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Author Topic: Cherry MX disassembly tool?  (Read 8364 times)

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Offline spolia optima

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Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 05:05:59 »
Anyone taking apart PCB-mounted MX switches must know how much of a ***** it is to remove that upper casing. How do you guys go about this?

I use a 2-pronged pickle fork with the tips bent upward. Something like this:



The pickle fork seems to work fine, but there could be an easier way. I have tried several IC pullers and none of them fit *just right*. I'd like to get some input from GH on this.

Thanks!
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Offline ch_123

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Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 06:09:19 »
Same way I open Alps - two screwdrivers on either side.
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Offline jensma

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Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 06:45:13 »
This is my disassembly tool:
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Offline kriminal

  • Posts: 424
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:03:27 »
well i think he is talking about actually disassembling the cherry switch itself and not popping caps.
however i think this topic was discussed,... with an item similiar what was suggested by the OP sometime ago..
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 June 2010, 08:16:54 by kriminal »
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Geekhacked Filco FKBN87M/EB modified with Brown, black and blue cherries, doubleshot keycaps
Deck KBA-BL82 with Black cherries
Cherry G84-4100LCMDK-0 Cherry ML switches
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Offline noctua

  • Posts: 188
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:37:41 »
i use an straightened paper clip..

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Selfmade Keyboard I (done)
DT225 CH Trackball

Selfmade Keyboard II (95% completed)
L-Trac CST2545W-RC Trackball

both use Cherry MX Blue switches, an Teensy++ controller and have an Colemak layout

Offline kwang2009

  • Posts: 48
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:42:13 »
I did a bit of shopping for this and I ended up with an IC puller. Its not perfect and like everything else it pulls one side at a time (it would take way too much force to get both sides to come loose at the same time). The next thing I'll try are these dentist looking picks. They should work fine but really just anything that can direct force as precisely as possible would be the least likely to have parts flying all over the place.
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:57:50 by kwang2009 »
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Offline kwang2009

  • Posts: 48
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:44:31 »
Quote from: noctua;197126
i use an straightened paper clip..

Show Image

How does this work?
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Offline Rajagra

  • Posts: 1930
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 07:49:02 »
You seem to have the tool right. The trick is using it to pull the locking tabs sideways with it. First on one side, then the other. Hold the housing while releasing the second side, or it can fly up under spring pressure.

My tool:


Thread: How do you take apart Cherry Switches?
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Offline Mental Hobbit

  • Posts: 461
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 08:11:44 »
I've been using a carefully bent pickle fork too. I found it pretty scary at first, as it feels like I'm ripping the switch apart, but I've done 200+ switches that way without any damage.
I'm also putting a sheet of clear plastic wrap over the board and my hands to catch flyaway springs.
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Typing on blues.

Offline lowpoly

  • Posts: 1749
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 08:47:18 »
Small screwdrivers.

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Miniguru thread at GH // The Apple M0110 Today

Offline 1839cc

  • Posts: 243
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 11:13:33 »
Paper clip FTW.
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Quote from: tricheboars on Tue, 05 March 2013, 09:50:31
i have seen unix admins with john deere trucker hats, and even seen a man in a nascar shirt correct a passerby's klingon.

Offline Infinite north

  • Posts: 162
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 12:21:27 »
I ruined a fork and it didn't really work for me. so I ended up using a modified computer card slot cover. the narrow end is almost the perfect width and the metal is soft enough that it's easy to work with but not too soft to bend back.

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Offline 1839cc

  • Posts: 243
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 12:30:44 »
Quote from: Infinite north;197226
I ruined a fork and it didn't really work for me. so I ended up using a modified computer card slot cover. the narrow end is almost the perfect width and the metal is soft enough that it's easy to work with but not too soft to bend back.
I use those to pry off keys.

I tried one (unmodified) to release a Cherry switch housing, but couldn't make it work. I may try bending one later to see if it works better than a paper clip.
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Quote from: tricheboars on Tue, 05 March 2013, 09:50:31
i have seen unix admins with john deere trucker hats, and even seen a man in a nascar shirt correct a passerby's klingon.

Offline elbowglue

  • Posts: 583
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 13:04:16 »
I use something really close to these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350369595932&rvr_id=&crlp=1_263602_263622&UA=WXS%3F&GUID=bb7326341260a0b583010041ffdcc632&itemid=350369595932&ff4=263602_263622#ht_1650wt_754

I just use the curved tip to pry up at the bottom of the lateral edge of the switch.

For the more buried switches like the esc on a MX 11800 (which is surround by case) I use paperclips and instert them straight down into the tabs on the side.
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My keyboards: Filco Cherry Blue Tenkeyless(daily home), Compaq MX11800 (modded to blacks), Compaq "MX 84u",  Wellington\'s Dampened Endurapro, Pinkalicious Filco Blue Cherry, Chicony KB-5191, Chicony KB-5181, Desko MOS 5023 UP "elbowglue" spos (modded to blues), Siig Minitouch (monterey blue), SMK-88 (blue cherries), Ricercar SPOS
Smallest to biggest keyboards in inches (Length X Height) - Length is most important for a midline mouse position
KBC Poker: 11.6 x 3.9 - HHKB: 11.6 x 4.3 - Siig Minitouch (Geekhack Space Saver): 11.6 x 6 - Deck/Tg3 82: 12 x 6 - Noppoo Choc Mini 12.4 x 5.3 - Compaq "MX 84u": 13.1 x 7.5 - Filco Tenkeyless: 14 x 5.3 - Cherry "ricercar spos" G86-62410EUAGSA: 14 x 7.75 - Topre Realforce 86u: 14.4 x 6.65 - Desko "elbowglue spos" MOS 5023 UP: 14.5 x 8.4 - IBM Model M Spacesaver: 15.3 x 7 - G80-1800: 15.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-125B: 16 x 7.3 - Compaq Mx11800, Cherry G80-11900: 16.25 x 7.5 - Filco Standard: 17.3 x 5.4 - Unicomp Endurapro: 17.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-135B: 18.3 x 6.0 - Cherry G80-3000: 18.5 x 7.6 - IBM Model M, Unicomp Customizer: 19.3 x 8.27

Offline spolia optima

  • Thread Starter
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  • Location: On the shores of the cosmic ocean...
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 13:06:42 »
Quote from: ripster;197212
Design challenge.

Somebody make one that releases all 4 tabs at the same time.

Pics or it isn't real.


this is what I'm talking about. I'm thinking dual pickle forks made into a pair of tongs.
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Offline spolia optima

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Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 13:13:43 »
Quote from: Rajagra;197130
You seem to have the tool right. The trick is using it to pull the locking tabs sideways with it. First on one side, then the other. Hold the housing while releasing the second side, or it can fly up under spring pressure.

My tool:
Show Image


Thread: How do you take apart Cherry Switches?


Why do I always post topics that have already been covered before? :(

also, I have that same IC puller. Those things are infinitely useful. I should have bought 20 of 'em the last time they were on eBay for a buck. They're ALMOST perfect for taking apart the MX, just need to be filed down a tad bit- maybe weld a couple forks on there.

Did you get that pickle fork online btw?
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 June 2010, 13:17:59 by spolia optima »
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Offline bsvP585hUO2Y6

  • Posts: 59
Re: Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 16:42:04 »
kwang wrote on 6144 September 1993:

> Quote:
>
>     Originally Posted by noctua View Pos
>
>     [ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ]
>
> How does this work?

Do you mean those pretty diodes? They make a term in the following
equation non-zero:

nkro bliss = diodes * nkro wiring * nkro controller * proper interface
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Offline Rajagra

  • Posts: 1930
Cherry MX disassembly tool?
« Reply #17 on: Mon, 28 June 2010, 19:45:07 »
Quote from: spolia optima;197261
Did you get that pickle fork online btw?


There were 4 of them in a chocolate fondue set (that I bought for the candle warming part of the setup.) The width of the prongs was an exact match for the tabs on the side of the MX switches.



I modified the other forks to have assorted sizes of hooks, so it's too late for me to use two at once on a Cherry switch.
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