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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Honq on Sat, 08 February 2014, 12:07:04

Title: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: Honq on Sat, 08 February 2014, 12:07:04
Messed up ABS spacebar on my QFR.

[attachimg=1]

The warping that causes the lift on the right end is actually forcing the costar stab inserts to pop out when I push on one end of the bar.

I have seen other people use weights and hair dryers on their PBT spacebar but I am afraid that would get too hot for ABS?

Any suggestions?
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Sat, 08 February 2014, 12:15:44
Using warm water to get it just hot enough to be bended back to its original straightness is more controllable than blowing hot air. Mine took water between 100 - 120 F for 10 minutes to be bended back to straight. I did it just by hand and the results was just OK.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: Honq on Sat, 08 February 2014, 12:47:40
Wow, would have never thought about hot water.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Sat, 08 February 2014, 12:54:59
Just be careful with the temperature, or your space bar will end up totally twisted. Use a thermometer just to be sure the water is not too hot.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: Honq on Sat, 08 February 2014, 13:06:51
hmm, I do not have a thermometer readily available to me.

That may be an issue...
I might just do increments of temperature starting from a bit hot to the touch and see how that works out.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Sat, 08 February 2014, 13:20:27
hmm, I do not have a thermometer readily available to me.

That may be an issue...
I might just do increments of temperature starting from a bit hot to the touch and see how that works out.


That would be ok, the bar should be get warm being like 10 minutes inside the water up to the point it feels warm in your hands but not really hot. That makes the all process very gradual and prevents the bar to bend. The reason for the original twist is the internal stress, that same stress may bend the bar again when it reaches high temperatures. ABS is a thermoplastic, meaning it will melt around 220 F. Half of that is pretty safe but the lower temperature would be always better, just to get it hotter enough to be malleable.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: tricheboars on Sat, 08 February 2014, 13:36:14
hair dryer. just dont go all crazy. i have used a hair dryer twice with great results.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: lolkey on Mon, 10 February 2014, 18:09:05
put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 10 February 2014, 18:17:01
put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool


Problem with this is that heat for 30 seconds may depends on oven power.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: lolkey on Mon, 10 February 2014, 18:38:40
put it in the microwave for 30 seconds, take it out, bend it, breathe it cool


Problem with this is that heat for 30 seconds may depends on oven power.

100 power and let 'er rip

(http://i.imgur.com/0fmjZJE.jpg)
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 10 February 2014, 18:49:53
There you are. That is my point. Water temperature could be easily controlled. Why mess with other heat sources that are hard to control.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: vestigev2 on Mon, 10 February 2014, 20:13:38
I think hair dryer is the easiest way...use flat surfaced weights/heavy objects to flatten the space bar out!
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ianxblog on Mon, 10 February 2014, 21:13:30
Hot water idea should work great.
Hair dryer may f**k everything up as it will maybe get to high and bend by the air.
I wouldn't trust a microwave.
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: 1pq on Mon, 10 February 2014, 22:56:08
lmao I can just imagine a thread popping up entitled "HELP I NUKED MY SPACEBAR"
Title: Re: Warped ABS spacebar fix?
Post by: ideus on Mon, 10 February 2014, 23:34:14
Haha. After that just an injection molding machine may get it right.