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Possible to remove MX Blue switches (desolder) and use them for a hotswap keyboard? (programming.dev)

submitted 2 days ago by promitheas@programming.dev to c/mechanicalkeyboards@lemmy.ml

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Hey guys. I just got a Genesis Thor 300 TKL keyboard which doesnt work from my brother. I've got a Glorious GMMK v1 TKL keyboard. Is it possible to desolder the MX Blue switches from the broken Genesis keyboard and use them in the Glorious keyboard which at least to my knowledge is hotswappable?

Thanks in advance!

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[–] Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 2 points 11 hours ago

From personal experience I can tell you I brute force ripped out soldered-in low-profile blue switches on a Redragon Horus K619-RGB board. The switches were reusable, and the board now IS hotswap. That said, I destroyed my fingertips and snapped the point off my kiridashi, and was probably only successful due to low quality solder work from Redragon. For those wondering, this was my first "customized" mechanical keyboard, and I didn't know they weren't ALL supposed to be hotswap.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Unlikely. If you're a skilled solderer (?) you might be able to pull it off. Otherwise you're running into:

Deforming the switches from overheating during desoldering
Having uneven coating of solder on the legs of the desoldered switches which could compromise the insertion and/or contact with the sockets of the modular board

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I wouldn't call myself skilled by any means, but I have some experience with it, and have some tools available (flux, wick, etc)

[–] Seeb@troet.cafe 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

@promitheas @avidamoeba totally possible. You might consider buying a decent sucking pump, like engineer ss-02.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 days ago

Yeah with the right tools and experience it's possible. I always struggle with desoldering through-hole components without overheating.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 1 points 2 days ago

Ive got one (not the one you mentioned) which is quite good. I don't think its quite at the level of the one you said, but it should be decent.

[–] remer@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I can guarantee you’ll fry a few of them and have to buy new switches anyway. Might as well save yourself the headache and just get new switches. Desoldering is a pain in the butt.

[–] promitheas@programming.dev 3 points 2 days ago

If that's the case I'll turn this into an exercise. I'll make a simple testing circuit once I'm done with my thesis and see how many I can save. Worst case I get some practice. Best case I get a set of switches for free and recycle. Most likely I'll fry some, save others, and have a stock of spares and some experience. Thanks!