how to remove a broken MX clear stem from a pbt keycaps?

[jonathanyu]

  Just try to put on the cherry dyesub on my board, and found that there is a clear stem stuck under the "5" keycaps, and the clear stem is not from my board....

anyone have idea how to remove it without breaking the caps? 
got a really bad feeling right now....

[HPE1000]

If you have a thumb tack, that is what I would do. Just poke into it and then pull it out. Or if you have a really beefy needle you don't care if you bend up that would work as well.

[FrostyToast]

Just try to put on the cherry dyesub on my board, and found that there is a clear stem stuck under the "5" keycaps, and the clear stem is not from my board....

Show Image

anyone have idea how to remove it without breaking the caps?  :'(
got a really bad feeling right now....

Could you not use a toothpick to nudge it out and tweezers to pull it out?

[rowdy]

Whatever you do, PLEASE wear eye protection before you start.  We don't want little pieces of plastic or, worse, metal getting into your eye!

[pichu23]

Use a slanted tweezer. That might help. Just slowly poke/pull the piece.

[ConscienceDrop]

Whatever you do, PLEASE wear eye protection before you start.  We don't want little pieces of plastic or, worse, metal getting into your eye!

listen to this guy, i lost an eye working with something small and things going really bad fast!

[jonathanyu]

If you have a thumb tack, that is what I would do. Just poke into it and then pull it out. Or if you have a really beefy needle you don't care if you bend up that would work as well.

Just tried using thumb tack, the stem doesn't come out at all and seems getting deeper in the hole...

Just try to put on the cherry dyesub on my board, and found that there is a clear stem stuck under the "5" keycaps, and the clear stem is not from my board....

Show Image

anyone have idea how to remove it without breaking the caps?  :'(
got a really bad feeling right now....

Could you not use a toothpick to nudge it out and tweezers to pull it out?

tried used toothpick and tweezers, the stem doesn't move at all

Use a slanted tweezer. That might help. Just slowly poke/pull the piece.

seems a tweezers can't grip the stem  :-\

Whatever you do, PLEASE wear eye protection before you start.  We don't want little pieces of plastic or, worse, metal getting into your eye!

Thanks for the reminder!

[jacobolus]

I highly recommend buying some cheap dental picks. You can get a set for $4–5, and they come in handy all the time when doing electronics work or any kind of hobby work on small projects.

Not just you, OP, but everyone who plays with keyboards. Especially anyone who is soldering/desoldering stuff.

[nubbinator]

Get a small drill bit and drill the center out.  Then use a cheap small screw tap or manually screw in a small screw and slowly start pulling it out.  If it strips, you may have to try and drill parts of it out, then go at it with an Xacto knife or something.

If you're too scared to try, you can send it my way and I'll send it back, just pay for shipping.

[ideus]

I'd go for a round dental scratcher to pull the plastic bits out, after keep the key cap in the freezer overnight. If possible adjust your freezer thermostat under 0 F.

[kaotikb]

I managed to get a broken stem out using the tip of a knife, but that was on a brown stem which came out easily.

[Mr.Tumor]

I'd use c4 if you can get some.

[Rainbow_]

I'd use c4 if you can get some.

I prefer just using acid. It sure gets rid of the stem!

[ComradeSniper]

I'd go for a round dental scratcher to pull the plastic bits out, after keep the key cap in the freezer overnight. If possible adjust your freezer thermostat under 0 F.

That's a really good idea, I bet a dental pick would get it out easily.

[jonathanyu]

Get a small drill bit and drill the center out.  Then use a cheap small screw tap or manually screw in a small screw and slowly start pulling it out.  If it strips, you may have to try and drill parts of it out, then go at it with an Xacto knife or something.

If you're too scared to try, you can send it my way and I'll send it back, just pay for shipping.

I think I will try this method because the clear stem broke very smooth in the keycaps, so I cant use a tweezers to pull it out.... Let me dig out my drill from the basement

[Oobly]

I agree that a dental pick (the kind used by a dental hygienist to scrape off placque) is the best way to get it out.

[mz/x]

Drop a little oil in the hole such as WD40 and then use a needle. (Use circular motions so the oil will go all over. Sometimes you need to wait 5 minutes to allow the oil to do the trick.) Bend the very tip of the needle so you can get a good grip when you will pull it vertically using carving motions.

[RavenII]

Thin...TIHN assed pin/needle warm it up slightly, insert as far in without poking through, wait until it cools off...pull out :-)

[rowdy]

Well jonathanyu, what happened?  Were you able to extract it without negatively affecting your occular ability?

[Lpwl]

Try this.

[Puddsy]

Well jonathanyu, what happened?  Were you able to extract it without negatively affecting your occular ability?

Or, more importantly, your keycaps?

[0100010]

If the cap is PBT, you could put a couple drops of acetone in to soften the broken off stem - then use a needle / dental pick / etc.

[dashing_girlboy]

not sure if you got the stem out already. maybe a combination of WD40 and vacuum can do the trick. You can use a needle to try wriggle it a bit while trying to vacuum the stem out.

[mrs1986]

I don't know the size of that part of a key, im still waiting for my first mechanical keyboard... But, you can try a dab of superglue with a toothpick, hold it steady and try, don't know, i would have done that to see if i can get it out...

[HPE1000]

I don't know the size of that part of a key, im still waiting for my first mechanical keyboard... But, you can try a dab of superglue with a toothpick, hold it steady and try, don't know, i would have done that to see if i can get it out...

I wouldn't, superglue usually spreads when I use it. So I don't see how it wouldn't just ooze into the cracks between the stem and keycap and then be stuck there forever

[SpikeBolt]

Show Image

Try this.

Gold XD

[ideus]

Oh sh...?

Show Image

Try this.

Gold XD

[Geroximo]

exactly the same problem here, cannot get it out  help

EDIT: I don't have a drill

[rowdy]

exactly the same problem here, cannot get it out  help

EDIT: I don't have a drill

Eye protection is critical - please wear some!

Can you poke a toothpick into it?  Or wiggle it just enough to be able to grip it with pliers?