Keycap pullers (feng's MKC, sherryton's, Cherry's, KBC, etc)

[reaper]

You would think that keypuller is just that, pull the key, does the job and that's it.  Well, while that is true but today we have a few varieties to choose from and my post here is just to show differences between some of them but of course, their main function is still to pull the keycaps.   






First you have SP's and Techkeys's keypullers.  They're made by the same source (with just different colors to differentiate between the two) and either of them will do the job just fine and they are quite similar to the one from Filco.   Techkey is $6 each plus shipping and SP is $5 plus shipping.





Then you have the one from Feng's group buy which is made by MKC it's a stainless steel keypuller.  It feels a little bit heavier, more substantial in one's hands with the letters MKC on the handle.  It's pretty small when comparing to Filco's keypuller but definitely heavier.  Feng's group buy is here and he said that he'll stop taking order on 1/20/13 so might want to check with him first before ordering.





Next we have one from sherryton's new store (Originative) and this one is imported from Korea.  The handle is made with wood and it's pretty smooth (don't know what kind of wood so you'll have to check with sherry on that  )  ).  Originative site is down atm due to sherry having some problem with the PayPal people but once it's back up, you should be able to place an order there.  This one is a little pricey at $25 each plus shipping.


It's really small in size with a good wooden grip/handle.  Not as heavy as MKC's so that makes it easier to carry around.  This is the one that I'd take it with me if I want to carry one around. 





I think a few members here own the one from Cherry Corp so here's a pic just to compare the size between the two.





Next we have the Cherry's keypuller.  Again, very small with a single switch on top (mine has a red switch there).  I believe tinlong has a group buy going over at Deskthority.net and DanGWanG was running a smaller group buy here over in the Classifieds section ($9 shipped ConUS).   Personally, I like the puller but the handle is just too short for me and I like something more substantial in my hands.  It looks nice and you can change the keycap on top (it comes with one translucent keycap with Cherry logo on top).


 


Last but not least, we have one from KBC.  I forgot where I got this one from but it was either feng or qtan that sent it to me.  It's small in size and has step in the handle.  This is the one that I've been using everyday for the past few months and it's holding up quite well.  Since I don't remember who sent it to me, I don't recall the price either but I'm sure you should be able to find one on TaoBao or just ask feng or qtan to help you.





EK also has one by Leopold (they use to carry Filco but not anymore).  It's also one of my all time favorite due to its short, thicker handle, inexpensive price and availability.  You can get one for $5 plus shipping over at Elitekeyboards.com (link).





Below are the ones that I don't own or haven't had any experience with them.


WASD wire keycap puller ($5.99 plus shipping and you can get it here)




QWERkeys keycap puller (GBP 2.50 and you can get it here)





Well, that's it for now.  Please feel free to add your own comments/experience with any one of these as it will benefit newer members and help them decide which one is best.     I'll add more when I come across some newer ones.

[mashby]

Nice post Reaper. Thank you! Didn't know there were so many options out there.

[reaper]

Thanks and please feel free to start another wiki if you have some free time.  Oh and also you can use any of my pics here. 

[uzoc]

Thanks for the review... I'm a sucker for good deals so here it goes: WASDKeyboards has one (with their logo) for free when you get the 87 or 104 keycaps: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-wire-keycap-puller-tool.html

[The_Beast]

I love my cherry one for doing 1x keys. I can pull three tipro/flat profile caps before needing to clear them out, sometimes it even clears itself and I can pull an entire row of 1x caps in about 30 seconds.

However with anything bigger than 1x, I use a WASD puller that's basically the same as a Filco puller

[reaper]

Thanks for the review... I'm a sucker for good deals so here it goes: WASDKeyboards has one (with their logo) for free when you get the 87 or 104 keycaps: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/wasd-wire-keycap-puller-tool.html

Ooh, thanks for reminding me..   I forgot to include that one from WASD.  I think might have one of their keycaps around here somewhere so I can take some pics. lol

[sth]

Yep i have a couple of the WASD pullers... they're probably almost identical to the techkeys/SP pullers except for the engraved logo.

[SmallFry]

I like my WASD puller a lot better than the bobbypins that I used to use.

[CPTBadAss]

I have a Filco and a TechKeys puller and prefer my Techkeys one. If the SP one is identical, then I think that SP one would be nice too.

The TechKeys one has a bit of separation so it fits around the caps extremely well imo.

[sherryton]

I believe the wood it is made from is guaiacum or Lignum Vitae, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignum_Vitae.

[keymaster]

I have the WASD puller and it works as intended. I can't imagine a drastic difference between the key pullers, so it comes down to aesthetics. The MKC Stainless Steel puller via feng looks the best, in my opinion.

[Vintage]

Agreed boost. The stock CM one I have does crappy job.

I'll probably end up buying the WASD one too because it is 5$+free shipping on Amazon and I like WASD as a company 

The KBC looks abysmally small though.

[rurushu]

I only had one and it is the FILCO one, never used a plastic ring puller before, because before i got my FILCO one, i've read around and found out the ugly truth that ring pullers have a higher risk of damaging keycaps.... scratches uhh..... 

[rowdy]

Not including a passing reference to the little plastic ring pullers?

Many keyboards includes one of those, so that would be many people's introduction to keycap removal.

[Sifo]

Oh I remember requesting this! Thanks reaper I personally really like the WASD one because it has perfect spacing, unlike the Filco one where it's closed and you have to pull it open to pull a key.

[reaper]

Not including a passing reference to the little plastic ring pullers?

Hmm.. I think I have a couple of them but have never used them.  Please feel free to add your own review here. 

Oh I remember requesting this! Thanks reaper

You're welcome.     

[Hak Foo]

The plastic ring pullers are okay for Cherry, but ALPS have a death-grip; many of the stock keys from my 1008XM have scars from fighting with a puller.  They also tend to give way easily, especially on stabilized keys.

[sth]

There's also the diabolical metal one that Topre includes with the Realforce. Pure keycap-gouging evil.

[reaper]

There's also the diabolical metal one that Topre includes with the Realforce. Pure keycap-gouging evil.

Eww..  lol  but yeah, I know that one.  ><  I can post a pic but someone else will have to provide their own experience since I've never used it. 

[sth]

There's also the diabolical metal one that Topre includes with the Realforce. Pure keycap-gouging evil.

Eww..  lol  but yeah, I know that one.  ><  I can post a pic but someone else will have to provide their own experience since I've never used it. 

Don't. I think i scratched one of my spacebars with it

[uzoc]

WASD gives you a free one with the 87 or 104 sets.

[rowdy]

QWERkeys also has their rather unique one too: http://www.qwerkeys.co.uk/collections/cherry-switches/products/qwerkeys-keycap-puller

[Sifo]

Yeah. QWERkeys one is weird...

[reaper]

^ k I'm going to include them in OP but someone will have to chime in their opinions/experience since I don't own them.

[rurushu]

hmm... QWER key's, Topre's and plastic ring types.... those are like unstable "clamps" to me.... especially the plastic ones... when removing bigger keycaps, they run the risk of falling off.... and there goes your keycaps..... >.<

[rowdy]

I have been using one of the plastic ring-pull keycap pullers until I received by techkeys.us wire puller a couple of days ago.

It is amazing how much easier a wire puller is

Only two things: First when the keycaps comes off, sometimes it gets stuck at a 45 degree angle.  Second I am a bit worried about removing the larger keys with it, such as right shift - are the metal loops supposed to spread that far apart without sustaining permanent damage?

[rurushu]

I have been using one of the plastic ring-pull keycap pullers until I received by techkeys.us wire puller a couple of days ago.

It is amazing how much easier a wire puller is

Only two things: First when the keycaps comes off, sometimes it gets stuck at a 45 degree angle.  Second I am a bit worried about removing the larger keys with it, such as right shift - are the metal loops supposed to spread that far apart without sustaining permanent damage?

well, based on my own experience on using wire keypullers, the puller mostly (all the time for my case using the FILCO one) pulled out the keycaps in diagonals.
On the larger keycaps, so far i have no problems with it, it can stretch that far without fail, except for spacebar, that one i had to use my fingers to pry open slowly after removing both the "Alt" keycaps at the sides, if im not mistaken, ripster posted before that he used 2 wire keypullers to pull off the tricky spacebar XD

[rowdy]

Ok, thanks for that

I wasn't sure so I used my plastic ring puller on the larger keys, and a flatblade screwdriver under the middle of the spacebar.

[rurushu]

Ok, thanks for that

I wasn't sure so I used my plastic ring puller on the larger keys, and a flatblade screwdriver under the middle of the spacebar.

here is a vid showing squarebox doing the keycap removal for modifiers on a filco using the wire keypuller...

[noisyturtle]

Pullers with the hard plastic handles always have the two wires off center from each other which really sets off the ocd in me.

[The_Ed]

QWERkeys keycap puller (GBP 2.50 and you can get it here)

Show Image

That's an older Cherry Corp brand keypuller... I have 1 myself, but I don't use it as it would likely scratch my keycaps.

[SmallFry]

Cherry made those? O.o

[gnubag]

i think those were the super early models they had. also i think that ibm had them for buckling springs aswell.

[Noko]

I picked up one of the QWERkeys pullers just to see and couldn't use it on my stock Filco keys, plus it just felt dangerous to use.  I'm not sure why they've chosen to offer that type of design as it seems far inferior to a wire puller.

[zenuty]

WOW

good info thankyou !!

[reaper]

You're welcome.     Glad you find it somewhat useful. 

[berserkfan]

I don't get it. I've followed this thread to the end, and there has been almost no mention of the standard O-ring key pullers that come free with most keyboards. (Some people make passing references only.)

What I want to know, from you guys who are more experienced, is whether using the O-ring key puller will damage keys or stems in the long run.

If it's free and works fine, why should I get a more 'professional' puller. That's what I want to know! That's why I read this thread!

[esoomenona]

Its generally considered that wire keypullers are better and more durable, with less chance of damaging caps. Also, the ring pullers are boring, so not fun to collect and post about. But if they work for you, then go for it!

[berserkfan]

Can anyone discuss actual instances of damaged caps using ring pullers? I know there is friction when I push down to hook the bottomsd of the keycaps, and I want to know if in the long run it wears down the plastic or scratches it.

Its generally considered that wire keypullers are better and more durable, with less chance of damaging caps. Also, the ring pullers are boring, so not fun to collect and post about. But if they work for you, then go for it!

[The_Ed]

I personally hate wire keypullers and sold the only one I ever bought. I use those cheap DAS ring keypullers and have never scratched a single keycap. It is faster to just use my fingers once a few keycaps are off though (but after a few boards that starts to hurt...).

[Sifo]

[esoomenona]

That keypuller really quacks me up.

[berserkfan]

Great! We have a guy who hates the wire pullers!

Can I ask you why?

I just want to know, because lots of people seem to like the wire pullers. I'm basically learning from your experiences.

I personally hate wire keypullers and sold the only one I ever bought. I use those cheap DAS ring keypullers and have never scratched a single keycap. It is faster to just use my fingers once a few keycaps are off though (but after a few boards that starts to hurt...).

[The_Ed]

I actually had my wire keypuller dent my keycaps. The wires only contact in 4 small points, and it would dent those. Especially when you rocked the keycap to get it to come off as it would contact less points. It was also much harder to get the wires onto the keycaps, and also to get the keycaps out of the wires.

The daskeyboard KEYPULLER90 is my favorite ring keypuller. I have 2 to get the large keys off with ease as well. The color you get is random though, I have a white and a black. http://store.daskeyboard.com/Key-Cap-Puller/dp/B004JYJHIO There are other ring keypullers, but this is the only one I'd recommend. The WASDkeyboards one is too hard of a plastic and could potentially scratch your keycaps (and that's why I sold it as well).

[rurushu]

I actually had my wire keypuller dent my keycaps. The wires only contact in 4 small points, and it would dent those. Especially when you rocked the keycap to get it to come off as it would contact less points. It was also much harder to get the wires onto the keycaps, and also to get the keycaps out of the wires.

The daskeyboard KEYPULLER90 is my favorite ring keypuller. I have 2 to get the large keys off with ease as well. The color you get is random though, I have a white and a black. http://store.daskeyboard.com/Key-Cap-Puller/dp/B004JYJHIO There are other ring keypullers, but this is the only one I'd recommend. The WASDkeyboards one is too hard of a plastic and could potentially scratch your keycaps (and that's why I sold it as well).

hmm... what you've said has never happened to me.. at least not yet...
the wire keypuller im using is the Filco one, the wires slid into the space pretty easily and you only apply little to moderate force to jerk out the keycaps, dont have to use too much force...

and also getting the keycaps out of the wire is very simple, i was wondering why would you said it is harder to get the caps out of the wires..

[The_Ed]

Did you try the wire keypuller on cherry doubleshots that are locked onto the switch stems? (This can only happen on keyboards that have the switches the right way up. Backlit keyboards have them upside-down.) The combination of ABS softness and pulling force dents them.

[rurushu]

Did you try the wire keypuller on cherry doubleshots that are locked onto the switch stems? (This can only happen on keyboards that have the switches the right way up. Backlit keyboards have them upside-down.) The combination of ABS softness and pulling force dents them.

oh, I've only used it on my rosewill rk-9000 stock keycaps, never tried on cherry doubleshots before (haven't had the chance to own any yet)...
btw, the switches on my board are upright.... cause they're not backlit...

guess I will come back to this thread again once I've tested the wire keypuller with a set of cherry doubleshots... 

[The_Ed]

I've harvested doubleshots and switches from dozens of NIB cherry POS boards. Those are REALLY tight as they have never been removed before.

[rurushu]

I've harvested doubleshots and switches from dozens of NIB cherry POS boards. Those are REALLY tight as they have never been removed before.

i see... will let you know after i've tested them... 

[SpAmRaY]

These are some of mine, I've got a few more scattered about.

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