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Replacing Cherry MX Switches?

Osmium
By Osmium
in Peripherals
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     Yeah I know it is a lot more practical to flat out buy a new KB but I wondered how I would go about doing it. Common sense dictates I pop open the KB and solder the connecting points between the switch and PCB but I imagine it is not quite as simple as I picture it in my head. I have done a quick google search and all the comes up are a bunch of stuff on how to do it without soldering because for whatever reason people seem to want to avoid soldering irons like the plague(and only PCB mounts can do that anyway).

 

     So basicly I just want to know if anyone around here has had experience with this. I am not sure if I actually want to do it due to the risks but I think it would be fun to do.

"If you do not take your failures seriously you will continue to fail"

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     Yeah I know it is a lot more practical to flat out buy a new KB but I wondered how I would go about doing it. Common sense dictates I pop open the KB and solder the connecting points between the switch and PCB but I imagine it is not quite as simple as I picture it in my head. I have done a quick google search and all the comes up are a bunch of stuff on how to do it without soldering because for whatever reason people seem to want to avoid soldering irons like the plague(and only PCB mounts can do that anyway).

 

     So basicly I just want to know if anyone around here has had experience with this. I am not sure if I actually want to do it due to the risks but I think it would be fun to do.

I wouldn't bother. It's more time consuming then it's actually worth. 

You would probably break your keyboard in doing so anyway.

|CPU: Intel 5960X|MOBO:Rampage V Extreme|GPU:EVGA 980Ti SC 2 - Way SLI|RAM:G-Skill 32GB|CASE:900D|PSU:CorsairAX1200i|DISPLAY :Dell U2412M X3|SSD Intel 750 400GB, 2X Samsung 850 Pro|

Peripherals : | MOUSE : Logitech G602 | KEYBOARD: K70 RGB (Cherry MX Brown) | NAS: Synology DS1515+  - WD RED 3TB X 5|ROUTER: AC68U

Sound : | HEADPHONES: Sennheiser HD800 SPEAKERS: B&W CM9 (Front floorstanding) ,  B&W CM Center 2 (Centre) | AV RECEIVER : Denon 3806 | MY X99 BUILD LOG!

 

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     Yeah I know it is a lot more practical to flat out buy a new KB but I wondered how I would go about doing it. Common sense dictates I pop open the KB and solder the connecting points between the switch and PCB but I imagine it is not quite as simple as I picture it in my head. I have done a quick google search and all the comes up are a bunch of stuff on how to do it without soldering because for whatever reason people seem to want to avoid soldering irons like the plague(and only PCB mounts can do that anyway).

 

     So basicly I just want to know if anyone around here has had experience with this. I am not sure if I actually want to do it due to the risks but I think it would be fun to do.

imgur.com/a/UIhf9#0

My Rig :  Case: Cooler Master HAF X ,Motherboard: Gigabyte Z87X-UD3H,PSU: Seasonic SS-750KM3,Processor: Core I7 4770k (overclocked 4.7ghz),Cooler: Corsair H100i, GPU: EVGA GTX 780 with acx cooler, RAM: G.Skill Ripjaws 16gb DDR3 1600 (overclocked to 2000mhz), HDDS  Samsung 840 EVO 250 gb SSD , Western digital  2tb 7200 rpm 64mb cache, Old 1tb laptop drive I had , 320gb for os backup daily, 80gb external for weekly backups,Drives 2x Lg Blu Ray burner WH16MS40,MISC: Tp-Link dual band wireless card, Logitech g510s, Razer Deathadder 2013, Acer G236HLBbd 23" monitor, Old tv I had 23" for secondary monitor, old 32" samsung tv third monitor

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I wouldn't bother. It's more time consuming then it's actually worth. 

You would probably break your keyboard in doing so anyway.

I know that is not practical but I still want an answer to my question.

"If you do not take your failures seriously you will continue to fail"

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1ijLn.jpg

|CPU: Intel 5960X|MOBO:Rampage V Extreme|GPU:EVGA 980Ti SC 2 - Way SLI|RAM:G-Skill 32GB|CASE:900D|PSU:CorsairAX1200i|DISPLAY :Dell U2412M X3|SSD Intel 750 400GB, 2X Samsung 850 Pro|

Peripherals : | MOUSE : Logitech G602 | KEYBOARD: K70 RGB (Cherry MX Brown) | NAS: Synology DS1515+  - WD RED 3TB X 5|ROUTER: AC68U

Sound : | HEADPHONES: Sennheiser HD800 SPEAKERS: B&W CM9 (Front floorstanding) ,  B&W CM Center 2 (Centre) | AV RECEIVER : Denon 3806 | MY X99 BUILD LOG!

 

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If you're going to spend that much time on the switches then it is worth considering some switch mods such as ergo-clears and panda-clears whatnot.

 

Nah I am not really doing this because I want to be a keyboard enthusiast really. Honestly I decided I wanted to try blue switches but at the same time I like to do things myself. The method of replacing the switches seems simple enough so I though as well I might go for it. If I break it oh well but I will get some experience no matter what.

"If you do not take your failures seriously you will continue to fail"

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i would get a desoldering iron and buy switches on http://deskthority.net/ i think its a guy name 7bit that is running a group buy for cherry mx switches

 

I have removed switches with just a soldering iron but it wasn't the best way if you are trying to keep the pcb. I made my keyboard by taking the switch and plate from a used older keyboard and hand soldered the switches and programmed a micro controller with some keyboard firmware. I have no pcb other then a little teensy micro controller in my keyboard.

 

you may be able to get a older keyboard with blacks or browns if you look around on ebay but if you don't know what you are looking for it is unlikely to be a good way to go

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2 of the best videos for doing the exact thing you want to do i looked into it myself but being from the uk it would cost the price of a new keyboard to replce the switches on mine but nonetheless make sure you have a decent soldering iron and alot of time.

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