To repair or to buy?

[alex98uk]

Basically, my A key is broken and I have not the tools, time nor skills to repair it myself. About 3/10 strokes don't register. Apparently it's likely the solder has come away from that key and it needs re-doing.

I purchased this Filco Majestouch in 2011 from TheKeyboardCo and they said I can bring it back to them and they repair it at cost. Including the shipping back to Germany, it would be £40.38 for a switch solder repair.

The other option is to sell this board as is for someone else to repair and instead buy a Filco Ninja Majestouch 2. It would be £126 total (i would collect it personally).

Is it worth paying £40 for a repair on a 2011 Majestouch 1 board, when I could get a brand new board for £86 more (not considering re-sale of this board?). My concern is that getting a repair to the A key is fine, but in another month, the W key goes...

Cheers!

[iamtootallforthis]

If you are worried about it breaking again after getting it repaired I would look into a new board. I would also recommend checking around on here to see if you can find someone local who can repair the board for you for a cheaper price than the quote you were given. I would think it would be possible as most people who provide soldering services usually charge a very reasonable price. It would be in the artisans section for soldering services or you can check in making stuff together for someone who lives close.

[inanis]

I guess, given your circumstances, what I would do is buy a new board and tuck that broken one away somewhere. Then when you do have the time, try to fix it yourself. You'll have nothing to lose, since you would already have a working board, and you can gain the experience and confidence needed to do the repairs yourself going forward.

Or, as previously suggested find someone in your area that might be able to provide you some soldering services for less money than shipping it back to the vendor.

[iamtootallforthis]

I guess, given your circumstances, what I would do is buy a new board and tuck that broken one away somewhere. Then when you do have the time, try to fix it yourself. You'll have nothing to lose, since you would already have a working board, and you can gain the experience and confidence needed to do the repairs yourself going forward.

Or, as previously suggested find someone in your area that might be able to provide you some soldering services for less money than shipping it back to the vendor.

The tuck it away and fix it yourself is actually a great idea.

On another note, I should really learn how to solder. )

[Rotaku]

Could you buy decent soldering gear with £40 in the uk? If so, i'd go that route, learn to solder, and fix the problem myself 

[Fire Brand]

If it is just a switch that needs replacing/re soldering and its not come away from the pads too badly I could fix it for you, for the cost of shipping it if you wanted if your local in the West Yorkshire area just let me know

[alex98uk]

Thanks all, I would like to try soldering, but I don't want this to be my initial job for fear of breaking it completely! I'd rather sell it working, but in need of repair.

But, I took your advice and searched around locally. Turns out there is a bloke 30 mins from me who is handy on the soldering iron and knows how to fix this issue. This is what i'm told:

"it's relatively easy to fix, you can just solder across the break but this may break again, or the permanent fix is to solder a piece of wire from the switches solder joint to the next solder joint in the circuit."

He will repair for a beer too, not £40 haha

Let's see how it goes!

[iamtootallforthis]

Thanks all, I would like to try soldering, but I don't want this to be my initial job for fear of breaking it completely! I'd rather sell it working, but in need of repair.

But, I took your advice and searched around locally. Turns out there is a bloke 30 mins from me who is handy on the soldering iron and knows how to fix this issue. This is what i'm told:

"it's relatively easy to fix, you can just solder across the break but this may break again, or the permanent fix is to solder a piece of wire from the switches solder joint to the next solder joint in the circuit."

He will repair for a beer too, not £40 haha

Let's see how it goes!

That's great to hear! Hope all goes well.

[Fire Brand]

Thanks all, I would like to try soldering, but I don't want this to be my initial job for fear of breaking it completely! I'd rather sell it working, but in need of repair.

But, I took your advice and searched around locally. Turns out there is a bloke 30 mins from me who is handy on the soldering iron and knows how to fix this issue. This is what i'm told:

"it's relatively easy to fix, you can just solder across the break but this may break again, or the permanent fix is to solder a piece of wire from the switches solder joint to the next solder joint in the circuit."

He will repair for a beer too, not £40 haha

Let's see how it goes!

All well that ends well, glad you got this sorted

[rowdy]

Thanks all, I would like to try soldering, but I don't want this to be my initial job for fear of breaking it completely! I'd rather sell it working, but in need of repair.

But, I took your advice and searched around locally. Turns out there is a bloke 30 mins from me who is handy on the soldering iron and knows how to fix this issue. This is what i'm told:

"it's relatively easy to fix, you can just solder across the break but this may break again, or the permanent fix is to solder a piece of wire from the switches solder joint to the next solder joint in the circuit."

He will repair for a beer too, not £40 haha

Let's see how it goes!

Good one!

I hope it works out well

[Dreamre]

I'd add that you should replace the switch too while you're at it.