I have leftovers key-caps, but unfortunately no leftover switches.
this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2023
20 points (95.5% liked)
ErgoMechKeyboards
5829 readers
1 users here now
Ergonomic, split and other weird keyboards
Rules
Keep it ergo
Posts must be of/about keyboards that have a clear delineation between the left and right halves of the keyboard, column stagger, or both. This includes one-handed (one half doesn't exist, what clearer delineation is that!?)
i.e. no regular non-split¹ row-stagger and no non-split¹ ortholinear²
¹ split meaning a separation of the halves, whether fixed in place or entirely separate, both are fine.
² ortholinear meaning keys layed out in a grid
No Spam
No excessive posting/"shilling" for commercial purposes. Vendors are permitted to promote their products/services but keep it to a minimum and use the [vendor] flair. Posts that appear to be marketing without being transparent about it will be removed.
No Buy/Sell/Trade
This subreddit is not a marketplace, please post on r/mechmarket or other relevant marketplace.
Some useful links
- EMK wiki
- Split keyboard compare tool
- Compare keycap profiles Looking for another set of keycaps - check this site to compare the different keycap profiles https://www.keycaps.info/
- Keymap database A database with all kinds of keymap layouts - some of them fits ergo keyboards - get inspired https://keymapdb.com/
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
You could try using a thin sharp object, like a sewing needle, and heating it up with a lighter, and then stabbing it into the broken off pieces. Once it's had a few minutes to cool off, hopefully the melted plastic sticks to the needle and you can pull it out.
That worked. Good idea!
To improve this method, stick the needle in at an angle, and then lift straight up and out (not along the angle of insertion, or lever it out. This way you can get it to come out even if it is poorly or not adhered to the needle.
Additionally, if it's a needle you don't care about, give it a pass with sandpaper. Rougher texture will make it adhere better.
Fishing hook?
To my mind, that could work, the barb might not be helpful since the material might not flow quite as readily back over it as soft tissue does, but you could get an angled insertion and pretty easily get direct upwards lift with it maybe.
You might be able to fit a fish hook in down the side between the broken stem and the switch, and use the barb to pull out the stem.
I was thinking about dipping a toothpick in super glue and touching the stem after spraying some activator on the stem, but your style sounds better.
That seems risky! It's so small, unless you have an extremely steady hand (and preferably experience) it would be really easy to accidentally get glue on the sides or top
In a similar situation, I managed to extract the broken bit with a needle and some perseverance. I did not have to heat the needle.