Opening switches... Without going insane?

[moonexe]

So I just received my brown switches today, and I'm attempting to do the change in my keyboard... So far I did the arrow keys only, with the paperclip method, and it took me forever (and I lost a black spring in the process, yay)...
Is there a better way of doing this? If I keep going, it'll take me a few hours to do the whole keyboard...

[CPTBadAss]

Some suggested tools for switch opening can be found here.

[riotonthebay]

If you have one laying around, a binder clip tool is what I'd recommend. It's what I used before I got a The_Beast switch tool and I much preferred it to the screw driver method.

[jdcarpe]

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

[CPTBadAss]

I live my life on the edge. I use only the pointy ones

[moonexe]

The binder clip thingy is what I'm using... I'm done with half of the numpad now.
This is gonna be a long afternoon...

[SpAmRaY]

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

Show Image

What are you referring to as the rounded one....gonna have to find one and try it out....

[IvanIvanovich]

I use two 1.2mm precision screwdrivers. One to pop the tab, then I slide the other one inside (just be careful not to jam it into the crosspoint leafs or you could severely deform them and trash the switch) so the switch can't shut and do the other side. I can open up a whole full size in about 15 minutes doing this way. For loose switch I just slide the screwdriver under the tab from the bottom and work my way around.

[jdcarpe]

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

Show Image

What are you referring to as the rounded one....gonna have to find one and try it out....

The one on the top in that image. If you saw it IRL you would see what I mean. It's shaped like a scythe, but the angle of that image makes it look kinda wonky.

[moonexe]

I just finished...
Let's hope experience makes this quicker

[bazemk1979]

I live my life on the edge. I use only the pointy ones

Wow such a daredevil

[Wildcard]

For opening switches mounted to a PCB or plate, The_Beast's switch tools are perfect.

For opening loose switches, I prefer to use these (only the rounded one, I throw the others out).

Show Image

Say it ain't so Joe. Really? I wouldn't throw those out, they work great when soldering/de-soldering.

 

[tp4tissue]

I just finished...
Let's hope experience makes this quicker

take a photo of the clips you've bent.... perhaps the angle is not optimal

[regack]

I use two of these beadalon curved tweezers:






I was going to get The_Beast's tools, but I used these in a pinch and got so used to them I don't feel the need anymore.  The tips are fine enough for placing components and helping with desoldering, so they see multiple uses, including pulling out the occasional splinter.

[lilky]

Yeah I'm currently doing an ergo clear mod on one of my keyboards and I'm dying to get my hands on a switch tool because the binder clip method takes like 10 years to pull off.

[Moosecraft]

I use curved tweezers and a small flathead screwdriver