I think my mouse melts my furniture covering.

I'm a reader of this newsgroup and post sometimes, has anyone experienced
this?

I bought a new computer with an optical mouse. (Being a web designer I spend
quite a long time on my computer) After using my new computer for many hours
I noticed my desk had 'grease' on it. I wiped it off, but grease kept
appearing on my desk. A week later I pulled a muscle my right arm so I used
the mouse in my left hand, then grease started appearing on my desk on the
left (it was always on the right before). Today, a big surface area of my
desk had liquid on it and smelled of paraffin or something, but there was
nowhere it could have come from. Then I realised, the optical mouse was
melting the covering on my nice wooden computer desk! It's a really nice
desk, maybe it's got some sort of fancy wax covering. I'm worried what
health effects it has on me. I know this sounds a bit far fetched but I'm
not joking.

On Sat, 26 Mar 2005, Alex wrote:

> I'm a reader of this newsgroup and post sometimes, has anyone experienced
> this?
>
> I bought a new computer with an optical mouse. (Being a web designer I spend
> quite a long time on my computer) After using my new computer for many hours
> I noticed my desk had 'grease' on it. I wiped it off, but grease kept
> appearing on my desk. A week later I pulled a muscle my right arm so I used
> the mouse in my left hand, then grease started appearing on my desk on the
> left (it was always on the right before). Today, a big surface area of my
> desk had liquid on it and smelled of paraffin or something, but there was
> nowhere it could have come from. Then I realised, the optical mouse was
> melting the covering on my nice wooden computer desk! It's a really nice
> desk, maybe it's got some sort of fancy wax covering. I'm worried what
> health effects it has on me. I know this sounds a bit far fetched but I'm
> not joking.

I have seen interactions between different types of organic substances
before. I have seen a ball-point pen sitting untouched for a long time
melted by an eraser[1] over time and elastic bands melted by a plastic bag
in contact with them.

You could try using a mouse pad and see what happens. Also try a plastic
place mat sold for placing under the setting at a dinner table or a sheet
of cardboard or heavy paper sold for craftwork.

You might also try opening up the case of the mouse and see if there is
goo inside of it. You may have gotten one that someone spilled something
in at the store or that has a leaky electrolytic capacitor or something
similar. Something leaking from the mouse may be reacting with the
surface of your desk.


[1] "eraser" == "rubber" for right-pondians.
--
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-- Matt Probert in alt.www.webmaster, March 20, 2005

"Norman L. DeForest" <af380@chebucto.ns.ca> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.3.95.iB1.0.1050326144207.8340B-100000@halifax.chebucto.ns.ca..
..
>
>
> I have seen interactions between different types of organic substances
> before. I have seen a ball-point pen sitting untouched for a long time
> melted by an eraser[1] over time and elastic bands melted by a plastic bag
> in contact with them.
>

Wow, me too.

However, I reported it and the Nurse changed my manual click = drip rate and
it stopped

I don't know what it was, but I got a different one and it seems ok so far.
You could be right - some sort of chemical released from the mouse from the
capacitors or something inside it. I might try to open it up and find out,
but I think I'd have to break it to open it up.
Thanks

Alex wrote:
> I don't know what it was, but I got a different one and it seems ok so far.
> You could be right - some sort of chemical released from the mouse from the
> capacitors or something inside it. I might try to open it up and find out,
> but I think I'd have to break it to open it up.

Well, you apparently can't use it anyway, eh?

--
Blinky Linux Registered User 297263
Who has implemented Usenet Solution #45933:
Now killing all posts originating at Google Groups

In news:d268o4$j01$1@hercules.btinternet.com,
Alex <nospam@btinternet.com> typed:
> I don't know what it was, but I got a different one and it seems ok
> so far. You could be right - some sort of chemical released from the
> mouse from the capacitors or something inside it. I might try to open
> it up and find out, but I think I'd have to break it to open it up.

It may have some screws hidden under stick-on "feet" (the low friction
things the mouse slides on).

Bob Long