computer purchased by Rob at a flea market for $5 was in poor condition, covered in oil and grease, with corrosion and gunk making restoration challenging, requiring extensive cleaning efforts using various methods and chemicals.
- Rob's initial dismissal of old computers as junk shifted to recognizing their value as collectibles worth saving after spending hours scrubbing, cleaning, and restoring the VIC-20, showcasing a newfound appreciation for vintage technology and the effort required to revive it.
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Recent questions
How did Rob acquire the VIC-20 computer?
Flea market for $5
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Summary
00:00
Restoring VIC-20: Cleaning and Reviving Process
- Rob found a VIC-20 in terrible condition at a flea market for $5.
- The computer is covered in a layer of oil, possibly from industrial use.
- The VIC-20's motherboard is coated in black oil or grease, making restoration challenging.
- Attempting to clean the computer, the RF shield shows corrosion, possibly from a flood.
- The RF shield is difficult to remove due to soldering, with oil burning smell during desoldering.
- Cleaning attempts with glass cleaner, alcohol, and WD-40 show varying levels of success.
- Mechanical removal is necessary for the stubborn residue inside the computer case.
- Baking soda, vinegar, de-oxit, and magic eraser sponge have minimal impact on cleaning.
- Mechanical removal proves effective in cleaning the corrosion and gunk from the computer.
- Retrobrite treatment is planned for the case, while deep burn marks are improved with filing.
11:50
Restoring Vintage Computers: Cleaning and Key Differences
- Spent 3 hours working on a case, sore from scrubbing, hoping the rest isn't more difficult.
- Initially dismissed old computers as junk, now sees them as collectible and worth saving.
- Cleaning old computer keys, found oil and dirt, removed keys to clean the board.
- Used brake cleaner and electronic cleaner to clean the motherboard, brake cleaner worked best.
- Tried to replace a key from a spare Commodore 64, found differences between VIC-20 and C64 keys.
- Discovered differences in key construction between VIC-20 and C64, unable to use spare key, cleaned parts with brake cleaner.
