30 May
2005
30 May
'05
4:16 a.m.
On Sun, 2005-05-29 at 23:49 +0100, Tony Duell wrote:
Luckily computers don't seem to make much use of the type of bolt that
has the splines on the outside of the head... (I've got a set for car
work, but those weren't at all cheap when I got them)
I did say something like 'make no unnecessary
modifications'. I've
modified enough machines over the years that if I claimed modifications,
and hackery vwere a Bad Thing, it would clearly be a lie. And yes, I have
modified classic computers, even when they were already classic.
But those modifications were useful in that they improved the machine.
Extra drives, extra connectors, etc sound to be useful. But to replace
a screw just becasue you can't be bothered to get the right tool is not a
useful or nexessary modification.
But in this case the need for the uncommon types of screw has gone away,
you say the required tool is expensive, and it seems that it's hardly
used on any machines (although it would probably be justified if the
person was an IBM collector)
Given that it's also a common machine, it'd seem more sensible to me to
spend the money that would have gone on buying the tool on other aspects
of preservation instead. If I were coming across a flood of machines
needing this particular tool then it'd be a different matter, of course.
BTW2, I do NOT
damage fasteners by cutting slots, etc. The PC came out in
August 1981. In September, I bored holes down the middle of torx bits.
(can't do very many with a cheap drill bit!)
Not if they're decent Torx bits, anyway :-). Nowadays the tamperproof
Torx bits are quite easy to find, thankfully. > It really isn't hard to get or make the right
tool, if you WANT to keep it
> original.
I did wonder about it in the case of this IBM. I probably wouldn't be
able to make something that precise given the small size, though :-(
I mentioned this thread to a friend of mine (who is an
excellent hacker
and his comment was something like "He's working on IBM machines without
a set of Bristol Spline keys? Ouch!"
Hey, it was only two of them, and it's not like they were tucked away on
an inside edge somewhere! :-) Easy with a pair of good long-nosed pliers
- the time-consuming bit was digging out all of the various allen keys
etc. to see if I had something that would fit :)
cheers
Jules