Switch Fixin'!

[Quarzac]

Ok, so having typed on the Blackwidow for a bit, and making extensive use of many of the keys, I've noticed that something is up with the end key. It works, but the tactile feedback is wonky. It only clicks occasionally, but I can feel the tactility regardless. (after some practice) Is that something where I'm gonna have to desolder the switch to fix it? Because I'm not entirely comfortable doing that and  will probably just leave it be if that is the case. Thanks!

[nala]

wlcm 2 bwu

[oddsratio]

You should be able to exchange it, shouldn't you? I'd try that first before violating the warranty as that seems like a QA issue.

[Quarzac]

You should be able to exchange it, shouldn't you? I'd try that first before violating the warranty as that seems like a QA issue.

Bought it used from a GHer for a very reasonable price. I doubt there is a transferrable warranty, and shipping it would cost far more than buying a switch and learning to solder.

[oddsratio]

I guess it depends on whether you already have a soldering iron or not, which alone will set you back 20 dollars, not counting the solder roll and the wick. It's a lot to invest for one switch. I put together some gear for about 40 bucks (thank goodness for amazon gift cards), but I had that planned for a bigger project.

[Quarzac]

Wait a bit.  I'll try and finish up a  repair section in the Cherry MX wiki.

Thanks! I'll be sure to check it out. I ought to find some way to give back to this site.

I guess it depends on whether you already have a soldering iron or not, which alone will set you back 20 dollars, not counting the solder roll and the wick. It's a lot to invest for one switch. I put together some gear for about 40 bucks (thank goodness for amazon gift cards), but I had that planned for a bigger project.

My Dad has a soldering iron I could borrow, and I believe my sister has one too. So that's not a huge deal. I'm pretty sure I have just about everything but another switch.

[False_Dmitry_II]

You do have another switch. It's called the scroll lock/print screen/ pause switch. It does still work, just not as it should right? Then doing that is perfect for this.

[Quarzac]

I kinda want to replace caps lock with a heavier switch because I keep hitting it by accident. So if I end up doing this, I'll probably do that too, which means I'll probably never do either.

[N8N]

maybe some enterprising soul could offer a Cherry MX board repair service for those unfortunate enough to have plate mount boards but not soldering/desoldering equipment and/or skill?

I'd actually offer to take this one, but I'm so deep into so many larger projects (trying to keep a steady job, major bathroom remodel, '55 Studebaker restoration/modding) that I need another time suck like I need a hole in my head.  I did manage to completely change the switches on a Filco without screwing it up, but I never did get around to changing the spring in the space bar switch on the WASD which was the project I was going to use to hopefully shoot a video to post as a how-to.  (I didn't want to shoot one of me doing the Filco because that was kind of a learn by doing thing, would have been embarrassing to watch me figure it out on the fly.)

[sordna]

Ok, so having typed on the Blackwidow for a bit, and making extensive use of many of the keys, I've noticed that something is up with the end key. It works, but the tactile feedback is wonky. It only clicks occasionally, but I can feel the tactility regardless. (after some practice) Is that something where I'm gonna have to desolder the switch to fix it? Because I'm not entirely comfortable doing that and  will probably just leave it be if that is the case. Thanks!

I'd remove the keycap, push the switch down, and spray some canned compressed air around the stem. I'd also tap the switch hard a gazilion times because probably due to a dirt speck or something, the white slider has gotten stuck to the blue stem. You can also sidestep the switch (push it down, and slide your finger off) to make it violently spring up a few times. Try it and let me know if any of the above does the trick, it might just work!

[Quarzac]

I don't have a keycap remover (or two paperclips) yet, so I'm gonna hold off on that, as the end key is kind of hard to get to, but that's what I was thinking about doing if I could manage to get the cap off. I already smashed the key a bazillion times and sidestepped the switch, as I thought that might help, but to no avail.