how to 'refub' a keyboard ( QFR )

[Jixr]

Hey everyone, I just got a used QFR in the mail and I want to clean it up a bit
its a red stealth edition, ( side printing is sweet )

so here are some questions I have.

1. I want to wash each keycap, whats the best way to clean them all ( I was thinking popping them all off and running them through the dishwasher )
2. I want to lube the stabilizers, and maybe the switches too. What type of lube should be used, and is it possible to lube a switch without taking it apart?
3. the corners are kinda nicked up a bit and the plastic is showing through the rubber coating, I'm thinking about just peeling all the coating off and painting the case, what is the best way to go about removing the rubber? EDIT: apparently QFR top covers will go on sale for dirt cheap here in a few days
4. are there any other things i should do to clean up the board? ( i bought it from a GH member on here and it was a demo model of some sort )
5. No, I don't want an Ergo Drox lol.

EDIT: I want to also swap the LED from the stock red to mabye a blue or green ( or mabye even UV since i'll be putting white caps on it ), what LED size do I need and how difficult of a job is that and is there a guide anywhere?

[SpAmRaY]

1) That would work, or you can just wash them in warm soapy water and dry.
2) stabilizers maybe to some extent, switches not without desoldering on a QFR (unless it has a custom plate).
3) lightly sanding
4) I always take a can of air and blow all the hairs, dust etc that I can out
5) why not?

and yes those side printed caps are interesting 

[CPTBadAss]

Hey everyone, I just got a used QFR in the mail and I want to clean it up a bit
its a red stealth edition, ( side printing is sweet )

so here are some questions I have.

1. I want to wash each keycap, whats the best way to clean them all ( I was thinking popping them all off and running them through the dishwasher )
2. I want to lube the stabilizers, and maybe the switches too. What type of lube should be used, and is it possible to lube a switch without taking it apart?
3. the corners are kinda nicked up a bit and the plastic is showing through the rubber coating, I'm thinking about just peeling all the coating off and painting the case, what is the best way to go about removing the rubber?
4. are there any other things i should do to clean up the board? ( i bought it from a GH member on here and it was a demo model of some sort )

1) Denture tabs: Pop caps off, put in warm water, put tabs in water, wait 20 mins, dry. Can air dry or put in the clothes dryer.
2) Superlube, EK lube, and some Krytox thing is good (I think). You cannot lube a switch properly without taking it apart. Lubing the switches? See the Geekhackers store and just buy from Mkawa.
3) Sandpaper
4) While you have the caps off, use compressed air or like a Datavac and clean it up.

[Photoelectric]

Hey everyone, I just got a used QFR in the mail and I want to clean it up a bit
its a red stealth edition, ( side printing is sweet )

so here are some questions I have.

1. I want to wash each keycap, whats the best way to clean them all ( I was thinking popping them all off and running them through the dishwasher )
2. I want to lube the stabilizers, and maybe the switches too. What type of lube should be used, and is it possible to lube a switch without taking it apart?
3. the corners are kinda nicked up a bit and the plastic is showing through the rubber coating, I'm thinking about just peeling all the coating off and painting the case, what is the best way to go about removing the rubber?
4. are there any other things i should do to clean up the board? ( i bought it from a GH member on here and it was a demo model of some sort )
5. No, I don't want an Ergo Drox lol.

1. I put keycaps into a bowl with warm water and liquid detergent.  Soak for half an hour, rince, lay out to dry.
2. Not sure, some recommend stabilizer grease from EK.
3. Sandpaper: 600-grit and finer.  The layer is VERY thin and comes off easily.  If you use harsh paper only (like 200-grit), there will be grooves left on the surface that will show up through paint.  See here.
4. Clean the plate?   But be careful to not blow dirt particles into switches if using compressed air.  I'd use cotton swabs.

[Findecanor]

1. I want to wash each keycap, whats the best way to clean them all ( I was thinking popping them all off and running them through the dishwasher )

Some people use the dishwasher. I put five denture cleaning tablets with the keycaps in a bowl, and pour on  warm water directly from the tap.

If you have a washing bag (for washing ladies underwear, such as push-up bras), then it is very handy for washing the caps in.
There is usually no need to clean any keycap individually.  Dishwasher or cleaning tablets do the job almost every time, even with very dirty keycaps from keyboards that have been in a dump for  years.

4. are there any other things i should do to clean up the board? ( i bought it from a GH member on here and it was a demo model of some sort )

If there is anything sticky inside the keyboard between switches, I usually use q-tips and water or alcohol to clean that up.

[Jixr]

question on the stabilizer lube is it a liquid oil or more of a grease?

I know I have wd-40 as well as some lube for clippers and such.
( prefer something you can buy at a hardware store )

Mainly I just want to quiet down the stabilzer a bit, the last board I had with reds had cherry(?) stabilizers instead of the costar bar.

its just a little dusy and i'm sure a blow of compressed air couldn't hurt ( need to blow out the radiators in my computer anyway while i'm at it )

Also, while i'm here, I have a custom keycap that inst very snug on the stem ( you can pull it off with your fingers easily ) I was thinking of putting a little bit of plumbers tape over the stem to help secure the key. good idea?

[CPTBadAss]

For stabilizers, it's grease. Try Superlube. Beast and WASD use it and you can apparently get it in a hardware store.

[Photoelectric]

Yes, Teflon tape is excellent for putting into keycaps to make them fit better.

[Jixr]

I've just noticed the left windows key does not work.

Any ideas on what to do to try to fix a broken switch?

[SpAmRaY]

I've just noticed the left windows key does not work.

Any ideas on what to do to try to fix a broken switch?

It doesn't have a windows key disabling feature does it? perhaps it's turned on?

[Jixr]

it does have a win disable key, which lights up when on, but the left works fine and the right is not. Probably just a soldering issue. I'll take it home from work tonight and crack it open and see what I can find.  ( even tried holding down the winlock and pressing the win key to see if it somehow got mixed up.

apparently the QFR had this issue, but mine is a stealth version and I'm told it uses a different PCB and the issue has never been reported before?
though the box it came in looks like it was ran over so a weak solder joint could have been snapped during shipping.

[SpAmRaY]

it does have a win disable key, which lights up when on, but the left works fine and the right is not. Probably just a soldering issue. I'll take it home from work tonight and crack it open and see what I can find.  ( even tried holding down the winlock and pressing the win key to see if it somehow got mixed up.

apparently the QFR had this issue, but mine is a stealth version and I'm told it uses a different PCB and the issue has never been reported before?
though the box it came in looks like it was ran over so a weak solder joint could have been snapped during shipping.

Believe it or not some people found that just taking the screw(s) out and giving the case a little loosening fixes some problems like this.

[CalmB4tehPwn]

Oh, and the QFR covers that will be going on sale left and right are because CM storm is putting out a customization competition, and selling their QFR covers at cost right now, so people have the cases when the GH Anniversary competition begins.

That being said, you can pick up a couple covers right now for $5 each shipped (which is essentially free after shipping) with a minimum order of two. So pick up a black and a gray, see which one you like better, and maybe even join the competition.

http://www.cmstore-usa.com/quickfire-rapid-replacement-top-panel/

[Jixr]

it does have a win disable key, which lights up when on, but the left works fine and the right is not. Probably just a soldering issue. I'll take it home from work tonight and crack it open and see what I can find.  ( even tried holding down the winlock and pressing the win key to see if it somehow got mixed up.

apparently the QFR had this issue, but mine is a stealth version and I'm told it uses a different PCB and the issue has never been reported before?
though the box it came in looks like it was ran over so a weak solder joint could have been snapped during shipping.

Believe it or not some people found that just taking the screw(s) out and giving the case a little loosening fixes some problems like this.

that could be very possible, the PO did replace the top cover before he sent it to me so it may just be over tightened.

[Jixr]

I pulled the case apart and checked the PCB, it looks fine to me, any other ideas?

[Jixr]

also thinking about doing the foam shelf between the PCB and the bottom of the case, see how that feels on it.

[CPTBadAss]

I pulled the case apart and checked the PCB, it looks fine to me, any other ideas?

Keep the keyboard apart and take a picture of the PCB so we can take a look at it. Maybe someone will spot something you missed by accident?

[Jixr]

i got some wire and connected the contacts on the pcb and the key worked so i know its not the pcb so its a switch problem.

i'm currious as to how a switch can break?

[CPTBadAss]

Bad diode and bad solder joints are the most common issues.

[Jixr]

i even pulled out my iron and re-melted the contacts hoping something wasnt making a good connection, didn't change anything.
i'll see what I can do to get a picture.

Though I did notice the common left alt joing being very poor, so i beefed that up a bit while I was in there.

in windows I really don't care as I don't use the win key that much, but in OSX is the "command" key which i use all the time.

and forgive me, but whats a diode, and is it fixable/replaceable?

[Xenderwind]

I know there was a bad batch of QFR's that had bad solder joints for the left alts.  I had one of these and I found it hard to solder both the left alt and left windows keys.  All I did was scratch away at the trace and then I used the leg of a spare resistor to get the solder to stay and kinda made a huge blob for both.  Probably not the best solution, but it worked for me.

[Jixr]

here is a pic of the PCB, you can see the common left alt issue, but that key works.

[Obakemono]

Very useful thread!

I'm going on sunday to a 2nd hand street market where there are keyboards sometimes and see if i can find something worth restore 

[Jixr]

apparently one of the solder joints was bad, removed it and resoldered the switch, now its good to go, thanks guys!