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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: bilbo3000 on Thu, 09 August 2012, 14:32:44

Title: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: bilbo3000 on Thu, 09 August 2012, 14:32:44: Hi guys,
is there someone here who can tell me how to remove the keycaps from a DELL AT102W keyboard? It probably does have "complcated Alp switches". So far I only have experience with Cherry MX switches.

I recieved this board used and would urgendly like to clean it by removing the caps, wash them, clean the inside and so on. But the caps are so tightly fixed to the switches and I don't want to break keys by removing the caps with force.

Any suggestions? Am I save removing by just pulling? Or any trick available?

Thanks in advance!

Bilbo3000
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 09 August 2012, 15:31:20: Bend yourself a key puller out of 2 large paper clips.

The "store-bought" ones are better because the wires are thinner, but you can make this for nothing in a couple of minutes.

This is the only picture I could find, I have several in different styles that I will add later.

Pull gently but firmly, straight up, and rock gently from side to side.
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: bilbo3000 on Fri, 10 August 2012, 08:40:25: so it is basically the same procedure at with Cherry MX ? Sounds good!
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 10 August 2012, 08:54:18: Procedure is exactly the same, but Alps are harder to get off and more exacting.

And, as always, be especially careful on the ones with wire stabilizers.
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: spolia optima on Fri, 10 August 2012, 09:18:31: If you're faced with an ALPS cap that won't come off, slip 2 butter knives under the cap and slowly pry it loose, with a rocking motion, applying force evenly to the corners...
DON'T just pull harder with your keypuller because you will rip the switch right off the PCB, keycap still attached...
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: bilbo3000 on Fri, 10 August 2012, 16:29:44: Thanks a lot for your tips!
Especially the tip with the butter knives was very helpfull. I will write a letter of complaint to DELL that it is completely inacceptable how tight their keycaps are fitted to the switches!
Thank god everything went fine even though I had the impression that 104 keys were flying to the floor.

I'm writing this with my newly cleaned DELL AT102W. It will be a nice diversion for a few texts after usually writing with Cherry or Filco... :-)

Cheers
Bilbo3000
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 10 August 2012, 18:24:56: Alps are always tight, it has nothing to do with Dell. Also, they have not supplied those boards in a very long time.

Next time they will come off much easier, I predict.
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: spolia optima on Fri, 10 August 2012, 21:05:07: Naw, I'm sure that with a firmly-worded letter, Dell will start producing AT102Ws again, now with *new* looser-fitting keycaps!

If only anything was ever that simple..
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Sun, 12 August 2012, 04:42:28: I use the metal piece of one of those motherboard header to pci slot USB ports as my key puller. Or at least I would be if I knew where it went.

For alps I just pry from either of the short edges. For the most common orientation of the switch this would be either the left or the right side. Occasionally they go flying a bit, but other than that it works just fine. I had more difficulty with one of those plastic keypullers than I did with my method.
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: fohat.digs on Sun, 12 August 2012, 13:26:24: Each of these was bent from 2 large paper clips.

The rubbery knob is made from hot glue - it works well.
Title: Re: How to remove keycaps from DELL AT102W?
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 12 August 2012, 22:49:32: On the homemade wire keypullers, what's the distance between the two bends? (So average width of a keycap?)