NES Controller/Rubber Dome Key CONTACTS

[bear95]

So I was cleaning my nes controllers because they weren't as responsive as I wanted. Going diagonal was pretty difficult to do. So I took it apart and I was cleaning the place where the rubber dome thing touches the pcb. I was cleaning a key but then the black stuff(carbon?) came off to show a bit of copper? underneath. I stopped and tested it to make sure it worked and it did work really well but I was wondering if I should continue cleaning or not? Is the black stuff carbon(conductive) or copper oxide(non-conductive)?

[precarious]

you should replace all the contacts with cherry mx switches like a tru playa

i wonder how hard it would be to get some of them in there..

[bear95]

The A and B buttons feel nice as it is. I would really love replacing the d-pad with cherry switches because they're the ones causing the problems and are really icky. Height could be a problem but a bigger problem I think is getting them to fit so close together.

[SmallFry]

You can solder to the pad if you can find the copper. Like this... from Ripster's Nostromo Modification.

[bear95]

I did some measurements and the switches barely fit together. For the height, I would have to cut into the pcb in order to actually fit. It could be a possible because looking at the pcb through the light, there is nothing else that I would cut. But I'd rather not do this.

For my nes controllers I would rather stick with the rubber domes for now. BUT I'm actually considering making a gift for a teacher for doing my college recommendations. He uses a computer to teach and I have considered making a nes themed wireless controller so he doesn't have to go back and forth all the time to scroll down and zoom in/out. I'm definitely going to put in cherry switches for those.

Going back on topic. Isn't copper more conductive than carbon? I would think that having just copper would conduct electricity better than having carbon on top.