I recently purchased a Keydous NJ98 (dark/yellow color scheme, with Gateron Creamy Yellow switch) and it looks and sounds great. Also come pre-modded and pre-lubed.
However, this is a pretty costly way for me to discover that I prefer tactile switch to linier switch (I had used RK100(tape and foam modded) with its own RK brown switch and a cheap keyboard with Otemu brown before, and I really prefer how the brown switch feels like and sounds like.
So I plan to buy a bunch of Akko V3 Creamy Blue to replace Keydous NJ98’s gateron yellow.
However, I would like to know, how much risk are involved in my trying to change the keyboard switch ?
I am very serious about scratching the keycabs and the keyboard casing itself (they have very nice rubbery matte finish that might get scracthed by metal)
There’s little to no risk if you know what you’re doing.
Get a wire keycap puller like this one to make sure you don’t scratch the keycaps while taking them off.
An important thing to know is if your keyboard is hotswappable or not.
If it is, disassemble your keyboard and take out the PCB/plate assembly, use a switch puller to pull the switches out, then put your new switches in while supporting the hotswap sockets on the back side of your PCB with your finger while inserting the switch. It’s also a good idea to check if you have any bent pins on your switches, you can easily straighten them with your fingers or tweezers if they’re crooked. Just be gentle.
If it’s not hotswappable, you’re going to have to desolder the old switches, and solder in the new ones. Keyboard soldering is super simple, you just need a soldering iron, a pump and some solder wire. There’s tons of tutorials on Youtube for keyboard soldering specifically. Leaded solder is easier to work with so most people recommend getting that. And make sure to solder in a well ventilated room.
It is hotswappable. Is it not recommended to pull the switch straight out of the PCB/gasket plate without disassembling them first ?