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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Willyc277 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 21:33:30

Title: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Willyc277 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 21:33:30
Trying to make some stickered, lubed, 62g ergo-clears. Having trouble with the stickers. They don't seem to fit very well and don't stick for ****e. Just wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong, or if they are just this f***ing difficult to install.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 21:34:52
Trying to make some stickered, lubed, 62g ergo-clears. Having trouble with the stickers. They don't seem to fit very well and don't stick for ****e. Just wondering if there's something I'm doing wrong, or if they are just this f***ing difficult to install.
They can be a pain. When I did it, I used a small flat head screwdriver to stick the stickers on, then transferred them to the switch. After that I made sure to press down on them so they stuck.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: heedpantsnow on Thu, 19 March 2015, 21:54:04
Tweezers + toothpicks make it easier. Still not easy though.

I know a lot of folks say they don't make much difference but I really love the feel of stickers switches. So much more...solid feeling.

Anyway, it's worth the trouble.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: DrHubblePhD on Thu, 19 March 2015, 21:54:52
A pair of tweezers is really helpful for keyboard modding in general. That said, stickers a pain either way.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: exitfire401 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:04:22
Tweezers. Only thing I'll ever use for stickering.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:19:31
They are just a pain. I don't sticker any of my switches anymore. It's too much effort for really no gain.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Willyc277 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:25:30
Got 11 (out of 61) all put together before work today using tweezers, will try a flathead! They just don't wanna stick to the housing! Also they get a little squished by the posts that hold the switch together. Anyone have photos of stickers done right? Mine just look sloppy. I'll get some rest and give it another shot in the morning!!
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:28:52
Got 11 (out of 61) all put together before work today using tweezers, will try a flathead! They just don't wanna stick to the housing! Also they get a little squished by the posts that hold the switch together. Anyone have photos of stickers done right? Mine just look sloppy. I'll get some rest and give it another shot in the morning!!
My only picture I have of stickers

(http://i.imgur.com/AJ2aIZ2.jpg)
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Synjin on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:33:46
Those sharp tweezers with a bend on the tip works best for this so you don't have to work with weird angles.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Willyc277 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:35:04
Thank you!! Mine are nowhere near that clean looking. Looks like it's back to the drawing board!
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Willyc277 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:38:48
Those sharp tweezers with a bend on the tip works best for this so you don't have to work with weird angles.

I'll have to stop by Walgreens later! Thanks!!
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: sethk_ on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:39:02
I used 1 small flathead, and that was it. You kind of have to stretch the sticker, but they really aren't that hard, just takes time.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:39:44
Those sharp tweezers with a bend on the tip works best for this so you don't have to work with weird angles.
This is what I used.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: jonathanyu on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:45:36
It's a surprise to me that you guys don't like to sticker your own switches and use tools for stickering   :blank:
I love stickering switches, and I use my nail for stickering
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: HPE1000 on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:46:29
It's a surprise to me that you guys don't like to sticker your own switches and use tools for stickering   :blank:
I love stickering switches, and I use my nail for stickering
I cut my nails as short as I can so that really isn't an option :P
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: sethk_ on Thu, 19 March 2015, 22:49:19
I just tried doing it with tweezers, and it takes a lot longer than just using a flathead screwdriver. I would recommend a flat head screwdriver for stickering
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 19 March 2015, 23:50:23
It's a surprise to me that you guys don't like to sticker your own switches and use tools for stickering   :blank:
I love stickering switches, and I use my nail for stickering

Brb, packing up all my switches to send to you for stickering... ;)
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Thu, 19 March 2015, 23:53:54
Anyone else have issues with stickers and SIP sockets?
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: ghostjuggernaut on Thu, 19 March 2015, 23:57:23
The only advice I can give, that hasn't already been said, is remove all the excess vinyl on the sheet. It made removing the stickers incredibly easy. Sure it took some time, but when it came to stickering, it went quickly.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: naasfu on Fri, 20 March 2015, 00:56:34
My only picture I have of stickers

those green stickers are sexy.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: jonathanyu on Fri, 20 March 2015, 01:15:11
It's a surprise to me that you guys don't like to sticker your own switches and use tools for stickering   :blank:
I love stickering switches, and I use my nail for stickering
I cut my nails as short as I can so that really isn't an option :P

I left my nail little bit long, it's really useful while stickering  :p better than tweezers imo

It's a surprise to me that you guys don't like to sticker your own switches and use tools for stickering   :blank:
I love stickering switches, and I use my nail for stickering

Brb, packing up all my switches to send to you for stickering... ;)


send me few thousand switches, so i have something to do in the weekend  :p
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 20 March 2015, 01:46:28
I use a small flathead screwdriver. I place the thinner (top / bottom? depends on which way round your switch is installed, the side with the contacts) edge on the switch base first and then run the screwdriver flat edge over the sticker as I position it all the way round / stretch it over the slider posts and make sure it's in place in all the most important spots.

I have recently compared stickered and non stickered 62g ErgoClears with SA profile caps and the stickers make a big difference. If you look at a non-stickered switch and wiggle the keycap you can see the top casing moving around. The sticker stops this and really improves the stability of the slider and keycap, especially with taller caps.

Recommended, despite the effort it takes to install them.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Novus on Fri, 20 March 2015, 02:29:28
We need to make a do stickers matter poll.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Fri, 20 March 2015, 02:32:44
We need to make a do stickers matter poll.

They give you swag but do nothing.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 20 March 2015, 03:47:54
We need to make a do stickers matter poll.

They give you swag but do nothing.

I beg to differ. I should make a little video showing the difference between some identical switches with and without stickers. They make a marked difference to slider and keycap stability. It's easily noticed with SA keycaps.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: Joey Quinn on Fri, 20 March 2015, 04:03:57
We need to make a do stickers matter poll.

They give you swag but do nothing.

I beg to differ. I should make a little video showing the difference between some identical switches with and without stickers. They make a marked difference to slider and keycap stability. It's easily noticed with SA keycaps.

I suppose that SA may be different just due to the height and the leverage the cap has on the switch but with cherry I don't notice a difference. I guess it depends on whether you press the key straight down or at an angle.
Title: Re: Switch sticker application guide? Having a lot of trouble installing mine.
Post by: heedpantsnow on Fri, 20 March 2015, 06:42:52
I tell myself that they make a difference. You tell yourself they don't. Tp tells himself that he's the king of the universe. Maybe we are all correct?