Cleaning HHKB caps

[dan002]

Hey hope everyone is well.

So I want to clean my HHKB caps because I bought it used off ebay. I've found some guides and I feel  the cleaning part is easy. However, the keys have no legends so will placing them back on be hard? Are the numbers and the alphabetic keys different? Also,  is there a chance I'll place the modifier keys in the wrong spot?

P.S. I've read that dencher tabs and water work well, but how long should I leave the keys in for?

Have an excellent day ,
Daniel

[raymogi]

They do have a different profile from the sides.

[Butter]

Put on the big key first. It will make finding the right key lot easier.

[Valff]

Hey hope everyone is well.

So I want to clean my HHKB caps because I bought it used off ebay. I've found some guides and I feel  the cleaning part is easy. However, the keys have no legends so will placing them back on be hard? Are the numbers and the alphabetic keys different? Also,  is there a chance I'll place the modifier keys in the wrong spot?

P.S. I've read that dencher tabs and water work well, but how long should I leave the keys in for?

Have an excellent day ,
Daniel

The profile of each row is different (execpt for R4 and R5, the 1u profile caps looks the same for me), but it's not difficult to put them back. You can easily see the difference between every keycap profile, and every row doesn't have the same number of 1u keys. So, if you're afraid of misplacing your keycaps, just sort them before placing them back.
It's possible to put some modifiers in the wrong spot, but if you do that, you'll that the profile isn't the same as the other keys.
I left my HHKB keys in denture cleaner and water for ~25 minutes when I cleaned it .

[MeltingTeeth]

I think there are numbers under the key.

And watch out for the spacebar stabilizers breaking.

[dan002]

I think there are numbers under the key.

And watch out for the spacebar stabilizers breaking.

Thanks for the info, I won't force it when I detach the space bar.

[absyrd]

Denture tabs for a few hours is fine. I've done a couple sets several times. Usually use 2 tabs in a giant pickle jar. Plus they smell minty fresh after.

[rowdy]

Denture tabs for a few hours is fine. I've done a couple sets several times. Usually use 2 tabs in a giant pickle jar. Plus they smell minty fresh after.

Hours?

Mine say to leave (the object) soaking until the water is no longer blue.

For keycaps that usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Also, I use 3 denture tabs in warm water (warm as per instructions) for a full keycap set.

[ripwallet]

I can also confirm that denture tabs are pretty effective. Used them to clean a set off a very old and dirty unicomp. They were clean in a matter of minutes.

[absyrd]

Denture tabs for a few hours is fine. I've done a couple sets several times. Usually use 2 tabs in a giant pickle jar. Plus they smell minty fresh after.

Hours?

Mine say to leave (the object) soaking until the water is no longer blue.

For keycaps that usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.

Also, I use 3 denture tabs in warm water (warm as per instructions) for a full keycap set.

I just walk away and do other ****. Never read directions. Now I will watch the magic happen instead. Thanks!

[mrgoldenzombie]

I can also confirm that denture tabs are pretty effective. Used them to clean a set off a very old and dirty unicomp. They were clean in a matter of minutes.

I've never had some caps that were so dirty that I needed to use the denture trick, Soap and warm water has done me good

[moshimalloe]

When I first got m Novatouch, the keys were kinda oily cause it was used. I was lazy to de-cap so I wiped the tops down with a clean rag and watered down alcohol. I don't know how effective and advisable that is, though, but it made the keys feel way better

[dan002]

What happens when we no longer need dentures in the future? Denture tabs will no longer exit! Please provide some info on some other ways of cleaning those HHKB key caps.

Has anyone tried baking soda?

[RAMPSKALLE]

Clean every row in a separate batch if you're unsure in your abilities to place them correctly! 

[keshley]

I've always used my sonic cleaner, with a few drops of something soapy in the water. As mentioned, can do each row separately so as not to confuse which ones go where. With the sonic cleaner, takes about 5 minutes per batch.

[sth]

My favorite tip for dealing with blanks is to sort them upside down. it's really easy to match the profiles that way and once you have them all sorted by row it should be fairly obvious which rows go where.
wish i could remember who came up with that one...

[dan002]

I noticed HHKB's key rows are sorted alphabetically. That the last two are B, and the rest goes C - D - E.