removing an alps keycap without killing yourself

[wellington1869]

As with most things, there is the easy way (keypuller, $6) and the less easy way.

Easy way:

>

[wellington1869]

So with the second method it's probably better to do it in a camp tent.

:-D I suppose safety goggles couldnt hurt

[timw4mail]

You certainly do have to do some yanking to get those keycaps off of the ALPS switches.

[wellington1869]

You certainly do have to do some yanking to get those keycaps off of the ALPS switches.

Yup, Alps have always been known for that.  But you can do it without killing yourself (or destroying your switches), is the point I guess.

[wellington1869]

Ahahahahahahaha funny guy.  Poor pooch  Another sacrifice at the altar of science.

[clickclack]

I figured I should probably chime in since I have taken so many keys off from so many boards.

with ALPS and similar if you wiggle or torque in the direction of the narrow part of the nub it pops off not only easier but it's much less likely to break or cause damage. It's also much faster.

So this would mean on most of the ALPS if not all, you would pull up but with a left and right wiggle. (more like a lean than a wiggle)

you can pop a whole board in about 2 minutes that way.
I sometimes steady the pulling hand by placing my free hand on the keyboard bracing around the key I am pulling. It's a much more controlled movement.

I hope that helps.

oh btw, if it helps at all, I have also made and used a bunch of key pullers and I would say that an I.C. extractor (whatever that is, I just picked it up at my local electronics store (yellow rubber handle)) is pretty much the best I have used and the quickest. With a slight modification it is even better. I suppose I should do a post about that.

[wellington1869]

So this would mean on most of the ALPS if not all, you would pull up but with a left and right wiggle. (more like a lean than a wiggle)

good tip, you're right

oh btw, if it helps at all, I have also made and used a bunch of key pullers and I would say that an I.C. extractor (whatever that is, I just picked it up at my local electronics store (yellow rubber handle)) is pretty much the best I have used and the quickest. With a slight modification it is even better. I suppose I should do a post about that.

i tried an ic extractor at one point but found it didnt pass easily in between the keys -- but someone once mentioned using an asian tongue cleaner for the same purpose Its thin enough to fit between the keys:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=6314

[Rajagra]

I would say that an I.C. extractor (whatever that is, I just picked it up at my local electronics store (yellow rubber handle)) is pretty much the best I have used and the quickest. With a slight modification it is even better. I suppose I should do a post about that.

Agreed. Takes about 1 second per key, even ALPS.

i tried an ic extractor at one point but found it didnt pass easily in between the keys

With most keys, all you have to do is push down the 2 keys on the left and right of the one you want to remove, the extractor will then go on to the middle key easily. Once you have any key removed, the adjacent ones become easy anyway. The only really difficult one is the Esc key, you have to angle the extractor and tease the hooks under the front of the key.

Filing the hooks down a bit would make everything easier, of course.

If you hold the extractor inside a fist like this you get great control:

[clickclack]

Agreed. Takes about 1 second per key, even ALPS.


With most keys, all you have to do is push down the 2 keys on the left and right of the one you want to remove, the extractor will then go on to the middle key easily. Once you have any key removed, the adjacent ones become easy anyway. The only really difficult one is the Esc key, you have to angle the extractor and tease the hooks under the front of the key.

Filing the hooks down a bit would make everything easier, of course.

Thats what I did before I modded the extractor. I removed with an x-acto the botom 1/2 inch of yellow rubber and then with a dremmel I ground/cut off the angled metal on the sides (where the rubber used to be)

So now all you have to do if the key is a slightly tighter fit (ESC key) is approach the key with the extractor almost parallel to the board and slip the extractor under the key. Then hold the board with one hand and wiggle-pop (left and right) the key out! Voila!

[Oqsy]

Any tips for ALPS spacebars?  I have one that needs the stabilizer reattached, and I'm afraid I'm going to break it trying to get it off!