geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: noisyturtle on Wed, 03 July 2013, 23:25:11

Title: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: noisyturtle on Wed, 03 July 2013, 23:25:11

Doing some modding. Tired of using ghetto-ass switch housing separators and potentially damaging switches. Where can I find dedicated housing separators?

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 03 July 2013, 23:26:08

If you check the OP of the simple questions simple answers thread, there's some suggestions. And other ones besides The_Beast's switch tool

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 00:29:37

Exactly what CPTBadAss said.  By far, my favorite are modded binder clips.  I have The_Beast's switch tool, but I find myself going back to the binder clips more often.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: MKULTRA on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:09:25

I use a little screwdriver and just pop the tabs up.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: tipo33 on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:16:36

I use a pocketknife with a fine tip.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: actionbastard on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:21:29

Quote from: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 00:29:37

Exactly what CPTBadAss said.  By far, my favorite are modded binder clips.  I have The_Beast's switch tool, but I find myself going back to the binder clips more often.

Can you use the binder clip method on plate mounted switches?

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:27:52

Quote from: actionbastard on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:21:29

Can you use the binder clip method on plate mounted switches?

You can't open a plate mounted switch without desoldering it and popping it out of the plate unless you have a custom plate that allows you to do so.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: actionbastard on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:33:55

Alright so PCB mounted are the kind you can open, got it.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:36:32

Quote from: actionbastard on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:33:55

Alright so PCB mounted are the kind you can open, got it.

If your PCB mounted switches have LEDs, you'll still need to desolder the LEDs.

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: bazemk1979 on Thu, 04 July 2013, 02:16:29

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:36:32

Quote from: actionbastard on Thu, 04 July 2013, 01:33:55

Alright so PCB mounted are the kind you can open, got it.

If your PCB mounted switches have LEDs, you'll still need to desolder the LEDs.

and and when he is done desoldering he better mod the top switch cover so he don't have to deal again in near future, stock leds are fine and they don't need modding since they don't have that pad around I hate the most....

Title: Re: Where to get/what to use for switch housing pullers?
Post by: gnubag on Thu, 04 July 2013, 02:18:12

Quote from: nubbinator on Thu, 04 July 2013, 00:29:37

Exactly what CPTBadAss said.  By far, my favorite are modded binder clips.  I have The_Beast's switch tool, but I find myself going back to the binder clips more often.

this. If you make them correctly they are as good as the beast switch opener

http://www1.kbdmania.net/xe/tipandtech/3520312