geekhack Community > Keyboards
blue switch feels less clicky after using isopropyl alcohol
poopeejohnson:
I had a problem with my blue switch mechanical keyboard's space bar where it sometimes double spaces when I only click it once, after research I found that this is called key chatter and almost all the online solutions to this was using 99% isopropyl alcohol so I bought some and did just that. However, after letting it dry for a couple hours or so the spacebar switch feels less clicky and more mushy when clicked on so it lost its blue switch click. What did I do wrong and how do I fix it?
pixelpusher:
--- Quote from: poopeejohnson on Fri, 19 August 2022, 09:45:11 ---I had a problem with my blue switch mechanical keyboard's space bar where it sometimes double spaces when I only click it once, after research I found that this is called key chatter and almost all the online solutions to this was using 99% isopropyl alcohol so I bought some and did just that. However, after letting it dry for a couple hours or so the spacebar switch feels less clicky and more mushy when clicked on so it lost its blue switch click. What did I do wrong and how do I fix it?
--- End quote ---
If I had chatter on a switch, the first thing I would try would be to reheat the solder on the pins of the switch. Chatter is often caused by a bad soldering joint, either under soldered (so that the switch pin moves slightly) or a cold solder joint. I don't know if you have a soldering iron though.
Usually when clicky switches lose the click it's because they have dirt or lubricating oils that have dampened or slowed down the click jacket so much that you can't hear it bounce (which is what causes the click). Sounds like you still have gunk in your switch... or the alcohol hasn't dried.
Also, on the no-click front, let's rule out issues with the space bar stabilizers. Remove the space bar and put a smaller keycap on the switch and press it. Does it click, or is it muted?
poopeejohnson:
I had the keyboard for more than a year now so I don't think it's a bad solder joint
I put a small keycap on the switch and it's muted so the stabilisers aren't the problem
It could be the case that the alcohol hasn't dried since I used it about 2 days ago, how long does it take to dry?
pixelpusher:
--- Quote from: poopeejohnson on Fri, 19 August 2022, 10:28:03 ---I had the keyboard for more than a year now so I don't think it's a bad solder joint
I put a small keycap on the switch and it's muted so the stabilisers aren't the problem
It could be the case that the alcohol hasn't dried since I used it about 2 days ago, how long does it take to dry?
--- End quote ---
Should dry out in a few hours, I would think. I mean, if you put 99% IPA on a tabletop, it dries within a few seconds. Did you turn it upside down and push the switch several times?
poopeejohnson:
I pushed the switch several times but I haven't turned it upside, no
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