Matias switch question

[Touch_It]

I have a dell at101w with gross black alps.  Gritty and lost tactility.  First is it possible to transplant matias switches into one, and secondly how hard is it to source switches.  This isn't a project id want to throw a ton of money at.

[faceyourfaces]

Not sure if this will help, but this appears on his website:

[ctm]

You can buy them from http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=52, if you do not need as many as 200 switches.

[jacobolus]

First is it possible to transplant matias switches into one,

Yes, it’s totally possible. You just have to desolder all the old switches and then solder the new switches in. How easy/fast it is depends on your soldering experience.

[Touch_It]

Love this community.  Looks like the 200 pack might be the way to go as the 110 appears out of stock.  Maybe it's only temporary.  Also the price isn't terrible but above my super optimistic price so I'll likely put this off for a while.  I'm not a great solderer but changing switches will be time consuming though totally doable for me.  Last thing is my keycaps certainly leave something to be desired.  I'll do some research but was wondering if there are any recommended replacement alps keycap sets.

[SpAmRaY]

Which Matias switch are you wanting?

[Touch_It]

Their clicky switches.  I need establish dominance when I type, lol

[Hak Foo]

I had someone on this forum do the swap for me.  It turned out very well... you get the Matias sound and feel with the solid construction of the AT101W.

[Touch_It]

Oh nice,  what color case?.  I've never actually tried Matias switches but Ive heard good things.  I'd actually like to try a clicky and quiet click switch if I could find one of each for cheap, but I'm pretty sure I'd want the clicky ones regardless.

[Defect]

I had issues with opening my 101W case.  What did you do about the plastic clamps/feet?

[Hak Foo]

They can be pushed into the holes they come through, then the case can be opened.

[ctm]

Maybe you don't really need to do soldering to change the switches. It is possible to open an ALPS switch without desoldering it from PCB board. From my observation it seems all the clicky or tactile feeling is due to the click leaf and the contact leaf doesn't seem to have much effect on this. (I only observed Matias clicky switch and quiet switch. Their contact leaf seems identical to me). I have a keyboard with Matias quiet switch and one day one key feel kind of weird. So I just open that switch and swap its click leaf, spring and stem with a spare switch, leaving its original contact leaf in place, which is soldered on the PCB. After swapping, the key feels normal again.

[jacobolus]

Maybe you don't really need to do soldering to change the switches. It is possible to open an ALPS switch without desoldering it from PCB board. [...]

The springs are compatible between Matias switches and complicated Alps (SKCM) switches. The tactile/click leaves are similar, though not quite identical (I think Matias leaves will work pretty well in SKCM switches but it’s not a perfect match). The sliders, housings, and contacts are not compatible.

He could recondition mushy black Alps switches by putting in Matias click or tactile leaves, but if the switches are scratchy (from being full of grit) that’s not going to help.

Personally I’d just recommend replacing the switches. Desoldering and soldering is just as easy if not easier than taking all the switches apart and putting them all back together.

[Touch_It]

Honestly I think it would be easier to desolder vs open switches.  I really am trying to talk myself into doing this but now is a terrible time.  I wish I could buy lets say 110 switches vs 200 at a time.

[chyros]

Mr Interface from Deskthority did EXACTLY this; transplanting Matiases into an AT101W. He made a video tutorial on it, check it out . I'd post it but I'm typing this in my mobile xD .

[SpAmRaY]

Honestly I think it would be easier to desolder vs open switches.  I really am trying to talk myself into doing this but now is a terrible time.  I wish I could buy lets say 110 switches vs 200 at a time.

I have a bag of Matias clicky switches but I'm not 100% sure where I put them.

[ctm]

Desoldering is always the best idea.

[Touch_It]

Honestly I think it would be easier to desolder vs open switches.  I really am trying to talk myself into doing this but now is a terrible time.  I wish I could buy lets say 110 switches vs 200 at a time.

I have a bag of Matias clicky switches but I'm not 100% sure where I put them.

If you find them/want to sell them I'd be interested.