[Video] Removing Cherry MX switch tops (PCB-mounted) and modding them

[DanGWanG]

Coming back from a wake n' bake sesh earlier [7], I wanted to fix one of the switches from the NCR I tuned up yesterday.  Something in those trees in my forest made me feel a little dangerous today, so I decided to make a video of my "repair" process.

A few disclaimers before you proceed:
1.  Yes, I just woke up =)
2.  I don't get too explicit on the details mostly because MMB has an excellent guide on this already.  MMB and Limmy are the master lubricaters!
3.  Most of the modding stuff was from Limmy's "Mod Package" (Item 2)
4.  Sorry the camera is out of focus so much, I'm pretty crappy with video and I had to zoom in quite a bit =/

Credits:
- MagicMeatball's Guide:  http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34332.0
- Limmy's Mod Kit and Switch top removal:  http://deskthority.net/post43053.html#p43053

[absyrd]

Nice roach-clip technique. I have made the mistake of getting my hands too lubed up and making a mess on a couple of occasions.

[DanGWanG]

I have made the mistake of getting my hands too lubed up and making a mess on a couple of occasions.

gross bro...

[The_Beast]

That binder clip thingy would have been super useful last night since I was doing the same kinda thing as you. Would you mind getting a better pic of it for me dan?

[MMB]

MMB and Limmy are the master lubricaters!

hehehehe

[MMB]

You so high, bro.

[DanGWanG]

That binder clip thingy would have been super useful last night since I was doing the same kinda thing as you. Would you mind getting a better pic of it for me dan?

Sure, it's Limmy's technique =)  He's posted some great photos here:  http://deskthority.net/post43053.html#p43053

[The_Beast]

Yea that one looks way better. I was using this to pry up the tab ONE at a time using the leg of the binder clip

[absyrd]

I have made the mistake of getting my hands too lubed up and making a mess on a couple of occasions.

gross bro...

You took it there. Not I.

[1stGenRex]

Would you mins posting a link to where I can get one of those mod kits?

[DanGWanG]

Would you mins posting a link to where I can get one of those mod kits?

The Mod Kit was something that I begged Limmy for =)  It wasn't anything that he sold regularly and was just helping a brotha out.

[1stGenRex]

Would you mins posting a link to where I can get one of those mod kits?

The Mod Kit was something that I begged Limmy for =)  It wasn't anything that he sold regularly and was just helping a brotha out.

Damn :/

But thanks for the video! I checked out your blog, and was pretty jelly of a few things there.

[nntnam]

Just made myself a binder clip and tried lubricating my dolch pac board's spacebar. The result is amazing! Thanks you Dan for the tutorial and thanks limmy for the lube ^^.

[DanGWanG]

Would you mins posting a link to where I can get one of those mod kits?

The Mod Kit was something that I begged Limmy for =)  It wasn't anything that he sold regularly and was just helping a brotha out.

Damn :/

But thanks for the video! I checked out your blog, and was pretty jelly of a few things there.

Thanks for the support dude =)  And yeah, sometimes it makes haters like cactux so jelly that it requires him to spam my threads

[WRXChris]

hahaha solid 7 for sure Dan   I've thanked limmy and MM for their lube advice, but I have yet to thank you!  So, thanks! 

I'm still not looking forward to desoldering / resoldering my ergo clear filco AGAIN, but you were right, it's totally worth it! (At least I used lead solder so the desoldering won't be nearly as bad as the RoHS stuff!)

[SmallFry]

I'll do that for you WRXChris. If you'd like that is...

[WRXChris]

I'll do that for you WRXChris. If you'd like that is...

haha no thanks smallfry! It's part of the fun, but desoldering 174 pins just takes so long without a hakko 808 that I despise it sometimes!

[squarebox]

I did a video a long, long, long time back...

Two-angled tweezers would've been perfect but I only have a pair at that time.

[alixinhzai]

it killed me (

[kilogeek]

That binder clip thingy would have been super useful last night since I was doing the same kinda thing as you. Would you mind getting a better pic of it for me dan?

Sure, it's Limmy's technique =)  He's posted some great photos here:  http://deskthority.net/post43053.html#p43053

THX alot, that's exactky

That binder clip thingy would have been super useful last night since I was doing the same kinda thing as you. Would you mind getting a better pic of it for me dan?

Sure, it's Limmy's technique =)  He's posted some great photos here:  http://deskthority.net/post43053.html#p43053

Thx alot, that's exactly what I was looking for ! Methods shown on youtube with screwdriver are messy, takes longer and u can easily break a top if getting nervous^^

[nubbinator]

[kilogeek]

yes and then ?

about Limmy's technique   http://deskthority.net/post43053.html#p43053

I just built these 2 parts, it works very well once inserted in the holes, but inserting is not so easy
as these clips are made of a bit too thick wire, so I had to use a file to make them easier to use,
just making the ends smoother.