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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: TypingNoob on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:17:10

Title: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: TypingNoob on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:17:10
So a guy i joined a group buy with for a varmillo with Cherry clears. His broke. Now im scared AF to take my keycaps off my own clears. I mean the stem broke off the damn switch. He was careful with the others. But when it came to a particular key, he tugged(claimed to remove it with the same force as the others) and it broke. Is that a freak accident? Or is that normal with cherry clears on Varmilo PBTs?
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:19:57
Cherry MX clears are known to fit tighter than other stems.

You just have to be careful.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:21:13
Like ray alluded to there's a bunch of discussion about this issue (http://bit.ly/2aO9n1T). The stems are slightly different shapes if I recall correctly so it makes some caps harder to remove. Just go slow and don't force it when you pull the caps off. I wouldn't worry about it too much.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: TypingNoob on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:29:36
Like ray alluded to there's a bunch of discussion about this issue (http://bit.ly/2aO9n1T). The stems are slightly different shapes if I recall correctly so it makes some caps harder to remove. Just go slow and don't force it when you pull the caps off. I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Thanks for the link. Im still scared. I knew i should have went with blues. :(
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: CPTBadAss on Fri, 05 August 2016, 11:35:24
I've probably owned this board with clears and 2 others that I harvested a while back. Never had any issues with pulling caps. There's nothing to be afraid of. You're building it up for no reason. Just go slow and don't force it.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: y11971alex on Fri, 05 August 2016, 16:04:12
[...]Is that a freak accident? Or is that normal with cherry clears on Varmilo PBTs?
It's a freak accident.  Cherries are symmetrical about both axes, so there's no particular direction on which the stems are especially vulnerable to fracture.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: rampantandroid on Fri, 05 August 2016, 16:45:33
Just built a board with clears. They ARE harder to remove, but if you go slow and you don't just pull HARD on it, you're fine. Apply constant gentle upward force and slowly rock right to left and back again. It'll slide off.


I mean...if you're SUPER worried, stick some silicone PTFE lube on the stems? Not sure it's a good idea, but you could do it.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: E3E on Fri, 05 August 2016, 17:36:41
Lubing the stems does help in removing them more easily. I've also heard of using a flat head screw driver to hold the stem body in place as the cap is pulled off.

Did your friend actually snap the stem or just pull it out of its housing? I wouldn't say he broke anything if it's the latter. That can be fixed without too much issue.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: jorgenslee on Fri, 05 August 2016, 17:51:31
I think part of the problem is the black cherry top. It has a tendency to deform and stretch when enough force is applied. I did experience it before on my sprit keyboard with mx clear/black cherry top. But currently didn't experience it on my duck viper with mx clear/gateron clear top.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Clear Stems
Post by: TypingNoob on Fri, 05 August 2016, 21:05:10
Lubing the stems does help in removing them more easily. I've also heard of using a flat head screw driver to hold the stem body in place as the cap is pulled off.

Did your friend actually snap the stem or just pull it out of its housing? I wouldn't say he broke anything if it's the latter. That can be fixed without too much issue.

He said the stem broke. But i saw him upload a picture this morning. The housing is off with the board and the spring still in place. Just and all that white plastic thingy on the table. Im watching a few videos how to remove it properly. I wanted to clean my board from time to time. Im not going to blow this up more than this issue needs to be. Thanks gents.