I used both LED and switch holtites on my build (and also on my Blackbird). They work pretty well, just make sure you use a soldering iron (without solder) to push them in for a second or two. The heat and pressure help fix them in place and prevent them from coming out when you're removing switches... although that's not a huge issue either way.
Last question - does the switches wobble when you type on them with the holtites on? I imagine it would be fine seeing that there's the plate on top, but I might be mistaken. Thanks again!!
There's no wobble. They're pretty hard to get out again, actually -- you really need a pair of tweezers that curve in toward each other to remove the switches easily once they're in. Honestly, I think if you're using PCB-mount switches you could go plateless and they still wouldn't wobble. The holtites do indeed 'hold tight'.
I used both LED and switch holtites on my build (and also on my Blackbird). They work pretty well, just make sure you use a soldering iron (without solder) to push them in for a second or two. The heat and pressure help fix them in place and prevent them from coming out when you're removing switches... although that's not a huge issue either way.
What kind of holtites did you use? and where to get it? (US)
Thanks man
johnthedong is right about the part numbers for the holtites. Specifically, I used 8134-HC-8P2 for switches and 8134-HC-5P2 for LEDs, both of which are the gold variants. The tin ones are much cheaper but I wanted completely invisible bling, for some reason.
As for where I bought them, I got mine from onlinecomponents.com, but there are many electronics suppliers that sell them. As electronics suppliers give you price-breaks on unit pricing as you purchase more units at once, in order to figure out where to buy them you'll want to do something like:
- Decide roughly how many you want / can afford right now
- Google up a bunch of suppliers for them
- Figure out who is cheapest based on the amount you want and cost of shipping to you
And remember, you need 2 per switch.