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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: lolkey on Mon, 11 August 2014, 15:43:12

Title: Magic Key Puller
Post by: lolkey on Mon, 11 August 2014, 15:43:12
Why hasn't anyone made a rubberized keypuller instead of the traditional metal wire frame ones? Even a wireframe coated in a thin rubber will do. After a few months of pulling caps, I've noticed I've accumulated some very fine scratches on the case from the puller bouncing/scraping on the case.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 11 August 2014, 16:20:44
Like a rubber-coated whisk.... yeah, why hasn't someone done that yet?
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 11 August 2014, 16:47:23
Like a rubber-coated whisk.... yeah, why hasn't someone done that yet?


I thought about that, but then decided that it'd be too thick to get between the keycaps. I imagine that's part of the reason it hasn't been made.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: HPE1000 on Mon, 11 August 2014, 16:53:41
I just want a magic key puller that doesn't dig into my keycaps, forget scratches. The wire key pullers can sometimes get a bit crazy and dent/dig into keycaps. They seem to work fine on really hard keycaps like the stock ones that come on keyboards, and WASDkeyboards keycaps, but my wire keypuller can at times dig into the sharp edges on cherry keycaps and dent them. Does this happen to anyone else?
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Zeal on Mon, 11 August 2014, 17:14:13
I just want a magic key puller that doesn't dig into my keycaps, forget scratches. The wire key pullers can sometimes get a bit crazy and dent/dig into keycaps. They seem to work fine on really hard keycaps like the stock ones that come on keyboards, and WASDkeyboards keycaps, but my wire keypuller can at times dig into the sharp edges on cherry keycaps and dent them. Does this happen to anyone else?

You're not the only one. It's especially noticeable when you pull stabilized Cherry keys, with clear switches.  :eek:
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: absyrd on Mon, 11 August 2014, 17:15:32
I just want a magic key puller that doesn't dig into my keycaps, forget scratches. The wire key pullers can sometimes get a bit crazy and dent/dig into keycaps. They seem to work fine on really hard keycaps like the stock ones that come on keyboards, and WASDkeyboards keycaps, but my wire keypuller can at times dig into the sharp edges on cherry keycaps and dent them. Does this happen to anyone else?

I chipped my Miz Kite CC with a regular rounded wire keypuller even while removing it delicately. I cried.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: HPE1000 on Mon, 11 August 2014, 17:19:42
I just want a magic key puller that doesn't dig into my keycaps, forget scratches. The wire key pullers can sometimes get a bit crazy and dent/dig into keycaps. They seem to work fine on really hard keycaps like the stock ones that come on keyboards, and WASDkeyboards keycaps, but my wire keypuller can at times dig into the sharp edges on cherry keycaps and dent them. Does this happen to anyone else?

I chipped my Miz Kite CC with a regular rounded wire keypuller even while removing it delicately. I cried.
I know that feel, I dented my revenge red CC pretty bad with the puller as well, but luckily I was able to just sort of "push" the plastic back into place and you would never know it happened. But at the time I was freaking out pretty bad lol

I just want a magic key puller that doesn't dig into my keycaps, forget scratches. The wire key pullers can sometimes get a bit crazy and dent/dig into keycaps. They seem to work fine on really hard keycaps like the stock ones that come on keyboards, and WASDkeyboards keycaps, but my wire keypuller can at times dig into the sharp edges on cherry keycaps and dent them. Does this happen to anyone else?

You're not the only one. It's especially noticeable when you pull stabilized Cherry keys, with clear switches.  :eek:
Yep, my cherry keycaps are on clear switches and cherry stabs. It is so hard to get them off the switch :(
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: FrostyToast on Mon, 11 August 2014, 17:23:49
If you coated just the top inner part of the wire then it wouldn't be too thick to use on caps
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: lolkey on Mon, 11 August 2014, 18:32:55
Something like a double zipper handle would prob work, like below, just double the loops, make them thinner, and add a good handle. then you can put a small oring at the top of the loops that you slide down to tighten the grip and make it more snug to pull! whoever makes these, i want full creative control and 99% of profit. :))

(http://i.imgur.com/IhtJf2Al.jpg)
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: nubbinator on Mon, 11 August 2014, 22:07:00
Plastidip may help, but the main issue with rubberizing the wire is that it wouldn't hold up well and it would add thickness or detract from the strength of the wire.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: qwack on Tue, 12 August 2014, 06:06:29
It may be possible with thin wire (paper clips ?) and heatshrink tubing, but aside from the added thickness the fact that the tubing might not slide well against the key might be an issue.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Oobly on Tue, 12 August 2014, 06:11:11
Use your teeth.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Oobly on Tue, 12 August 2014, 06:13:33
Plastidip may help, but the main issue with rubberizing the wire is that it wouldn't hold up well and it would add thickness or detract from the strength of the wire.

I think this is a good idea. Dip your Filco style puller in Plastidip or liquid latex and hold the loops apart while it dries. Should do the job for a while, but it my not last very long and may be harder to get between the caps.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 12 August 2014, 06:17:11
Maybe some 'sugru' could do it?
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 12 August 2014, 06:58:03
[attachimg=1]

hamblet keypuller is a magic keypuller

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45795.msg967098#msg967098 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45795.msg967098#msg967098)
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: epicepee on Sun, 17 August 2014, 11:59:35
I have some Kevlar fishing line that I plan to make into a key puller.  Two loops of that and a 3D printed handle, no more scratches.
Title: Re: Magic Key Puller
Post by: Eszett on Sun, 17 August 2014, 12:07:59
Some paper-clips are coated with plastic. So you just need to bring them into the right shape to use them as keypuller.

[attachimg=1]