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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: SpecTP on Fri, 24 October 2014, 12:19:39

Title: loose metal key cap
Post by: SpecTP on Fri, 24 October 2014, 12:19:39
some folks on the MD buy for the gold zinc key caps reported loose key stems.  I have a similar issue with my iron man key cap.  It's not gripping very well.  How do you guys fix this?  I tried scrimping the stems but that seems a poor idea since it may break if done too hard.  Any ideas?
Title: Re: loose metal key cap
Post by: divito on Fri, 24 October 2014, 12:25:32
This probably would have been better off in the Simple Questions thread.

However, to answer your question, the most common suggestion I've seen is to use something to fill the space, such as a small piece of paper or piece of plastic from a Ziploc bag or other type of plastic bag.
Title: Re: loose metal key cap
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 24 October 2014, 12:58:10
This probably would have been better off in the Simple Questions thread.

However, to answer your question, the most common suggestion I've seen is to use something to fill the space, such as a small piece of paper or piece of plastic from a Ziploc bag or other type of plastic bag.

I can confirm this works, at least for costar stab inserts.
Title: Re: loose metal key cap
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 25 October 2014, 01:13:31
Shrinkage, the main problem with metal strikes again.   You can always try some paper, saran wrap, painting the stem with acrylic, or any number of stopgap solutions to make the fitment tighter.
Title: Re: loose metal key cap
Post by: SpecTP on Mon, 27 October 2014, 12:48:18
I tried a small piece of paper and saran wrap.  It didn't help.  Will try the other suggestions.
Title: Re: loose metal key cap
Post by: meow a cat on Mon, 27 October 2014, 13:17:01
I tried a small piece of paper and saran wrap.  It didn't help.  Will try the other suggestions.

I have an MKC zinc escape keycap, and the fit was really bad on it. It was so loose that if I lifted my board up it would just fall right off. What I did was take a small piece of paper (maybe one inch by one inch?) and folded it three or four times and tore it until it was the right size to fit over the MX stem, placed it on top of the switch, and pressed down on the keycap until it went on. Now it's on there nice and solid. It took quite a bit of pushing to get it on the stem, but it comes off no problem. Perhaps your paper wasn't thick enough?