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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: moonexe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 13:56:51

Title: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: moonexe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 13:56:51

So I just received my brown switches today, and I'm attempting to do the change in my keyboard... So far I did the arrow keys only, with the paperclip method, and it took me forever (and I lost a black spring in the process, yay)...
Is there a better way of doing this? If I keep going, it'll take me a few hours to do the whole keyboard...

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 10 January 2014, 13:58:23

Some suggested tools for switch opening can be found here (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0#post_LL).

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: riotonthebay on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:00:46

If you have one laying around, a binder clip tool is what I'd recommend. It's what I used before I got a The_Beast switch tool and I much preferred it to the screw driver method.

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:10

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-test-probe-set-1816.html) (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_18342.jpg)

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:51

I live my life on the edge. I use only the pointy ones :P

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: moonexe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:31:52

The binder clip thingy is what I'm using... I'm done with half of the numpad now. :-X
This is gonna be a long afternoon...

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:40:46

Quote from: jdcarpe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:10

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-test-probe-set-1816.html) (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

Show Image

(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_18342.jpg)

What are you referring to as the rounded one....gonna have to find one and try it out....

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 10 January 2014, 16:22:06

I use two 1.2mm precision screwdrivers. One to pop the tab, then I slide the other one inside (just be careful not to jam it into the crosspoint leafs or you could severely deform them and trash the switch) so the switch can't shut and do the other side. I can open up a whole full size in about 15 minutes doing this way. For loose switch I just slide the screwdriver under the tab from the bottom and work my way around.

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: jdcarpe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 16:24:51

Quote from: SpAmRaY on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:40:46

Quote from: jdcarpe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:10

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-test-probe-set-1816.html) (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

Show Image

(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_18342.jpg)

What are you referring to as the rounded one....gonna have to find one and try it out....

The one on the top in that image. If you saw it IRL you would see what I mean. It's shaped like a scythe, but the angle of that image makes it look kinda wonky.

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: moonexe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 18:37:03

I just finished... :rolleyes:
Let's hope experience makes this quicker

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: bazemk1979 on Sat, 11 January 2014, 08:04:17

Quote from: CPTBadAss on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:51

I live my life on the edge. I use only the pointy ones :P

Wow such a daredevil

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: Wildcard on Sat, 11 January 2014, 09:30:07

Show Image

Quote from: jdcarpe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 14:25:10

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (http://www.harborfreight.com/5-piece-test-probe-set-1816.html) (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).
(http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_18342.jpg) (http://www.harborfreight.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/m/image_18342.jpg)

Say it ain't so Joe. Really? I wouldn't throw those out, they work great when soldering/de-soldering.

 

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 11 January 2014, 09:33:03

Quote from: moonexe on Fri, 10 January 2014, 18:37:03

I just finished... :rolleyes:
Let's hope experience makes this quicker

take a photo of the clips you've bent.... perhaps the angle is not optimal

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: regack on Sat, 11 January 2014, 09:41:02

I use two of these beadalon curved tweezers:


[attach=1]



I was going to get The_Beast's tools, but I used these in a pinch and got so used to them I don't feel the need anymore.  The tips are fine enough for placing components and helping with desoldering, so they see multiple uses, including pulling out the occasional splinter.

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: lilky on Sat, 11 January 2014, 14:47:42

Yeah I'm currently doing an ergo clear mod on one of my keyboards and I'm dying to get my hands on a switch tool because the binder clip method takes like 10 years to pull off.

Title: Re: Opening switches... Without going insane?
Post by: Moosecraft on Sat, 11 January 2014, 15:01:39

I use curved tweezers and a small flathead screwdriver