How can I replace the stabilized keycaps on my WASD CODE?

[reduc3r]

I just received my new WASD CODE keyboard. I'm trying to replace the stock keycaps with some nice Vortex PBT ones. But can't figure out how to install the stabilized keys.

(From what I gathered in researching this problem, I guess WASD uses Costar stabilizers.)

I found this video produced by WASD. Problem is, the assembly portrayed in the video is totally different from the one in the board they sent me, so it isn't all that helpful.

The piece of wire that does the stabilizing has to connect to plastic clips embedded in the board and then its ends have to hook into plastic bits in the keycap. I can't get it to hook into the keycap without detaching from the board.

Here's a pic:



Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[tp4tissue]

Hahahahahahahha..

Ok.. so, put the white pegs into the keycap.

Then insert one side into the left clip

then apply just a little pressure against THAT left side which is already inserted,

while this pressure is there, you will have enough space to insert the right side clip.


You do not need to bend clips UPwards.. only side to side.

[katushkin]

It's fiddly as ****. And this is one of the reasons why Costar stabilisers are the biggest pain in the ass.

But yeah, it's kinda hard to explain, but I think TP has done a good job trying to explain it. You gotta keep the cap quite close to the board so the white inserts don't fall out.

[reduc3r]

Thanks for the info. I was finally able to get the stabilized keys installed.

So now that I have something to type on, help me understand what I just went through.

WASD is a "high end" vendor, right?

And the CODE is the top of their line.

Jeff Atwood in one of his nauseatingly smug blog posts lays out this whole narrative about how he basically perfected the keyboard...

I'm just happy to live in a world where the first truly great mechanical keyboard finally exists now, in exactly the form it needed to, with every detail just so...

I mean I have CM Storm QFR, which cost like $80 bucks and is not by any stretch pretending to be "The Last Word in Keyboards." Here's how you replace the space bar: you pull the ****ing space bar off and you put another one on. It takes two seconds.

Yeah, I kind of knew going in it was going to be like this. But I really wanted MX clears and ES-87s were sold out everywhere I looked.

[piemancoder]

Thanks for the info. I was finally able to get the stabilized keys installed.

So now that I have something to type on, help me understand what I just went through.

WASD is a "high end" vendor, right?

And the CODE is the top of their line.

Jeff Atwood in one of his nauseatingly smug blog posts lays out this whole narrative about how he basically perfected the keyboard...

I'm just happy to live in a world where the first truly great mechanical keyboard finally exists now, in exactly the form it needed to, with every detail just so...

I mean I have CM Storm QFR, which cost like $80 bucks and is not by any stretch pretending to be "The Last Word in Keyboards." Here's how you replace the space bar: you pull the ****ing space bar off and you put another one on. It takes two seconds.

Yeah, I kind of knew going in it was going to be like this. But I really wanted MX clears and ES-87s were sold out everywhere I looked.

It's just a different stabiliser. Some people think it's better, some don't. It's all personal preference.

[daerid]

I generally like Jeff's blog posts, and (disclaimer) work for a company he started, but that post is a train wreck. The CODE is nothing more than a V2 with backlighting. It's a solid mech board, but there's nothing that sets it above something like a Ducky, or Filco, or KUL. Personally, I love WASD boards and have 3 of them (inc 2 CODEs), but it's not the "first truly great mechanical keyboard". Not by a long shot.

[Hyde]

If you haven't already, this is the video you want to watch.

Also as people said, different stabilizers are better at different things so it's up to preference.  Personally I like Costar the best because you feel less of it, and after you get used to it then it's really not that bad to change keycaps.

[Vittra]

Easiest way to get caps onto costar stabilizers is actually this way:

From about 1:13 onwards.

[reduc3r]

Thanks again for the help, guys. I appreciate the assistance.

The method that finally worked for me was the one demonstrated in this video (the one posted by Vittra).

As for the keyboard, it's fine. I definitely like these MX clears. I'm glad I decided to give them a try.

These sure are some quiet switches once you install the O-rings and everything.

[user 18]

Thanks again for the help, guys. I appreciate the assistance.

The method that finally worked for me was the one demonstrated in this video (the one posted by Vittra).

As for the keyboard, it's fine. I definitely like these MX clears. I'm glad I decided to give them a try.

These sure are some quiet switches once you install the O-rings and everything.

Yes, that method is by far the easiest.

Glad you're liking the clears!