De-soldering Alps switches

[fohat.digs]

I am removing the black Alps from a Dell AT101W and it is worrying me. I have removed switches before, but never from a board that I wanted to preserve and re-use.

The legs are all bent over, and I am nervous that I will scratch through traces attempting to bend them back upright.

After sucking most of the solder away, is there anything better than using a small flathead screwdriver to bend them back up?

Also, is there any particular trick to pulling them out, besides just pulling them out? Do most of you use fingers or pliers?

Thanks!

[CPTBadAss]

I used a small flathead screwdriver to straighten the legs on my FK2001 when I was harvesting the switches. I just pushed the switches out with my fingers.

[nubbinator]

Uggh, the bent legs is the absolute worst part of desoldering Alps.  And no matter how careful you are, some will have a small part break off.  Like CPTBadAss, I just carefully used a flathead screwdriver or my soldering tweezers.