Can I make my old keyboard feel like a fancy custom one? - LFC

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Chapters:
00:00 - Intro
02:48 - Disassembly and Inspection
08:17 - Switches and Lube
15:39 - Desoldering old Switches
22:31 - Mounting foam and new Switches
29:30 - Soldering the PCB
32:24 - Foam and Assembly
38:10 - Results; what worked, what didn't work

[@Adamant_IT]

Just to reiterate for people who didn't watch the conclusion - no... it wasn't worth it. But the point of the video was to test that ;)

[@MarkusHobelsberger]

It always baffles me how people can use a keyboard without a numpad. Kudos for your dedication with that keyboard.

[@malc568]

Wow the work put into this for a minor change in feel and sound. Insane.

[@geoffreykeane4072]

Good vid Graham. Just like me when I was young trying to do up my first car, when the answer all along was to just buy better car. 😂

[@lm_dccxl4078]

man, graham, youre a vampire. you look exaclty the same as the old footage.

[@dcamatrix]

Great work.Loved this video and watch your switch replacement on both channels

[@Nebbia_affaraccimiei]

31:10 legend says he held his breath for the whole process

[@ronaldwitteman2134]

Love your content,keep it up.

[@sergiobarros6102]

Loved the project video. Cool addition to the Let's Fix ones. Super interesting stuff.

[@Alvin853]

Can't wait for Graham to figure out hot swap sockets exist, he could have turned his keyboard into a hot swap keyboard and made future replacement of the switches much easier.

[@Adamant_IT]

You can't retro-fit hot-swap sockets though, surely? PCB needs to have the footprint for them in the first place...

[@Alvin853]

@@Adamant_IT there are sockets that are just the cylinder part, like Mill-Max 7305. Many keyboard shops sell those, I'm sure there are others as well

[@Adamant_IT]

Oh that's very cool... I'd have used those if I knew about them in advance! No matter, I've no intention of changing anything in this keyboard again anyway - it's got a decent feel, and if I do want a change again, I'll definitely want a whole new board anyway.

[@herrpez]

@@Adamant_IT Stay strong...! When the itch hits, it hits hard, and your wallet takes the brunt of the force. 😂

[@Alvin853]

​@@Adamant_IT I wish it was that easy... once you get started, you want to change all the time 🤣 I have 3 keychron Q series keyboards now, all of them with some less common switches, but the cost quickly adds up. Edit: I know you did soldering projects in the past. If you want to get more into the custom keyboard scene, there's a DIY open source numpad called yampad, I recently finished mine and it's a lot of fun.

[@carlojoselitochua2954]

Done watching, thank you very much for the informative repair video. I have learned significantly more troubleshooting & repair lessons in this tutorial video and to your other repair videos as well compared to my ENTIRE 4 YEARS OF COLLEGE due to the rotten & outdated standards of education here in the Philippines. I hope you will soon have a mini-series for Schematic & Boardview-free Voltage/Power Rail Tracing[12V/18-20V Main Voltage Rail, 5V, 3.3V, CPU/GPU Core Voltage Rail, DRAM Voltage Rail, IGPU Voltage Rail, System Agent/Northbridge Voltage Rail, PCH Voltage Rail, BIOS Voltage Rail, Battery Power Rail], Proper method of testing/checking of potentially faulty MOSFETs & ICs/Controller Chips, CPU/GPU/PCH Reballing and BIOS Bin File Editing.

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

I do have a korean mechanical keyboard with lubed red switches, and the switches are hotswappable

[@lescusack786]

Think I would have given the springs a small stretch. think that would have worked better. Great video.

[@jonnyozzy5288]

This will unfortunately destroy the switch characteristics. You can buy longer or two stage springs

[@mancavehobbies6213]

All that hair is from your beard Graham . STOP TUGGING IT...🤣

[@GregMurch]

This is great, I love custom keyboards

[@zebo-the-fat]

I'm so glad my keyboard doesn't have distracting leds on it!

[@JonathanSias]

Dude I type so much at night or in low light if I've got a choice I won't go back. RGB, whatever, backlit keyboards are amazing.

[@stuartm5745]

I will never buy/use anything with RGB lighting (keyboard, computer, fans, etc.) - ever.

[@raduionut8778]

Maybe you could put in title "soldering 100 switches for my new old keyboard" and you ll get 1 M views. Great video!

[@andygardiner6526]

"And in my next video I double the speed of my processor by replacing the pins of my mains plug with gold plated ones ..." You only do this stuff once :-) I still love my old Compaq AT keyboard. No gizmos apart from a small black hole providing the mass to hold it down. Just call me old fashioned ...

[@techgamer1597]

''we're all humans'' Bold assumption

[@joetoney184]

Funny you make this video, I just refurbished an old DAS keyboard, replaced all the switches with box white switches and put new keycaps on it.

[@sunk3rn]

40:12 I though you're supposed to type on a keyboard not sit on it lol? Anyway nice to see keyboard modding from someone outside the mk scene, trying the impact of the "must have" mods

[@intoxicode]

I feel you on this, I have the original k65 from Corsair and I really wish it had replaceable switches...

[@cjmillsnun]

One recommendation. Take the top case off once more and apply masking tape to the bottom of the PCB - the whole thing (except the ICs). It will make a difference in sound (it will be slightly deeper) and the cost in time and effort is low.

[@cjmillsnun]

Work wise, I agree with you, I'm constantly using the numpad. However outside of that, I barely use it. If I didn't WFH, I could manage happily with a TKL like that.

[@catriona_drummond]

Looking forward to featuring an actual keyboard.

[@OllieOnQuest]

Bro this guy is fixing my pc

[@Crombide]

Its is 100 percent possible to double down and make a keyboard better, a thicker and higher quality keycap set, MX browns aren't really the best switches (some even argue they are the worst) and there could be a couple of mods done in order to make the stabilizers better. However, considering that there are really good keyboards under 100$ (Examples are; Rainy75, RK R75, RK M75) it's not really worth both the time, effort and resources (of your standard consumers).

[@mustangj0hn]

My favourite sounding keyboard of all time has to be on the CBM4032 PET that I used at school. So very noisy and computerish 😃

[@KC-nd7nt]

My spacebar is loud too . I put hot glue in the key recess and fixed it . The added weight was a good benefit for me also .

[@jonnyozzy5288]

I used plasticine so it was easy to add and remove to get the perfect weight. Like the hot glue idea, might try it on next keycap set

[@miguelfontenele221]

Man, i can feel your pain. I'm currently working with board repair on ECUs, sometimes you have to remove the connectors and that is booooooooring AF and sometimes it can be a gamble cause the problem may or may not be under them. The mechanical solder sucker works well but after like 4 or 5 sucks it clogs up, so unclog it with like a tweezer or something, and after like 20 or more sucks the insides starts to get dirty and it starts to be less effective. Never used a desoldering gun so i don't know if it has the same issues. Also, what's that iron you're using? Is that a c210 or t210 handle? And the pinecil gave up or you just retired it? Loved the video, keep up the good work! Cheers!

[@Adamant_IT]

Using a T210 handle. The Pinecils both mysteriously died at the same time (bad power supply? no idea...) and I have no idea why. I'm going to take a swing at repairing them though, because they're still great irons, and I'm sure I can get at least one of them going again with parts from both. Desoldering gun can also jam as well, but the problem there is they're a nightmare to unclog. I usually have to drill the nozzle on mine to clear it. Thankfully it's only happened twice since owning it.

[@keithsweat7513]

A new keyboard $29, refurbing this one $747.29

[@gabrielpowers766]

Those stabilizer bars are supposed to be on the top so you can snap them to the caps. You sealed them on the solder side. There are little inserts that go into those small holes on the backside of the space key, and the other keys with stabilizers, The inserts have a open snap loop to snap the stabilizer bar into. It's a hassle doing it, but you'd probably find it easy.

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Not with this type of stabiliser. You are talking about costar stabs, these are cherry style.

[@Capt.Marco-Hawk-L.L.A.P]

i just did this but for my 100% keyboard (ducky one but with push in so no soldering) changed them to cherry mx blacks and lubed them all, only 2 switches i over lubed so will have to clean them, i also used o-rings dampeners

[@peterlennon1139]

OMG! Have you lost the plot 😂. So much work 😮. Entertaining video though ❤

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

hey gramham I found Uk replacement keycaps on ebay do you want a link to it?

[@johnnythefixer]

I hate keyboards where the enter key is half size. Just can't get used to them.

[@fredwooding599]

What temp do you have the De-Soldering gun at ?

[@Adamant_IT]

400c, which is a bit hot for a two-layer PCB, but mine seems to need the extra heat to avoid self-cooling when you pull the trigger.

[@rolfsinkgraven]

Perhaps only lube on the spring would be enough? A lot of work this, would onley do it too repair keys.

[@MerolaC]

Wow, what the hell? Why are people so mad about this video?

[@ReForceofficial]

Stabilizers need more lube, especially the space bar. I use Prounol Silicone grease lubricant multi purpose for this.

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Yes,he lubed the bobies but the end of stab bars need heavy lube. Also holee mod and bandaid mods to board to tighten fit of stab to plate will remove rattle

[@UserUser-ww2nj]

With the cost of parts and time involved I would go out and buy a new one

[@ozanpress]

Did you use silicone grease? Because that is what industry uses for lubing plastics

[@nobody6]

Anyone got an ID on the soldering montage song?

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Watching the vid and based on around 30 custom builds and over 1000 switch lubes I will go out on a limb and say that switches had about six times too much lube. I lube stems only and dont use the krytox 205g0 on springs insread bag lubing with krytox 105 oil. In my experience it really is a case of if you can see any more tha n a slight shine on the surface you have lubed you have over lubed

[@benjaminwirth5192]

Funny fact, in this moment i replace switches in a Roccat Ryos from flea market. I paid 8€.

[@timwalling3101]

put sticky back foam in freezer so they come off with ease

[@VOLTRONDEFENDER4440]

the problem is newer gaming keyboards now will have the windows 11 key icon

[@reggiedixon2]

I am a runner, don't know if you are and you already run but running is a better use of spare time and energy - provided of course you are not compelled to take your running shoes apart to add foam and high-tech lubed laces.

[@colinreece3452]

I used to run 10 miles almost every day sometimes further, my knee went in the end, had to give it up, in later years had a hip replacement, now I have to rest when I get to the corner.

[@bunnylove273]

hey Adam if you havew had the keyboard for a few years the switches bound to be a bit of, good viid

[@mancavehobbies6213]

He's called Graham not Adam

[@jaksamartinovic8554]

AIXUN soldering station?

[@Adamant_IT]

Yup, I joined the T3B club 👌

[@colinreece3452]

Sorry Graham but I haven't the patience for all that, I'll still to my cheap keyboard lol. I have a slight advantage over you Graham, I'm hard of hearing lol.

[@gabrielpowers766]

You'd think new switches would come pre-lubed. I would. Why don't they?

[@jonnyozzy5288]

Some do some don't. Many keyboard modders don't like factory lubes and prefer to do it their own way. I refer to lube switches for my own use but if asked to build a first custom board for a family member I used certain factory lube switches as they are unlikely to notice the subtle difference and it saves time

[@cjmillsnun]

Cherry Browns don't, most of the "value" switches don't.

[@FredTheLard]

Initial thought, should have soldered the pins before putting on the foam.

[@Sydney268]

Haha you're worse than my son, had to change his the other day, swapped red for blue switches - wasn't too bad with a manual solder sucker, you'll be a whizz with it by then end of the job anyway 🤣

[@stevenmartin8501]

"Promosm"

[@lilchris26]

Your a glutten for punishment, nice to watch though.

[@powerpower1797]

space key sound horrobol..all other keys all ok..

[@JustMe-in5jn]

??? Buy a new keyboard!

[@jessicahunt6569]

You can get keyboards with swappable switches for so cheap, why would anyone go through the trouble of desoldering switches? I guess its something to do if you're bored!