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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: zoolzoo on Mon, 04 November 2013, 19:38:54

Title: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: zoolzoo on Mon, 04 November 2013, 19:38:54
What methods do you guys use to pop open switches? Im going on an ergo clear adventure!
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: CPTBadAss on Mon, 04 November 2013, 19:40:24
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_LL
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Pacifist on Mon, 04 November 2013, 19:49:25
The binder clip thing
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: nubbinator on Mon, 04 November 2013, 21:14:12
I do the Limmy binder clip switch tool (http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/tipandtech/3520312) CPTBadAss linked too.  I like it better than The_Beast switch tool and it's cheaper.  It's just takes some futzing about to figure out the optimal shape for it.  Once you get that down, it's awesome.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Pacifist on Mon, 04 November 2013, 21:19:43
I do the Limmy binder clip switch tool (http://www.kbdmania.net/xe/tipandtech/3520312) CPTBadAss linked too.  I like it better than The_Beast switch tool and it's cheaper.  It's just takes some futzing about to figure out the optimal shape for it.  Once you get that down, it's awesome.

You tell me. Tried making one before seeing the pictures by hand bending it the wrong way, then looked and spent another hour trying to get them perfect. I've got two so far that are decent but aren't perfoming optimally ie not fitting right in there, needing a push, and not hitting the right part inside the switch
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: MKULTRA on Mon, 04 November 2013, 23:54:38
For non mounted switches, use a screwdriver.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: kenmai9 on Tue, 05 November 2013, 01:00:39
Two screwdrivers. Pop one side off, use the screwdriver to hold the switch down/prevent the switch from closing then pop the other side.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: MKULTRA on Tue, 05 November 2013, 09:12:59
Two screwdrivers. Pop one side off, use the screwdriver to hold the switch down/prevent the switch from closing then pop the other side.
I just hold the other side open with my finger.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: thegagne on Tue, 05 November 2013, 09:18:42
Abracadabra?
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: zoolzoo on Tue, 05 November 2013, 11:08:42
Abracadabra?

no
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Jocelyn on Tue, 05 November 2013, 11:10:02
Second set of Beast's tools? J/K, I actually gave them away for free :)
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 05 November 2013, 11:12:03
Second set of Beast's tools? J/K, I actually gave them away for free :)

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: PepperPanda on Wed, 06 November 2013, 00:45:56
I just use a guitar pick cut to fit the holes.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: zoolzoo on Fri, 08 November 2013, 11:24:33
I just use a guitar pick cut to fit the holes.

GOOD IDEA!
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 08 November 2013, 11:26:55
I just use a guitar pick cut to fit the holes.

Got any pics?....that sounds interesting.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: zoolzoo on Sat, 09 November 2013, 17:05:16
So I finally started taking my switches apart...this that hard at all. All you need is a a very small flat head screw driver, two hands, and some finger nails. I guess if you are taking them apart while mounted to a pcb its a different story?
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: MKULTRA on Sat, 09 November 2013, 18:34:58
So I finally started taking my switches apart...this that hard at all. All you need is a a very small flat head screw driver, two hands, and some finger nails. I guess if you are taking them apart while mounted to a pcb its a different story?
NVM
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Sun, 10 November 2013, 21:59:11
I found my work with a screwdriver to be painfully slow, while I waited for beast's switch tools in the mail. Just did my first run with them today and I took apart 100 switches in maybe 25 minutes.

Though the binders do look like they might be more comfortable to use. I'm having to press pretty hard to get the tool in the switch, and the fingers holding the switch are getting pretty chewed up. Maybe I'll file down the teeth a bit.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Sorn on Sat, 15 November 2014, 19:57:25
Good evening,

I myself am getting ready to take apart my mechanical key switches and was wondering how I could get a hold of one of the Beasts switch tools that I keep hearing about on these forums! Is there a website I can buy them at? Thank you in advance!
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: strict on Sun, 16 November 2014, 08:06:44
Good evening,

I myself am getting ready to take apart my mechanical key switches and was wondering how I could get a hold of one of the Beasts switch tools that I keep hearing about on these forums! Is there a website I can buy them at? Thank you in advance!

As far as I'm aware, they were sold in very limited quantities here in the classifieds. I've been looking to buy a set for close to a year now and haven't had anything even close to a chance at getting a set. He has some titanium ones that should be up for sale sometime in the near future.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Pemdas on Wed, 19 November 2014, 17:02:19
2 toothpicks crossed is the best. Cheap, reusable and almost everyone has some of them in their house already.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 19 November 2014, 18:11:20
2 toothpicks crossed is the best. Cheap, reusable and almost everyone has some of them in their house already.
Picture? Having a hard time visualizing.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: MGH on Wed, 19 November 2014, 19:34:57
2 toothpicks crossed is the best. Cheap, reusable and almost everyone has some of them in their house already.
Will they break easily?
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Pemdas on Wed, 19 November 2014, 20:46:28
(http://i.imgur.com/x099JaD.png)
 

Will they break easily?
They're more durable than you'd think. I used the same 2 toothpicks to open up 40 black switches and 2 other toothpicks to open about 100 clear switches(2 separate occasions).
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 19 November 2014, 20:48:49
2 toothpicks crossed is the best. Cheap, reusable and almost everyone has some of them in their house already.
Will they break easily?

You can use them to open the switch from the bottom: they should easily be strong enough for that.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 19 November 2014, 22:41:51
I found after getting really frustrated with binder clips that a pair of pointy tweezers does and excellent job.

(http://imgur.com/OwVZCdr.jpg)
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: 0100010 on Thu, 20 November 2014, 08:37:56
I'd like to have both types of tools.  The desk version for opening MX switches while they are unmounted :


(http://i.imgur.com/sjiX04Q.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/ucCM6P0.jpg)

Also one of Beast's tools for opening a switch while mounted in a plate (that works for such) :

(https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=62688.0;attach=79786;image)
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: margo baggins on Thu, 20 November 2014, 10:08:17
bent tweezers and a precision flat head :D I also do switches off the board.
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: Lastpilot on Thu, 20 November 2014, 20:42:15
Two small flathead screwdrivers...
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: epicepee on Fri, 21 November 2014, 19:51:31
0100010:  Where did you get that plastic opener?  Is it 3D printed?
Title: Re: If you dont have one of Beast's tools....
Post by: 0100010 on Sat, 22 November 2014, 10:30:43
Not mine, I only said I would like to have one.  Thread about them here :

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=64115.0