Keytronic "Foam and Foil" Pads - How to Make Them Yourself 

Thanks! this was a bit of homework and a LOT of experimenting what was available locally.

I'll be addressing this in my annual Year-end video. I've been pressured to enable monetization for a few years but there's been some things in the background I've been having to deal with.

I totally agree!

Thank you! I hope everyone enjoys the video!

Yeah sorry I couldn't come up with a solid product name or part number for the mylar. It really does seem like something that can be found form larger chain craft supply stores. I mean, this stuff fit the bill perfectly and it was available at the dollar store.

@@CelGenStudios Thanks. I did a lot of thinking on the project. While checking out at the grocery store I noticed lots of balloons. What are most of those made from? MYLAR !! At least those are available everywhere. I got mine for free from that grocery store because it had a hole in it ;) Then I went looking up and down the isles around my local Home Depot (in CA) for similar foam padding. I found Frost King Camper Mounting Tape for Trucks 1-1/4 x 3/16 self stick vinyl foam, about $7usd. Then I walked past the tape section and saw 2" double sided carpet tape, about $9usd. I went home and made a sandwich of a cut up mylar balloon.( I used masking tape to stretch and hold the shiny side down mylar on a flat surface), then put the sticky side of foam to the painted/colored side of the mylar, then applied the sticky side of the 2-sided tape to the foam, leaving the paper still on the back sided of the tape face up. Then proceed as you do in cutting up the slices, and then punching holes. I got an 11mm punch like yours from aliexpress for about $2usd. I would suggest using somewhat fresh and smooth surface wood to punch holes on. Old wood splinters too much. I tested these in a Compaq Portable KB and they work perfectly!! Oh, be sure to peal off the tape backing from the pads before you put these into the keyboard. I thought I'd share first my frustration, sorry, then my solution so others could benefit.

@@KLund1100 A Mylar balloon was also what I experimented first with as well! To this day the pads I made out of it are still working in my Lisa 2.

No unfortunately. The problem is that the keyboard works on capacitance, not a straight short and aluminum tape would present a short and make the keyboard freak out like it did when he used his finger. Basically anything mylar backed will work for making these however. Foil balloons, Space Blankets, and what he used; decretive adhesive mylar. All of those have one thing in common, they have plastic covering the metal. So that creates a capacitor. I hope that explains it for you. :)

Ah I didn't realize it was capacitance either.. great vid! Thanks! Also in Canada and trying to avoid US purchases... and home made twinkies.