Mechanical keyboard build

[Angelrs99]

I was wondering if it's possible to build a mechanical keyboard from a prebuilt mechanical keyboard? For example a cheap mechanical keyboard like reddragon

[SupaKomputa]

You can buy a KIT and make it your self.

Buy the base board + case, the switches etc.

[dgsddfgdfhgs]

3 minutes ago, Angelrs99 said:

possible to build a mechanical keyboard from a prebuilt mechanical keyboard?

what? do you mean replacing(eg) the blue switch to black? you can but its pretty expensive.

and the full diy mechanical keyboard is much more expensive.

only cheap way out is to buy off brands

[Labeled]

49 minutes ago, Angelrs99 said:

I was wondering if it's possible to build a mechanical keyboard from a prebuilt mechanical keyboard? For example a cheap mechanical keyboard like reddragon

You could desolder and replace the switches, but depending on if they've re-enforced them it might not be possible to actually desolder them.

[seon123]

3 hours ago, Labeled said:

You could desolder and replace the switches, but depending on if they've re-enforced them it might not be possible to actually desolder them.

How would one reinforce the switches?

4 hours ago, dgsddfgdfhgs said:

what? do you mean replacing(eg) the blue switch to black? you can but its pretty expensive.

Like $22 worth of switches? Not that expensive, except for the time you spend. 

[Labeled]

A keyboard I had used copper wick or something to pull the solder down the contacts on the switch, I was going to desolder that board and re-use the switches on a custom PCB, but I could not completely de-solder it to get them out in one piece and I tried using a copper wick and a solder sucker.

[geo3]

26 minutes ago, Labeled said:

A keyboard I had used copper wick or something to pull the solder down the contacts on the switch, I was going to desolder that board and re-use the switches on a custom PCB, but I could not completely de-solder it to get them out in one piece and I tried using a copper wick and a solder sucker.

Did you also desolder the LEDs?

[Labeled]

17 hours ago, geo3 said:

Did you also desolder the LEDs?

Yes, the LEDs came out pretty easy, I'm guessing it was something they did to add stability to the switches maybe?

[geo3]

5 hours ago, Labeled said:

Yes, the LEDs came out pretty easy, I'm guessing it was something they did to add stability to the switches maybe?

Never heard of anything like that. More likely is that you didn't get all the solder, maybe because they used too much to begin with. 

[Labeled]

On 4/30/2019 at 7:50 AM, Labeled said:

A keyboard I had used copper wick or something to pull the solder down the contacts on the switch.

17 hours ago, geo3 said:

Never heard of anything like that. More likely is that you didn't get all the solder, maybe because they used too much to begin with. 

 

I thought this was clear, but I guess not so I'll clarify.

 

Copper wick was wrapped around the contact pins of the switches and that pulled the solder to both sides of the PCB. I don't know why I never took a picture of it, I've never seen it before. the only way I would have gotten the switches out would have been to heat up the whole keyboard to melting point and pull the base plate.