How hard can you press on the key caps?

[bartkl]

Hi,

I just received my Filco Majestouch II (TKL) Ninja and I'm crazy about it! I dislike the WIndows logo Win-keys though, so I tried switching them with the supplied blank keys. However, one of those ends up slghtly higher than the other keycaps, and the other is even a lot higher. I tried pressing them on quite hard, but with no effect. So, I decided to be satisfied with the logo keys.

Now, the funny thing is that I am not so much wondering if people have experienced this trouble getting the keycaps to fit as well - even though I am definitely interested to know! - but I would like to know: how much can these Cherry MX Brown switches handle when pushing on them hard? Is it possible I caused damage that decreases the life span of the key switch, even though the key feels just fine?

I'm somewhat ashamed posting this, but I am kind of an obsessive person and therefore any kind of comfort I can find regarding this small issue is very welcome and can restore my carefree happiness with this product!

Thank you very much.

[ComradeSniper]

You would have to push very, very hard to damage the switch.

[IvanIvanovich]

Some keycap are very tight first time they are put on. Just keep pressing down until they are properly seated. It's very hard to damage switch from pressing straight down, just don't press sideways with great force as that will probably break off the stem inside the keycap.

[berserkfan]

just make sure you are talking about keycaps meant for the right rows. If a keycap meant for a higher row is placed in a lower row, no matter how hard you press, the keycap will be higher!

Hi,

I just received my Filco Majestouch II (TKL) Ninja and I'm crazy about it! I dislike the WIndows logo Win-keys though, so I tried switching them with the supplied blank keys. However, one of those ends up slghtly higher than the other keycaps, and the other is even a lot higher. I tried pressing them on quite hard, but with no effect. So, I decided to be satisfied with the logo keys.

Now, the funny thing is that I am not so much wondering if people have experienced this trouble getting the keycaps to fit as well - even though I am definitely interested to know! - but I would like to know: how much can these Cherry MX Brown switches handle when pushing on them hard? Is it possible I caused damage that decreases the life span of the key switch, even though the key feels just fine?

I'm somewhat ashamed posting this, but I am kind of an obsessive person and therefore any kind of comfort I can find regarding this small issue is very welcome and can restore my carefree happiness with this product!

Thank you very much.

[bartkl]

Okay, so as I hoped I'm probably afraid without an actual reason ;-).

@berserkfan, I'm swapping the blank variant of the winkey with a Windows logo printed on the front of the keycap, so they are meant to be placed at the same position on the keyboard.

Thanks for the honest and comforting replies, guys.

just make sure you are talking about keycaps meant for the right rows. If a keycap meant for a higher row is placed in a lower row, no matter how hard you press, the keycap will be higher!

Hi,

I just received my Filco Majestouch II (TKL) Ninja and I'm crazy about it! I dislike the WIndows logo Win-keys though, so I tried switching them with the supplied blank keys. However, one of those ends up slghtly higher than the other keycaps, and the other is even a lot higher. I tried pressing them on quite hard, but with no effect. So, I decided to be satisfied with the logo keys.

Now, the funny thing is that I am not so much wondering if people have experienced this trouble getting the keycaps to fit as well - even though I am definitely interested to know! - but I would like to know: how much can these Cherry MX Brown switches handle when pushing on them hard? Is it possible I caused damage that decreases the life span of the key switch, even though the key feels just fine?

I'm somewhat ashamed posting this, but I am kind of an obsessive person and therefore any kind of comfort I can find regarding this small issue is very welcome and can restore my carefree happiness with this product!

Thank you very much.

[tp4tissue]

if it's steel-plated,, it's very very hard to break it by pressing the key.. sooner break your finger..

[Pacifist]

I think you're using the wrong profiles....

[SpAmRaY]

Lots of times I will have a few key caps that need to be pressed a little harder to get them all the way down on my MX clears.

[tuxsavvy]

Some keycap are very tight first time they are put on. Just keep pressing down until they are properly seated. It's very hard to damage switch from pressing straight down, just don't press sideways with great force as that will probably break off the stem inside the keycap.

Lots of times I will have a few key caps that need to be pressed a little harder to get them all the way down.

+1
I swapped the key caos for my HHKB, whilst I was relatively new to the entire process I thought it was best to not exert too much force when getting my key caps to sit in properly. What ultimately happened was that the key caps mostly sat loosely on the keyboard and most of them were higher the rest kinda like foam mat for instance). When I went went on to start typing away, some of the keys decided to pop out (literally) out of my keyboard.

I learnt that by exerting more force (enough to make the a click sort of sound) it was when I noticed the keys were sitting in a more correct profile (as in the way it was when I got the keyboard originally). Also since then I never had an issue with keys popping out of the keyboard. It took me about an hour or so to realise and correct the embarrassing mistake.

Mind you, my keyboard is Topre based not Cherry MX, the key cap stems are of a much different design.

just make sure you are talking about keycaps meant for the right rows. If a keycap meant for a higher row is placed in a lower row, no matter how hard you press, the keycap will be higher!

I think you're using the wrong profiles....

+1
Also it is best to compare both the original key as well as the new key to see if the new key maybe taller than the original key for instance.

 

[bartkl]

I think you're using the wrong profiles....

You mean to say the key caps I'm trying to put no aren't supposed to go there?

Lots of times I will have a few key caps that need to be pressed a little harder to get them all the way down.

Thanks, that even more reassures me of the fact that I should quit being a **** about this and just push it harder  .

if it's steel-plated,, it's very very hard to break it by pressing the key.. sooner break your finger..

It's certainly metal plated and the plate's silver colored, I have no idea whether it's actual silver though . However, I was never afraid to break that part, but the brown tacticle (actual) switch on top of it, or the point where it connects to the metal plate.

Thanks again all.

[bartkl]

Some keycap are very tight first time they are put on. Just keep pressing down until they are properly seated. It's very hard to damage switch from pressing straight down, just don't press sideways with great force as that will probably break off the stem inside the keycap.

Lots of times I will have a few key caps that need to be pressed a little harder to get them all the way down.
[/quote
+1
I swapped the key caos for my HHKB, whilst I was relatively new to the entire process I thought it was best to not exert too much force when getting my key caps to sit in properly. What ultimately happened was that the key caps mostly sat loosely on the keyboard and most of them were higher the rest kinda like foam mat for instance). When I went went on to start typing away, some of the keys decided to pop out (literally) out of my keyboard.

I learnt that by exerting more force (enough to make the a click sort of sound) it was when I noticed the keys were sitting in a more correct profile (as in the way it was when I got the keyboard originally). Also since then I never had an issue with keys popping out of the keyboard. It took me about an hour or so to realise and correct the embarrassing mistake.

Mind you, my keyboard is Topre based not Cherry MX, the key cap stems are of a much different design.

just make sure you are talking about keycaps meant for the right rows. If a keycap meant for a higher row is placed in a lower row, no matter how hard you press, the keycap will be higher!

I think you're using the wrong profiles....

+1
Also it is best to compare both the original key as well as the new key to see if the new key maybe taller than the original key for instance.

 

Thanks for sharing your similar experience, that helps a lot. Once again its affirmed that exerting quite some force won't do harm but good.

[Tony]

Usually the longevity of Cherry switch is 50 million presses, but it would be 40 million hard presses only.

[Puddsy]

I've dropped an MJ2 and it still works apart from some cable issues that I'm too lazy to fix.

Hard presses should be OK.

If you're really worried, get O-rings.

[rowdy]

Just make sure when you take the keycaps off eventually, don't just yank them straight upwards or you might rip the stem out of the switch.

[kfmfe04]

It's a supplied blank key from Filco?!?!

You're being too much of a *****!   ) ) )

I just bought a Filco TLK and a set of Ducky PBT Ninja keys last week.

After I swapped them out and took a photo, I noticed in the photo that some keys were poking out a bit.  I firmly pressed down a bit harder on all keys that weren't level, heard a clicking sound, and it was all evened out.

The only caveat I for you is to look at the back of the key stem to make sure it's not damaged or if for some weird reason, a pebble fell in there or something.  If not, and if there are no manufacturing defects, that blank key should go down as even as the original!

Don't be afraid to press down on it.

[quickcrx702]

You would be surprised how much force a well made keyboard can take.

[rowdy]

You would be surprised how much force a well made keyboard can take.

Downward force!

Upward force can rip a switch apart!

[bartkl]

Usually the longevity of Cherry switch is 50 million presses, but it would be 40 million hard presses only.

Haha, nice. Yeah, you're right, even if it does have consequences it would be something amongst these lines.

Just make sure when you take the keycaps off eventually, don't just yank them straight upwards or you might rip the stem out of the switch.

That's valuable information, thanks!

It's a supplied blank key from Filco?!?!

You're being too much of a *****!   ) ) )

I just bought a Filco TLK and a set of Ducky PBT Ninja keys last week.

After I swapped them out and took a photo, I noticed in the photo that some keys were poking out a bit.  I firmly pressed down a bit harder on all keys that weren't level, heard a clicking sound, and it was all evened out.

The only caveat I for you is to look at the back of the key stem to make sure it's not damaged or if for some weird reason, a pebble fell in there or something.  If not, and if there are no manufacturing defects, that blank key should go down as even as the original!

Don't be afraid to press down on it.

Yeah I worried too much. Everything's fine, I just pushed through a little bit and it fitted right in. No click sound by the way.

Anyways, thanks all. Problem solved and mind reliefed :-).