Replacing switches on mechanical keyboards

Hello guys! Today I have a very quick video that I made documenting a recent "weekend project" of mine, replacing three broken switches on my Gigabyte K83 mechanical keyboard. It was a good learning process for me to work on my soldering skills and I wanted to share the results with everyone! I'll be working on my next ThinkPad video here soon! Thanks for watching!

[@alik250]

I'm in Eastern PA, i miss radioshack 😭

[@sophiethecat9256]

all of the radioshack stores closed in my area, now there is pretty much 1 tech store around here, also the best buy stores pretty much disappeared :(

[@bubbafats6246]

@@sophiethecat9256 still have a radio shack in a small town in wisconsin. they also sell tobacco lol

[@xtiansimon]

Kewl. I have the same keyboard, and your video answered my questions: IF and HOW to repair under-performing keys. THANKS!

[@hexa3389]

Me and my cousins used to work in my dad's factory a few years ago. During our "training" I forgot that we were soldering and grabbed the soldering iron like a pencil. That's the story.

[@SebisRandomTech]

Yikes! Heat transferring to the solder was hot enough for me!

[@thepointblank213]

I have the same keyboard. I bought it super cheap to replace the horrible membrane keyboard I had at work. It hasn't been dropped or damaged, but a few keys randomly register multiple keystrokes per press. I'm not sure if this is a fault of their switches, or something in the board itself maybe. It happens mainly in the G, T, and . keys. So I think I might try swapping them out this way to see if it helps. Thanks for the guide.

[@KoishiLS]

nice video, thanks for explaining all that process!, i don't seem to find what size those torx screws are, could u please tell me whats the screwdriver u used to take em off? thanks again!

[@henokhsatrio8804]

I'm a newbie, and right now I'm trying to change my old filco majestouch 2 brown switch for Esc button. So the switch will be detected after soldering process? Because if I just plug the switch to the board, it won't be detected. I'm really afraid I broke my keyboard.

[@Ghost_BTW]

Hello, my keyboard escape key and keys F1 through F12 stopped working yesterday. Not suddenly but I was using the esc key quite a bit and it responded less and less till it died. The keys all sound perfectly fine, they click properly like you showed. Do you think using a soldering iron to remove and reconnect the keys (without buying new keys) will fix it? I would have to buy a kit which is around 20 dollars. I really want to avoid paying a silly amount to get if fixed at a computer repair shop but also don't want to buy a soldering iron kit just for this... Edit: I have a razer ortana chroma

[@SebisRandomTech]

The Chroma keyboard you have is a membrane keyboard, so that likely explains why the whole row of keys stopped working. Short of making sure all of the connections are clean I'm not sure what you can do to get it repaired.

[@Ghost_BTW]

@@SebisRandomTech Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it a lot :). I already cleaned my whole keyboard after it started bugging out but it did not fix the issue. I found the next version of this keyboard for 50 dollars. It served me beautifully for well over 5 years so I am happy to replace it. Again, thanks a bunch for the reply

[@wolf7701]

What temperature would you recommend? I'm looking to do this soon.

[@Cynnik911]

It works better if you spread out the desoldering braid to make it wider

[@zebrais8317]

Hi I have a gk61 hotswapable gateron brown switches, is it possible that I could switch the switches to gateron milky yellow

[@musicphilebd9862]

Did you find out what was wrong with "not working" switches? Were they mechanically damaged?

[@SebisRandomTech]

That's my guess.

[@jhmonti007]

great

[@KatTheRat]

0:57 im a minecraft player and i dont press a bajillion keys at the same time, only a million

[@JW-rm3ci]

it was pretty instructional, step by step, great vid. could have been halved in length though.

[@Nicko0]

I think ill ask my parents if i can buy new switches like other ones cuz i got clicky ones and i want to try tactile but only for space, right ctrl and shift and alt, backspace, enter, tab, all the upper numbers and all the typing letters with only ?, ', . and , as the other

[@cloud_07]

Hi sebi, can u pls confirm t440p charger 65w or 90w?..

[@cloud_07]

Sebi, can u confirm which one is suitable for t440p 65w or 90w?.. some people saying that 65w is very slower while charging but 90w bit faster than 65w.

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@cloud_07 90W would be better but it also depends on what processor and graphics you have.

[@RiseUpToYourAbility]

The broken switch actually sounds better :p

[@JohnCornellier]

starts at 3:24

[@CrowClouds]

Literally not worth the tiem to desolder everything and resolder. Would take hours. Better just buy a new kb

[@SebisRandomTech]

Worth it for a keyboard that isn't available for purchase anymore and doesn't have a suitable replacement available. Besides, I'll take the 45 minutes it took me to take this apart, replace the switches, and put it back together over spending more money on a newer keyboard any day. Unlike some people I like to repair the things I own if it's feasible to, instead of just adding to the worsening issue of e-waste anytime something goes wrong.

[@LikeATox]

When using wick you need soldering flux.. that will make solder more like a fluid and it will stick to wick much easier..

[@SebisRandomTech]

Good to know in the future.

[@pablosepulveda7470]

I was about to comment the same when i saw him trying hahah

[@SebisRandomTech]

@Vexツ Replace the switch.

[@johnkang1202]

Yep

[@bgsmurf4e731]

+tip add solder to the existing one so it can be fresh one.

[@fournuer]

I usually watch you for ThinkPads, but I do have a hobby for mech keyboards. This was a surprise to me!! Thanks for the heart!!

[@Pidalin]

You have to always add extra classic solder with lead first and then you can work with that much easier, then you can remove solder completely. It's very hard to work with lead-free solder at home.

[@metal571]

Cherry lyf Also worth noting PBT keycaps don't become shiny over time like ABS ones does. Took me way too long to learn this And I successfully upgraded my T430 to the 3632qm thanks to your videos about that. Cheers

[@SebisRandomTech]

IBM Model M's typically use PBT. That combined with the lettering being done with dye sublimation means those keycaps almost never wear down!

[@metal571]

@@SebisRandomTech Indeed they do! I believe Unicomps also are the same, since if I remember reading correctly, they bought the tooling from IBM, so their keyboards are essentially the same as the older Model Ms, except for some layout tweaks and formfactor depending on model

[@SebisRandomTech]

@@metal571 Yep, a few former Lexmark employees purchased the tooling and patents for the Model M in the late 1990's and began manufacturing them as Unicomp. I believe they even do repairs on older IBM Model M's.

[@SimGunther]

That was definitely a steal of the century when the K83 was on sale a couple years ago. Glad to know someone else uses it :)

[@SebisRandomTech]

It's an excellent little keyboard for what I paid. Nearly everything else in that price range uses membrane switches or knockoff/generic mechanical switches.

[@wanderduck3]

Add a little bit of new solder to the old solder, then use your wick. The best method is to use flux while adding the new solder.

[@Pidalin]

but it must be classic solder with lead, I don't know if you can still buy it in USA, in some EU countries it's already problem now

[@pyromisery1638]

I will try to that my keyboard says in the manual its hotswappable but its so hard to pull i will try to open the keyboard and take a look on the board

[@gukarl5045]

My keyboard broke because I was trying to remove the switch then the pointy thing broke any help with that?

[@inlinesk8r477]

Ok, thats realy useful for me, thanks 😄

[@miguelcollia4130]

Hi!!! Very nice video. I am a big fan!!! I will buy a new laptop/workstation and right now I am hesitating a lot. T430 has the charm of old thinkpads and it will be a cheap alternative, T480 seems like a good option, however it has some issues as I watched in your video. P series, I think they could fit the best for me because I am not planning to move my computer a lot (It will be a desktop replacement). What is your opinion about P50?¿ My budget is around 500-600 bucks for a maxed out T430 or pretty normal specs on T480 or P50. What do you think?

[@SebisRandomTech]

It depends on what you plan on using the laptop for. If you need to do CPU/GPU intensive tasks and maximum upgradeability, go for the P50. If you value better portability and battery life, look at a T-series model. Hope this helps!

[@lunarlunar112]

I love how my keyboard teacher tells me to use the homerow keys to type when nobody does

[@FredsTech1]

Well done! Thanks 😊

[@yakacm]

As others have said, you need to use flux on the wick, but also it helps to tin the wick too. TBF solder wick is a PIA, it doesn't work that well, as you found out, maybe a solder sucker might be better IDK, I've never used one, but I do use wick and as I say it's a complete pain.

[@DJRexOfficial]

Thanks for the images inside the keyboard. I am interested in this keyboard with Cherry MX Red and was thinking of adding LEDs and changing the Keycaps. And I wanted to know what the welds are like inside. Maybe instead of this I opted for the K85 which already includes LEDs and even if it is more work (twice as many solders as it is when un-soldering), if in the K83 you still have to remove the solder where the LEDs go. The K85 would only have to buy and change the switches for the Cherry MX Red (or test how well the Kailh Red it brings), and it would save me buying LEDs and Keycaps, plus it has its own software for lighting and safely in the K83 I would only have one color, which is ultimately what I want, to be able to see the keys in the dark. If I managed to find the K85 I will buy that one and if not I will buy the K83 which they have in the store across the street from my house (I bought it for a friend and I really liked the keyboard and switches).

[@gr0ne]

Hi buddy, i'm interesed in that project too because i had one k83 bought brand new few months ago. Can't find the k85 in my country so i wanted to make the internal mod, using 3mm led's and some resistors maybe but idk the way. This is a clue but i don't have a chinese friend tieba.baidu.com/p/4405029205?pid=85475562747&red_tag=1622432866#/85475562747

[@ninomassaro7749]

Great video bro

[@BTB_Works]

me thinking I had to program it. nice, on my wway to get a new set, as ww a s d give me issues, esspeciallly ww

[@dysonsphere75]

5:20 For someone who isn't "an expert at this", your first joint at 5:47 was really quite good. The solder flowed to the void in the PCB and formed around the pin demonstrating good adhesion. The second joint at 5:52 was not as good. The trick is to ensure you heat where you want the solder to flow, flux greatly aids this but generally you should ensure the pin is sufficiently hot to get that beautiful melt you got at 5:47. I normally cringe pretty hard on youtube when I see solder jobs that don't flow beautifully like that, de-wetting is not ideal and results in crappy connections.

[@ianhale5482]

great video

[@Summerofsam]

I just wanted to leave a quick thanks. I have 2 weeks off and yesterday night I came home to find my alt button wasn't working. I hit my keyboard (thinking it would make it better??) and lost my ctrl win and space bar too. Using your tutorial, I was able to take the keys from my right, left, and down arrows, and the right ctrl, to replace the broken keys on the left side of my keyboard. Thank you so so much! Only took 2.5 hours ish on my keyboard and I am a first-time solderer. Works perfectly again. Long Live the Empire.

[@gyrospita9328]

Can you maybe do a upgrade guide for the t440 (i know you dislike it but i went for it since it has to fit in my backpack alongside my school stuff and i didnt need the extra performance since i have desktop at home.) Also the price i got it for was insane considering i live in germany where thinkpads are less common than latitudes and elitebooks. also is it even worth it upgrading from a ips 1600x900 to ips 1920x1080 screen and if i replace the touchpad many people have issues scratching their screen on the t440, is that normal/or even widespread. THANKS FOR READING MY MASSACRE OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE!! edit: does someone know if the M.2(?) slot next to the wifi card can handle ssds and which length it has if it does

[@SebisRandomTech]

I already did a video on this (see my "Upgrading displays in newer ThinkPads video), and as far as I know there is no 1600x900 *IPS* screen. As for the touchpad situation, my best advice is to pay close attention when you tighten the screws for it so that it is as flush with the palmrest as possible. Some people add rubber at the corners of the screen assembly to add a bit more of an air gap. You are correct about the M.2 slot next to the wireless card. It can handle 42MM SATA SSDs (2242 SATA).

[@gyrospita9328]

@@SebisRandomTech thanks for the advice ill search the video again then since i couldnt find it. I dont know if it is possible since the panel seems like a ips or a va since it has conciderable ips-glow (might just be that it ist that bad that black is grey lol) and the viewing angles are actually ok until like 170 degrees

[@cristipanaintescu605]

Hi, I have a HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical keyboard, where the switches are also soldered. The switches are soldered in 2 places, and the leds in 4 places each. Do I have to desolder the LEDs first? Or all connections at once? What about the round plastic in the middle? How can I push it to get the switch out?

[@arkaneforyou]

I have one with cherrymx reds from 3 years now. and everything is just as brand new. I dont think there is any better cherry mx red keyboard for gamers outthere this cheap, although the stabilizers are very clanky and spacebar sounds like a tin can.

[@DeathMothhh]

my lenovo sk-8825 (L) has lasted for 3 years and still going whilst my razer black widow X v4 lasted for 2 months the mechanical switches stopped giving input on WASD and shift. a shame they advertise mechanical switch keyboards as lasting longer but in my experience these mechanical switch keyboards are a scam!

[@Lovesthaduckie]

My IBM model M is the famous silver IBM badge on the right side with the "rainbow" backplate with the bolt mod. Paid a ton of money for it but well worth it

[@mackxzs]

Just did this... didn't have a spare switch, nor did I want to buy one, so I just replaced the switch on my spacebar (the only one that was broken) with the one for "pause break". I guess I do know what that key does now!

[@angryfade4932]

Just spoiled my space bar and tomorrow i will buy the same keyboard again rip magic refinger 21…😢

[@brad8122]

5:50 wth is that abomination of a solder work? 100% cold solder right there. You need to heat both active surfaces and THEN apply the solder and let it flow on both surfaces by itself

[@michaelfrost4454]

you need to cut small pieces of the wick, the long spool will suck the heat away too fast. I use hemastats to hold a 1 inch piece while desoldering.

[@NordenEngineering]

Add some fresh solder to the joint first then add some rosin flux to the wick and it will suck up the solder

[@Russell970]

I have the same keyboard but MX Cherry Switches

[@SebisRandomTech]

All of them use MX switches. Only some use MX Red and some (like mine) use MX Blue!

[@Russell970]

@@SebisRandomTech Yes MX Cherry Red switches that's what I meant in the first place lol

[@MisterAAnderson]

Do I need rosing to work with a soldering gun?

[@thesiegeman]

You sound like Nathan Fielder speaking rather quickly, so I slowed you down to .75 and it was uncanny, this is a compliment, i swear.

[@Zorloch_]

RADIO SHACK?? WHAATT?!?!?

[@V_E_G_E_T_A_R_D]

Holy shit a Radio Shack!

[@mubarakplays153]

Cool! Well I miss RadioShack too it was like my dad’s windows 7 computer

[@Orlyy]

Do you offer this as a service maybe? A stem broke off on my mx red board😭

[@MeWantHoneycomb]

I'd love to replace every switch on an Aorus K7 with blue switches... what they supply is just awful.

[@Arokhantos]

You made this look easy'r then i had with had learning to solder, if had solder sucker tho that thing was really awful.

[@CelestiumAim]

i made a horrible decision buying blue switches, since my hands get tired pretty quickly

[@idkdscvurs]

my spacebar doesnt work after changing the switches

[@SebisRandomTech]

Make sure the solder connections are good.

[@CAT-bg9py]

Thank you soo much i have the exact same keybaord and wated to replace my left crtl button

[@jubess]

i crushed my escape key on an old keyboard during a heated gaming session lmao ill do this next week!

[@SpeedMalid]

Do I have to re sauter the switches after de sauntering the old ones?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Yes.

[@SpeedMalid]

@@SebisRandomTech dang that sucks

[@megmantillas8160]

I was searching for this exact kind of video

[@irvinggonzalez203]

Thanks for this great video.!

[@kaloyan1498]

Bro i got the same keyboard as yours

[@freeradical901]

I have a Gigabyte K85 that uses Kailh switches with RGB LEDs. Do i have to desolder the RGB led too? If so, can I re-use the LED afterwards?

[@SebisRandomTech]

I don’t know for sure. It might depend on if the LED is part of the switch or independent from it.

[@thelightings]

thank you alot

[@toolucky3507]

Can you add switches onto a keyboard that doesn’t have swithces?

[@SebisRandomTech]

I don't believe so.

[@DaRealMikeyBruh.5o17]

the broken switches still has a click just more lighter and quite, maybe the clickbar or even the spring in the house is whats broken?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Whatever it was, it was enough to make the key not register in the operating system.

[@DaRealMikeyBruh.5o17]

@@SebisRandomTech so u couldnt even bottom, out honestly if they make blues sound/quite id used them maybe i could make a switch like that

[@ulungrinjanidharma8609]

When you will upload new video?

[@SebisRandomTech]

Soon. :)

[@filiplapin6263]

where you buy mx blue switches?

[@SebisRandomTech]

I ordered mine from Amazon.

[@ulungrinjanidharma8609]

When you will upload new video?

[@SebisRandomTech]

When I finish it! :)

[@PrinceWesterburg]

Use the tip fo the de-solder braid Make sure the iron is about 350 deg C, you should only go higher desolder bath soldered products Go back and properly solder that key - you left a huge gap and the pad clearly wasn't hot enough Solder is not glue - make your joints perfect before you solder Use flux which stops oxcidisation and makes for a better joint Yes, use a solder sucker, they're cheap and really do the job, just get them on hot solder immediately ...And a ton of other things I learnt befoer I was 10 but its 2am.

[@SandeepKumar-cx7cz]

review t460p

[@vivinh18]

Sandeep Kumar i commented 18 min after you commented

[@SebisRandomTech]

If I can get my hands on one, sure!

[@asher3491]

Thank you. I have a kinda cheap keyboard that had not genuine switches and two of them are pooping out in me. I didn’t think it would be a big deal so soon. It isn’t got swaps or but beggars can’t be choosers. I enjoy it a lot honestly. And I was terrified I’d have to get a new keyboard just because ctrl and w are bad and I didn’t trust myself to fix it. I occasionally work on old video game consoles but I had never workers with keyboards. You saying that if you’re not an expert and you can do it then anyone can was very reassuring. Thank you.

[@Johnny0829-Gavi]

u can put keyswitches on a membrane keyboard now?

[@SimGunther]

Different mechanics since membrane keyboards use a membrane sheet on top of a PCB that detects complete membrane depression before registering a key press. Better off getting a keyboard with mechanical switches instead instead of borking the membrane keyboard you have.

[@Johnny0829-Gavi]

@@SimGunther o

[@kenfolsom]

OMG get to the point of the video

[@SebisRandomTech]

Thank$ for wat¢hing!