Best Way to Pull Off Keycaps Without a Puller?
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Focus FK-2001 with white alps
- Main mouse: Logitech G-302
- Favorite switch: White Alps
Hey, I recently got a good deal on a Focus FK-2001 with white Alps for 75 dollars off of eBay recently, it's in great condition and has no yellowing. The only issue is that the keyboard is decently dirty, and I think that is effecting the key-feel, as some of the larger keys bind (not due to stabs, the stabs seem fine) and the switches feel slightly clunky and not as tactile as I've hoped. I'd pull the keycaps and clean the switches but I don't have any keycap pullers at the moment, so I was wondering if there is a way I could do so without one? This is my first ever mech, so for all I know these could be normal for these switches, but from what I've heard it's not and alps seem to have an issue with dirt.
- derzemel
- Location: Bucharest, Romania
- Main keyboard: FC660C, SSK, TX-1800 Nixie
- Main mouse: Mionix Naos 7000
- Favorite switch: Alps SKCL/SKCM tactile
First of all, for ALPS keycaps you have to be extra careful.
Here is a guide with images.
I know, the guide shows a wire puller being used, but, if you can find some stiff and thin enough electrical wire (that you can fit between the keycaps), you can create a loop and then spin it to look like and 8, or something like this, with 2 loops at the ends which you can use as a puller.
Here is a guide with images.
I know, the guide shows a wire puller being used, but, if you can find some stiff and thin enough electrical wire (that you can fit between the keycaps), you can create a loop and then spin it to look like and 8, or something like this, with 2 loops at the ends which you can use as a puller.
Last edited by derzemel on 22 Nov 2019, 07:41, edited 1 time in total.
- Muirium
- µ
- Location: Edinburgh, Scotland
- Main keyboard: HHKB Type-S with Bluetooth by Hasu
- Main mouse: Apple Magic Mouse
- Favorite switch: Gotta Try 'Em All
- DT Pro Member: µ
I've had luck with a butter knife in the past, too. But he's right about Alps: they can be unforgiving. There are worse (space invaders and buckling spring each have their right ways and wrong ways) but there are better too (MX and Topre best of all, without even the need to think about stabs).
- ppCircle
- Location: Polska
- Main keyboard: Focus Fk-2002 HS Alps Blue / IBM 5140 Alps Brown
- Main mouse: Rival 300
- Favorite switch: Alps Blue / Alps Amber / Alps Brown / Alps N Green
- Contact:
Bended paper clips.
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- Location: USA
- Main keyboard: Focus FK-2001 with white alps
- Main mouse: Logitech G-302
- Favorite switch: White Alps
Thank you all, hopefully I can get a puller soon so I don't have to worry about breaking my keycaps.
- XMIT
- [ XMIT ]
- Location: Austin, TX area
- Main keyboard: XMIT Hall Effect
- Main mouse: CST L-Trac Trackball
- Favorite switch: XMIT 60g Tactile Hall Effect
- DT Pro Member: 0093
Paperclips, screwdrivers, maybe PCI port hole covers from an old PC chassis. The idea is to apply even, upward force on opposite sides of the key.
I've removed thousands of Alps keys and still have rotten luck every now and then. Today I was working on a ~20 year old SMK Black Alps board and ripped out five (!) switches. Fortunately I have some spare Matias switches on hand, but still.
I've removed thousands of Alps keys and still have rotten luck every now and then. Today I was working on a ~20 year old SMK Black Alps board and ripped out five (!) switches. Fortunately I have some spare Matias switches on hand, but still.
I've opened tons of keyboards for cleaning, and I've used a plastic spudger tool every time, except when I had to remove the beamspring keys and had to use 2 pieces of that metal wire thing for cable management so that it pulls up
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
Spending 5 minutes to make something is worth it.
Old Alps can be touchy, pull straight up and be careful.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43 ... #msg880111
Old Alps can be touchy, pull straight up and be careful.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43 ... #msg880111
- kps
- Location: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
- Main keyboard: Kinesis contoured
- Main mouse: Kensington Slimblade trackball
- DT Pro Member: -
- fohat
- Elder Messenger
- Location: Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
- Main keyboard: Model F 122-key terminal
- Main mouse: Microsoft Optical Mouse
- Favorite switch: Model F Buckling Spring
- DT Pro Member: 0158
The copper one is my favorite. I bent it out of the inner wire of a TV cable and the grip is hot glue.
- Attachments
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- keycaphowto.jpg (1.76 MiB) Viewed 5734 times
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- Location: Netherlands
- Main keyboard: Dell Click Mod AT101W
- Main mouse: Logitech Marble FX 2
- Favorite switch: Chicony KB with Futuba
- DT Pro Member: -