Very disappointed in mechanical keyboards now

[Aardwolf]

Hello,

I've been really happy with this mechanical keyboard for a year. I like the way it types so much, I can't even type on a regular keyboard anymore (requires such hard squichy presses).

But this has got to be a joke, right? The specs of my keyboard said: "gold plated connectors" "20 million keystrokes per key" or so.

But after 1 year, the "e" key does "chattering"? This makes it almost unusable. Even if only 1% of the times the "e" key gets duplicated (it's around 1% I think), it makes the keyboard more annoying than what it's worth.

And it's not like I've gone to WAR with this keyboard or so, just normal usage, and the "e" is even slightly less used than keys like "w", "a", "s" and "d"!

I've had the same cheap keyboards for YEARS and they never failed. And this one with its impressive claims becomes unusable after a year?

Seriously, is this really how it is with these cherry brown keyboards? Am I just unlucky maybe?

How long did your keyboard survive without problems?

[metafour]

You need to account for the keyboard manufacturer as well. What brand of keyboard is this?

[Aardwolf]

Filco.

[thegunner100]

You can try to fix the chattering by depressing the switch and then blowing some compressed air into it.

[Ascaii]

I would recommend opening the switch and blowing out the casing with compressed air. If you get dirt or particles of any kind in the switch chattering can happen, for example if it is lodged behind the contact leaf in the switch housing.

[kps]

Do try cleaning it with air, but occasionally a switch is just a dud. I had the "a" on my second Kinesis start to bounce after a couple months (they took care of it) while my first one has been going strong for 14 years.

One good thing about discrete-switch keyboards is that they are repairable. If the keyboard is out of warranty, if you have a soldering iron, you can get a new switch and replace it yourself. If you can't do that, and can't find anyone locally to help you, you can still sell the keyboard without losing too much, because many other people can.

[Jamesbeat]

At least you don't have to throw the whole thing out if a switch is broken, you can just change the offending switch.
See? Mechanical keyboards are still better than rubber domes even when they break!

[Aardwolf]

Can one get individual switches? It is still under warranty, but I think seeing someone I know soldering it is nicer than sending it abroad and then waiting...

[pitashen]

If there is anything particularly bad about the mechanical keyboards is its weakness against intruding liquid, dust, etc.

I bought a mechanical thinking the lasting-along-time is one of the main reason why I want one. In the end, it is really of secondary conern, lol.

[thegunner100]

You can get individual switches here: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts-1.html

If you have a majestouch 1, then you wont have to desolder the switch to get it out. Otherwise... then you'll have to.

[Aardwolf]

Do you mean, by majestouch 1, simply the "majestouch", i.e. the original one? Then it's indeed that one (not the newer version). The only thing holding me back from opening it myself for now, is the warrenty sticker! I'll see a bit more how it evolves first, and try to get access to compressed air somewhere...

[Jamesbeat]

Having opened my FK 2001 just to be nosy, I'd say that someone with even the most basic soldering skills could replace a switch no problem. The solder pads are comparatively huge and spaced out.

Aardwolf, whenever I feel apprehensive about opening something, (which is almost never nowadays, but confidence comes with experience) I always remember an article I read in a magazine when I was replacing the FDD in my Atari ST many years ago.

It said something along the lines of 'The Atari ST is assembled by 14 year old girls in Malaysia. If they can do it, so can you!'

Now, that's not quite true, as I guess those girls probably had some training and familiarity with the design, but the thing to remember is that these things are put together by someone no smarter than you.

A mechanical keyboard is pretty simple as far as these things go, and providing you don't force anything, I highly doubt you'll damage it.

I consider a warranty from a manufacturer in a different country to be pretty much useless simply because of the hassle and shipping times, so I would have punched through that warranty sticker without a second thought!

[kps]

I consider a warranty from a manufacturer in a different country to be pretty much useless simply because of the hassle and shipping times, so I would have punched through that warranty sticker without a second thought!

When I had the above-mentioned bouncing switch, Kinesis offered me three options:

• Send the keyboard back for repair. (Slow and expensive, since I'm in Canada and they ship UP$)
• Open the keyboard, remove the keywell, and send it back for repair. (Lighter, but still slow.)
• Have them send me a replacement switch, and solder it myself.

Naturally I took the third option. Both 2 and 3 were a pleasant surprise in this day of 'no user-serviceable parts' and obstructionist screw heads.

[Jamesbeat]

Wow, a manufacturer who doesn't treat its customers like morons!
I've often tried to buy a part for something, only to be told that they aren't sold to the public because we're too stupid to replace them ourselves, (I'm paraphrasing here) so it was refreshing to read that.

+1 to Kinesis

[demik]

You can get individual switches here: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts-1.html

If you have a majestouch 1, then you wont have to desolder the switch to get it out. Otherwise... then you'll have to.

Pretty sure mj1 are also plate mounted. So he will need to desolder

[fohat.digs]

And about the 14-year-old girls in Malaysia - after putting down thousands of switches a day for months, I dare say that most of them could probably replace switches far faster than most members of this forum, including me.

[sordna]

When I had the above-mentioned bouncing switch, Kinesis offered me three options:

• Send the keyboard back for repair. (Slow and expensive, since I'm in Canada and they ship UP$)
• Open the keyboard, remove the keywell, and send it back for repair. (Lighter, but still slow.)
• Have them send me a replacement switch, and solder it myself.

Naturally I took the third option. Both 2 and 3 were a pleasant surprise in this day of 'no user-serviceable parts' and obstructionist screw heads.

Cool, I also loved it when I ordered some parts and the lady on the phone told me to note that solder is not included. The "Engineering" point of view is even built into the Kinesis sales dept, not just their tech support.

[Henry Allen Venture]

Back to what the OP was saying:

How long did your keyboard survive without problems?

My original Majestouch (a.k.a. Majestouch 1) has lasted through almost three years of constant punishment. The thing is nearly invincible.
I've usually got A1 sized plans laid out on my desk at work, which I often just throw across the keyboard. While I can't see it, I often drop heavy files or books on top of it by accident, and it hasn't given up on me yet. I've also splashed coffee over it (never a deep spill, just a light spattering) a couple of times, and it still works like the day I got it. Its really dirty, but still works like a charm. I've bought a bunch more mechanical keyboards since, but I don't really love any of them like I do my Filco.

I guess what I'm trying to say is: You must be really unlucky. As some of the guys have said before, if blowing the switch housing out with compressed air doesn't work, all you have to do is swap the switch, and you should be good as new again.

[fohat.digs]

Electronic gear is notoriously unpredictable. Sometimes it craps out almost immediately, and sometimes just lasts and lasts.

Case in point - I had a Kingston flash drive, probably bought about 2007, which I used regularly for at least a year. My 12-year-old daughter needed one for school, and I let her have it. Being a careless kid, she left it in her pocket.

I put it through the laundry - washer and dryer - twice!

Not a problem. That was a couple of years ago, and it is STILL working flawlessly.

The lesson I took away from that is: who knows what will happen?

and - PS - I always buy Kingston flash drives now !

[mbc]

When I had the above-mentioned bouncing switch, Kinesis offered me three options:

• Send the keyboard back for repair. (Slow and expensive, since I'm in Canada and they ship UP$)
• Open the keyboard, remove the keywell, and send it back for repair. (Lighter, but still slow.)
• Have them send me a replacement switch, and solder it myself.

Naturally I took the third option. Both 2 and 3 were a pleasant surprise in this day of 'no user-serviceable parts' and obstructionist screw heads.

could you keep the warranty?

[gladiusgg]

mech kb is still so much better than rubber dome kb. its repairable and tonnes of fun to type with!

[Roguemaster8]

There are still Apple Extended II's, Model M's, and 20 year old Cherry keyboards that still work perfectly fine to this day.
Generalizing a chattering Filco with all mechanical keyboards is a little overdoing it don't you think?

Did you fix it yet?

[Bass]

I have had on and off chattering problems with my Choc Mini, as well as my roomate with his Filco. I can definitely confirm that most of the time it is simply because the switch gets dirty. An application of compressed air generally did the trick each time, though some of the offending keys were quite stubborn. If all else fails and you don't want to go through soldering, there are several AHK scripts out there that can help filter out any chatter, though they come at the price of limiting your typing speed.