Editing Keyboard modding (section)

== Tweaking switch feel ==
If you're looking to tweak the feel of your switches, there are many things you can do. You can try a new textured keycap, you can replace your switches or switch stems, you can add an 'O' ring onto your keycap stems, you can change the spring weight in your keyswitches, as well. Replacing switch stems and 'O' rings has already been covered above, so there will only be descriptions of how to change the springs and switches, as well as replacing your keycaps.

Replacing your keycaps is the simplest way to change the finger-feel of typing on a keyboard. There are dedicated tools for prying up keycaps, and it's highly recommended that you invest in one, if you're really serious about keyboard modding. However, if you don't have one, some form of prying tool can work too. Slip the tool over the keycaps, and pull the keycap off of the keyswitch stems. It's also recommended that you add an 'O' ring to the stem of the keycap, while you have the cap off of the switch. Replace the keycaps with the desired set, once you've pulled all of your old keycaps off of the keyboard. 

Lubricating your keyswitches is a little bit more difficult than replacing your keycaps, as you'll have to take keycaps, switch covers, and stems out. Take your lubricant and a fine paint or mascara brush,and apply it to the stem guide, and the keystem. Reassemble all of your keyswitches as you took them apart, and your keyswitch should be less resistant to your press. In addition to lubing your switches, you can modify your Cherry stabilizers to deliver a crisper bottom out, or actuate more smoothly. Apply lubricant to the contact points of your stabilizers, and only in the case of Cherry stabilizers, you can clip off the four pins that make the landing squishy. 

Changing switch springs is of the same difficulty as lubricating your switches, and, fundamentally, requires the same steps of disassembly you remove and reinsert a spring with the compression force rating of your preference. 

Replacing your keyswitches is a difficult custom tweak to pull off, and the tools can be expensive, depending on their quality. It's possible to do this, but not recommended for beginners, or people with no soldering experience. Take your keyboard apart, and remove the PCB, with all of the keyswitches still attached. Remove all keycaps, as well. Remove the solder from the pins on the switches, and remove the switch. Repeat, for as many solders there are on each individual switch. Then repeat for each individual switch that's on the keyboard PCB. Take your new keyswitches, and align the pins to solder with the holes in the PCB, and take your soldering iron, heat it up, and apply solder to each pin by pressing your solder into the soldering iron, and spread the desired amount of solder over the hole, so that the switch is held solidly to the PCB, and a good electrical connection is achieved. You can test this with a multi-meter, which is highly recommended, but not required. Reassemble your keyboard, after you've completed all of your switches.

In order to replace the springs of your switches, you'll need to follow the instructions listed above for replacing the stems above. Instead of pulling the stems out and replacing them, take the switch apart, and pull the spring out of the switch. Slip in your desired switch, and reassemble. This will make pressing your keys either easier or harder, depending on the gram weight of the springs. The author personally uses 25g (24.5 [[cN]]) springs, so that even a light brush will trip them. There is a range from 25g custom springs to 120g (117 [[cN]]) springs in the Cherry MX Super Black.