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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Pavilions on Sun, 10 June 2018, 05:19:10

Title: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: Pavilions on Sun, 10 June 2018, 05:19:10
I just received my Whitefox with Cherry MX Clears, I and it's really stiff, so I found some articles about the Ergo-Clear mod but I couldn't find anything that is related to the Whitefox...

can I do this process without desoldering the Keyboard? is it possible to do it from the exterior only by removing the keycaps?

also, what are the things that I'm going to need? I do have some cherry MX brown switches with their springs can I swap them?

Thanks
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Sun, 10 June 2018, 07:31:08
The important thing to do the mod without soldering is holes in the plate - pop off a keycap, if the holes are tight around the switch you'll need to desolder, if there's a long thin gap or two short gaps down the sides you can take the tops off and do the mod.

If you can do it you'll need a tool to take the switch tops off, you can make one or if you're in the US you can buy these (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1363), if you're non-US send a PM to 00zeRo (https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;area=pmprefs;u=32059) (who runs the site) and he can send a paypal invoice without the expensive insured shipping.

As to the springs it's personal choice, if you use heavy keycaps you may find they don't pop up reliably using brown springs but they're free so could be a good place to start.
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: Pavilions on Sun, 10 June 2018, 20:02:20
The important thing to do the mod without soldering is holes in the plate - pop off a keycap, if the holes are tight around the switch you'll need to desolder, if there's a long thin gap or two short gaps down the sides you can take the tops off and do the mod.

If you can do it you'll need a tool to take the switch tops off, you can make one or if you're in the US you can buy these (https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1363), if you're non-US send a PM to 00zeRo (https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;area=pmprefs;u=32059) (who runs the site) and he can send a paypal invoice without the expensive insured shipping.

As to the springs it's personal choice, if you use heavy keycaps you may find they don't pop up reliably using brown springs but they're free so could be a good place to start.

I have uploaded pictures here you can check the switch and if it can be disassembled or not?

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3][attach=4][attach=5]
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Mon, 11 June 2018, 03:43:41
Yes those are the best switch cutouts with two short gaps on each side so you can take the tops off while still supporting the switch.  Not surprising on a community designed board :thumb:
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: JianYang on Mon, 11 June 2018, 04:21:12
Yes those are the best switch cutouts with two short gaps on each side so you can take the tops off while still supporting the switch.  Not surprising on a community designed board :thumb:

But it does not work with the led installed like in the photos - at the very least they will have to come out.
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Mon, 11 June 2018, 06:35:01
Yes those are the best switch cutouts with two short gaps on each side so you can take the tops off while still supporting the switch.  Not surprising on a community designed board :thumb:

But it does not work with the led installed like in the photos - at the very least they will have to come out.
Good point!  LEDs are worse to remove than switches too.

I really should wake up before posting :-[
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: Pavilions on Mon, 11 June 2018, 06:36:14
Yes those are the best switch cutouts with two short gaps on each side so you can take the tops off while still supporting the switch.  Not surprising on a community designed board :thumb:

But it does not work with the led installed like in the photos - at the very least they will have to come out.

Yes, I bought the needed tools to open it and mod it, but one of the LEDs is damaged where can I buy the same white LED so I can replace it?
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: Pavilions on Mon, 11 June 2018, 06:37:26
Yes those are the best switch cutouts with two short gaps on each side so you can take the tops off while still supporting the switch.  Not surprising on a community designed board :thumb:

But it does not work with the led installed like in the photos - at the very least they will have to come out.

do you know where can I find similar LED? I need to buy one since one of them is damaged and I need to replace it :)
Title: Re: Whitefox Ergo-Clear Mod Help!?
Post by: donut_sauce on Mon, 11 June 2018, 07:35:46
A lot of vendors on eBay sell LEDs.