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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:14:18

Title: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:14:18: So I wanted to know what everybody's favourite keycap pullers are.

The only ones I've used so far have been the WASD puller (wire) and one I got with my KC 84 (plastic ring pull). I have to say the plastic one (which I have recently lost, brilliant) is my favourite just because it is so easy to pull off multiple keycaps pretty quickly. The wire one is a pain because, on the keys I have used it on, it is too small for the cap which then comes off at an angle.

I know there actually aren't very many variations around, but which ones do you guys prefer using?
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20: Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)
Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:43:13: I like the cherry wire puller
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: The_Beast on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:46:47: MKC stainless steel one I got from a friend.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:59:04: Mostly using Techkeys wire one.

http://techkeys.us/collections/accessories/products/keycap-puller
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 03:23:00: Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20
Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
Show Image
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)

Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh. That makes a lot more sense now! Oops.

Also, I think the plastic ring pull one is easier to pull long ones out. Although I would love to see someone make a puller to get an ISO return key out without touching any others.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sat, 11 January 2014, 03:50:56: Quote from: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 03:23:00
Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20
Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
Show Image
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)

Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh. That makes a lot more sense now! Oops.

Also, I think the plastic ring pull one is easier to pull long ones out. Although I would love to see someone make a puller to get an ISO return key out without touching any others.

If you have one puller, ring is good for spacebars and the like. But what I do is for the spacebar, I take two paperclips, bend into a rectangle, and use those. Much better.

Ring scratches the caps, its really obvious in painted caps. Wire is smooth, and when you get used to it, its faster. Down, twist, up, knock out. Sometimes you don't even need to knock out until you have 2 or 3 on there.

With rings, its push down, click, up(sometimes doesn't stick correctly) then pop out, and repeat.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 04:07:58: I dunno about you guys, but the ring pullers I've received were only able to remove keycaps when used horizontally, not vertically. So it wasn't able to pull out spacebars/shifts without having one end lose grip.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 11 January 2014, 04:38:53: For the space bar, I remove both Alt keys and then use my fingers to gently lever it up, slightly rocking it back and forth.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 05:06:46: Yep, that's what I do. Wire keycap puller handles everything else with easy :thumb:

Currently using the MKC Stainless Steel one at home and the free ducky one at work
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 11 January 2014, 05:39:56: The MKC one is the best i ever used.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 06:51:46: Some previous threads you can look through to get some ideas also

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39943.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46003.0

My personal favorite is this one

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45795.msg967098#msg967098
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 07:03:36: Quote from: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 06:51:46
Some previous threads you can look through to get some ideas also

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39943.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46003.0

My personal favorite is this one

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45795.msg967098#msg967098

Hah, so ghetto!

Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 05:06:46
Yep, that's what I do. Wire keycap puller handles everything else with easy :thumb:

Currently using the MKC Stainless Steel one at home and the free ducky one at work

The MKC one looks awesome. Just another great GH thing I've missed out on :(
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 07:12:23: Quote from: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 07:03:36
Quote from: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 06:51:46
Some previous threads you can look through to get some ideas also

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=39943.0

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46003.0

My personal favorite is this one

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45795.msg967098#msg967098

Hah, so ghetto!

Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 05:06:46
Yep, that's what I do. Wire keycap puller handles everything else with easy :thumb:

Currently using the MKC Stainless Steel one at home and the free ducky one at work

The MKC one looks awesome. Just another great GH thing I've missed out on :(

You can get the MKC from geekhack user feng on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MKC-Stainless-Steel-Keycap-Puller-/330944917204
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: katushkin on Sat, 11 January 2014, 07:18:58: Quote from: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 07:12:23

You can get the MKC from geekhack user feng on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MKC-Stainless-Steel-Keycap-Puller-/330944917204

Ooo! Thank you! My wallet is screaming right not.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: ibell7945 on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:20:09: I just use the Medium Blade flathead screwdriver on my Leatherman. Then again, I have been at this very long . . . is there a specially designed keycap puller for BS boards?
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:23:41: Quote from: ibell7945 on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:20:09
I just use the Medium Blade flathead screwdriver on my Leatherman. Then again, I have been at this very long . . . is there a specially designed keycap puller for BS boards?

I have one that was supposed to be for IBM BS caps. It's weird looking.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:28:08: Quote from: ibell7945 on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:20:09
I just use the Medium Blade flathead screwdriver on my Leatherman. Then again, I have been at this very long . . . is there a specially designed keycap puller for BS boards?

I use a regular cherry puller
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:32:38: use a techkeys one, want a wooden nubbs one, or an original cherry one
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: ideus on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:33:25: A stainless steel butter knife. :) . Not for tight-fitted keys though. For those a wire puller is always better.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: fohat.digs on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:25:38: Leopold version is my favorite.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: vivalarevolución on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:31:08: The techkeys orange wire one. Because it's orange and easy to find if I misplace it.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:33:45: Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:32:38
use a techkeys one, want a wooden nubbs one, or an original cherry one

Nubbs makes some good pullers.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: ideus on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:45:42: Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:25:38
Leopold version is my favorite.

Leopold puller is a very nice one. I got one free included with the Fc660C. It is very nice.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:47:21: Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:33:45
Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:32:38
use a techkeys one, want a wooden nubbs one, or an original cherry one

Nubbs makes some good pullers.

I want one for looks :p
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: bueller on Sat, 11 January 2014, 22:38:06: Quote from: ideus on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:33:25
A stainless steel butter knife. :) . Not for tight-fitted keys though. For those a wire puller is always better.

Yeesh, that is just asking for trouble!
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: kurplop on Sat, 11 January 2014, 23:46:02: I just bought one from Nubbinator. Good craftsmanship, works great, looks great.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: kolonelkadat on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:06:33: Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20
Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
Show Image
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)

Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0
whats the difference?
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: terran5992 on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:07:15: Quote from: kolonelkadat on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:06:33
Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20
Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
Show Image
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)

Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0
whats the difference?

You might pull out the switch top
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: fourzeropooh on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:25:27: Quote from: kolonelkadat on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:06:33
Quote from: Zeal on Sat, 11 January 2014, 02:23:20
Wire keycap puller. It doesn't bruise the sides of my keys and I can remove longer unit keys.

I also think you're using the wire puller incorrectly. You're supposed to place the wires at a 45 degree angle so it latches onto the keycap corners, not along the whole keycap.

Like this:
Show Image
(http://puu.sh/6gXpG/662bd8c195.png)

Photo from BlueBar, http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46376.0
whats the difference?

1. In the first pic, you're pulling the cap only, not the switch with the cap attached.
2. This prevents you from pulling up the entire switch out of the PCB
3. NOTE: Only is affected when using PCB mounted switches, you won't pull up a switch using plate mounted ones.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: RESPRiT on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:28:29: Quote from: ideus on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:45:42
Quote from: fohat.digs on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:25:38
Leopold version is my favorite.

Leopold puller is a very nice one. I got one free included with the Fc660C. It is very nice.

Leopold puller is really nice, before then I had the cheap plastic ring one, but I just used paper clips instead.
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: kolonelkadat on Sun, 12 January 2014, 00:50:17: oh alright that makes sense . thanks guys
Title: Re: Keycap Pullers - Your favourites and preferences
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Sun, 12 January 2014, 03:08:16: Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:47:21
Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Sat, 11 January 2014, 21:33:45
Quote from: Dubsgalore on Sat, 11 January 2014, 20:32:38
use a techkeys one, want a wooden nubbs one, or an original cherry one

Nubbs makes some good pullers.

I want one for looks :p

Can't blame ya. They do look great. :)

(http://i.imgur.com/sSnkxJA.jpg)