Is it possible to desolder an MX Cherry Blue with and LED on it and take it off so i can clean it?

Ferrariassassin

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My Wife has a Coller Master Quickfire MX Cherry Blue with Blue LED on it and Soda was spilt in iand they work but they are so sticky and nothing seems to clean them or work so i want to take them apart so i can clean them but they are Soldered to the board of coarse and i am decent at soldering but have never done it with MX Cherry Keys especially the ones with LED on them. Is it possible to desolder it so i can take the keys what are sticky off so i can clean or replace them if they are to far gone? I would rather buy replacements but i have no idea where to find MX CHerry Blue with Blue LED keys at i can just find MX Cherry Blue without LED on them. So is this possible guys?
 
Solution
it may well be possible to desolder the switch, they had to solder it there first right? I touldn't try it, not with my skills.

if it were me I would start with a misting of rubbing alcohol. try to dilute the syrup in the alcohol and then hit with some of this:
http://www.amazon.com/WD-40-Specialist-Electrical-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00AF0OFVU%3Fpsc%3D1%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-d-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00AF0OFVU
you can probably find it locally.

R_1

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it may well be possible to desolder the switch, they had to solder it there first right? I touldn't try it, not with my skills.

if it were me I would start with a misting of rubbing alcohol. try to dilute the syrup in the alcohol and then hit with some of this:
http://www.amazon.com/WD-40-Specialist-Electrical-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00AF0OFVU%3Fpsc%3D1%26SubscriptionId%3DAKIAILSHYYTFIVPWUY6Q%26tag%3Dduckduckgo-d-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3DB00AF0OFVU
you can probably find it locally.

 
Solution
What I used to do is take the keyboard apart and clean it in an alcohol bath. Basically get 91 or 99% Iso alcohol and pour it in a bin then submerge the "dirty" parts in it (mainly just the PCB and switches). Then after about 10 minutes take it out and scrub down the switches with a cheap toothbrush. Not hard but enough to help remove any junk. Then re-submerge it for another 10 minutes and repeat scrubbing till you feel it is clean. Once it is, take it out and place it on some towels and have a fan run over it to help dissipate the alcohol. Might need to do it over night but it cleans pretty well.

That contact cleaner works well but make sure the one you get is safe to use on plastics. Some can cause damage to plastics.
 

Ferrariassassin

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But how do i clean the inside of the switches? They are completely sealed. I need to take the keys apart but to do that i need to desolder it.
 


If the switch is sealed then soda wouldn't be able to get in there as well. You can pop the key caps off pretty easy on most keyboards.
 

Ferrariassassin

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The key caps come off easy i am talking about the MX Cherry switches themselves. Also no mechanical key on earth is "Sealed" because if it was than it would not move or anything. When Soda spilled in it it soaked into the edges of the key base and went in some. Every key works fine its just sticky and makes no clicks so the soda never fried it.
 

Ferrariassassin

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Oh ok sorry man lol I thought the guy who posted about the WD40 Electrical cleaner was someone else lmao but thanks man i ordered a can. Its my wifes keyboard and she loves it. When she got it one of the led in a key was dead so maybe i can send it back for a new one but im sure they would probably deny me due to the keys being stickey :(