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should I kill a black adb mouse II ?
Posted by: micheledipaola on 2025-03-01 12:48:00
Hello everybody.

I managed to find the black adb mouse II I was looking for... but it is the model with the ball housing directly mold into the bottom case, and since I am very lucky... most of the plastic housing is broken. I tried to fix it with superglue, hot glue, whatever, but for one clip that I fix, another one crumbles in my hands. It seems exactly the usual brittle plastics of those powerMacs of the time 🙁

IMG_2429.jpeg

I bought the optical conversion for adb mice sold by TT Design on Tindie, so I was thinking I could change it into an optical mouse, but... in order to do so, I should snip away what is left of the ball-housing plastics on the bottom case, and of course this would be non reversible.

I'm quite sure I will never be able to glue back the plastics anyway, but... should I kill a black mouse to do this conversion? what would you do ?
Posted by: LaPorta on 2025-03-01 17:18:22
Dude, if it's already crumbling to pieces, I say go with the laser.
Posted by: Byrd on 2025-03-01 18:45:24
I’ve had three black ADB mice, all the same crumbled into pieces without much effort when taking apart. I’d keep the internals, sticker and vinyl dye a beige ADB unit to replicate. Also had to vinyl dye a black one as it faded considerably.
Posted by: micheledipaola on 2025-03-02 00:19:23
I managed to glue it back but it (barely) works with vertical movements, while horizontal (especially to the right) is really not there.
I will maybe give it another shot, and if I will not make it... then snipping and converting to optical.
Posted by: Trekintosh on 2025-03-08 23:07:43
Nah make it optical, ball mice suck when they're in good shape, let alone falling to pieces.
Posted by: micheledipaola on 2025-03-11 01:45:05
Dude, if it's already crumbling to pieces, I say go with the laser.
is this so to say, or are you recommending some laser tool to cut the plastic away? In this case, can you be more specific or even share a link to such tools? thanks @LaPorta
Posted by: Byrd on 2025-03-11 02:50:29
I think he is referring to the optical/laser mouse
Posted by: micheledipaola on 2025-03-11 02:57:07
I think he is referring to the optical/laser mouse
yes it would make sense😀 I was already figuring out how to get a tiny lightsaber to cut that dark side mouse away 😀
Posted by: LaPorta on 2025-03-11 10:23:19
I just meant if it were a perfect specimen that was preserved with no issues, and one decided to hack it up, that would be a travesty. Since it’s already coming apart, do what you want with it.
Posted by: luRaichu on 2025-03-11 11:38:10
Optical meatriders. All my mice have balls
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