Warped Spacebar

[terran5992]

How to fix it? My vortex spacebar arrived warped. Any way to fix it?

I tried using hair dryer but it just bends back after cooling

[do_Og@n]

The best way I have found is to use a flat heavy object on flat, clean surface. After warming the plastic up with some hot water I place the flat object on top and leave it there for a while. May take a couple of attempts and you can try using the hair dryer on it while the heavy object is on it.

I've done this with 3 spacebars so far and it worked every time.

[rowdy]

But not TOO heavy!

Someone put a stack of books or something on top of a space bar and basically crushed the space bar

[terran5992]

Any more tips?

[rowdy]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

[terran5992]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

[do_Og@n]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

[terran5992]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

Ive tried several times using the hairdryer but it still bends a little

[rowdy]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

Ive tried several times using the hairdryer but it still bends a little

If you have Cherry stabilisers, this will be an ongoing problem.

If you have Costar stabilisers - they are more forgiving of imperfectly formed space bars.

[terran5992]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

Ive tried several times using the hairdryer but it still bends a little

If you have Cherry stabilisers, this will be an ongoing problem.

If you have Costar stabilisers - they are more forgiving of imperfectly formed space bars.

What do you mean its an ongoing problem?

[do_Og@n]

When all else fails you can always replace it with another space bar. 

Like this one: http://www.banggood.com/KBC-AiKB-PBT-Dye-Sublimation-Space-Keycap-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-910817.html

[terran5992]

Just tried the hot water method. Theres still a little bend that wont go away

[Belfong]

I would think PBT key caps from the Vortex are pretty solid. Can a mere hair dryer and hot water be enough to 'melt' it to be straightened back?

[rowdy]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

Ive tried several times using the hairdryer but it still bends a little

If you have Cherry stabilisers, this will be an ongoing problem.

If you have Costar stabilisers - they are more forgiving of imperfectly formed space bars.

What do you mean its an ongoing problem?

Cherry stabs sorta need the stems to be straight as the stabiliser bits in the keyboard are fixed.

Costar stabilisers have those plastic inserts that fit into the stems under the space bar and then hook over the ends of the stabiliser bar.  These ones allow a little bit of sideways movement without affecting switch operation.

But Cherry stabs - if the space bar (or whatever key) does not go straight up and down, they will catch and maybe stick.

[terran5992]

Soak in hot (very hot?) water for a while, again with something heavy, but not too heavy, to hold it straight as is cools down.

Im afraid it might bend even more when i put it in hot water

It shouldn't bend more. I'm guessing this is a PBT space bar since you said it was from Vortex.

 - You will need to get the water nearly boiling (more or less a simmer) or until you start to see heat bubbles rising from the bottom of the pan.
 - Soak it in there for 15 to 20 seconds.
 - After that lay it on a clean flat surface and rest the heavy(ish) flat object on top of it.

On the thicker PBT space bars I've done this on it has taken a couple of times. That's why I use a hair dryer while the heavy object is on it. Seems to work better each time I've tried.

Ive tried several times using the hairdryer but it still bends a little

If you have Cherry stabilisers, this will be an ongoing problem.

If you have Costar stabilisers - they are more forgiving of imperfectly formed space bars.

What do you mean its an ongoing problem?

Cherry stabs sorta need the stems to be straight as the stabiliser bits in the keyboard are fixed.

Costar stabilisers have those plastic inserts that fit into the stems under the space bar and then hook over the ends of the stabiliser bar.  These ones allow a little bit of sideways movement without affecting switch operation.

But Cherry stabs - if the space bar (or whatever key) does not go straight up and down, they will catch and maybe stick.

Yup i know. Its real annoying