I was wondering if anyone had experience with shortening spacebars to fit a desired layout? I saw an alps one in the keyboard of the month thread (can't find the thread atm), but did anyone know of more examples?
I planned to cut down a 6u or 6.25u cap to 4u, and use two mx red switches (one on each end and only one connected) instead of stabilizers, though I may bend my own wire instead.
Anyone have any feedback on their method? Thanks!
You're talking about Badwrench's Alps 60% which I nominated for this month
here.
I tried to make an Alps 6U spacebar once, using an unused 7U as a donor. I ended up scrapping it because I didn't plan carefully enough, and the stab mounts weren't the correct distance from the ends of the cap.
Conceivably, you can get away with a single cut, if you are able to space your switches/stabs anywhere you want. Then you just make a single cut somewhere in the middle (I would probably shoot more towards one side or the other rather than dead-center, because it seems like a joint would be under less stress near the mounting points.
If your switches/stabs are already fixed, you may need to cut some material out from the middle as well as from the ends.
As far as reattaching it, if it's ABS you can use acetone to soften the ends a bit, then just smush-weld them together. You'll want to leave extra stock on each half so that when you squish it together it can mushroom out, assuring a strong joint. You'll have to cut/file that extra stock from the top half, but on the underside it's probably best to leave it there for added strength. The really tricky part here is going to be precision, because you're just smushing two halves together. Keeping it straight, and not making it too short or too long, is going to take some luck and patience.
Another method that might be easier for precision, would be to cut the pieces right to size instead of leaving extra, then use a file to get them as smooth and precise as you can. Then take the middle piece that you cut out, and melt it in some acetone to make a paste that you can apply on the underside like a cement. I would start on the underside because you should be able to get it pretty steady and flat by laying it upside down. You may want to do this in small batches and apply several coats, allowing it to dry in between. This way it won't drip off the sides from being applied to heavily. Once the underside fully dries, make up some more of the plastic cement and apply it sparingly to the top side, just to fill in any gaps in your joint. Once this dries you can use a sapphire nail file or some fine sandpaper to clean up the top side as best you can.
Either way you do it, you're going to have to polish the joint when you're done. I really don't know the best way to go about this, but maybe someone else could chime in.
