geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Overpowered on Tue, 28 August 2012, 14:06:34

Title: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: Overpowered on Tue, 28 August 2012, 14:06:34
Hello guys, long time lurker, first time poster  :)

About week ago, my "3" key (not the one on the numpad, but the one above W and E keys) on my Filco Majestouch2-104key (bought from keyboardco) sometimes didnt register the keystroke and I had to repeat it. It usually worked on the second attempt so I thought its no big deal. But today I pressed it, nothing happened, then I pressed it to the end (no big force, normally) and since then its not registering the keystroke at all. It feels like it doesnt go all the way down compared to other keys, but its very very slight difference. Also it sounds little bit higher, again, very slight difference, doesnt have to mean anything. I suspect its some dirt though. I dont know if there is a way to open the switch without desoldering on plate-mounted switches, but I assume there is not.

So obviously I need to change and/or clean the switch...
Problem 1 - I have never soldered/desoldered, do not know how to do it and have no equipment to do it. I am also not very manually skilled so I would be worried as I could damage the keyboard with my luck... :-[
Problem 2 - the warranty from keyboardco is most likely over, as I bought it in early 2011 and on their website they say warranty is for 1 year

The best solution for me would be to send it somewhere to repair it, but I have no idea where to and as I live in Czech republic, it can get quite expensive if its outside continental Europe.

So, what to do?

Thanks for reading!
Title: Re: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: Overpowered on Wed, 29 August 2012, 07:16:26
I wrote email to keyboardco and supposedly they are not able to help at all since their tech guy is on vacation, so you guys are my only hope  :-[
Title: Re: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: Alessandro on Wed, 29 August 2012, 07:19:14
There are plenty of tutorials on removing switches, just find some of those and you should be ok. Just make sure you do your research into how to do it properly and you'll be fine!
Title: Re: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: PointyFox on Wed, 29 August 2012, 19:39:10
Soldering irons are very useful.  Once I saw a guy fix his soldering iron with the same one he was using.  Don't try it at home.
Title: Re: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 29 August 2012, 20:04:10
Vaguely related link: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34574.0
Title: AW: Re: One switch on Filco is not working
Post by: mbc on Wed, 29 August 2012, 21:53:51
Quote from: Overpowered on Tue, 28 August 2012, 14:06:34
The best solution for me would be to send it somewhere to repair it, but I have no idea where to and as I live in Czech republic, it can get quite expensive if its outside continental Europe.

So, what to do?

Thanks for reading!
You can ask over at deskthority.net, there are plenty eu ppl there, that can solder