Difficulty

Difficult

Steps

14

Time Required

                          2 hours

Sections

1

  • Creating Key Switch Foam Pads
  • 14 steps

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What you need

Step 1

              Keyboard Dissasembly
  • Turn the keyboard over and remove the 5 identified screws. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Turn the keyboard over and remove the 5 identified screws. Photo credit: deskthority.net

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Step 2

              Keyboard Dissasembly
  • Turn the keyboard around and remove the 4 identified screws. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Turn the keyboard around and remove the 4 identified screws. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Step 3

              Keyboard Dissasembly
  • Remove the ground screw. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Remove the ground screw. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Step 4

              Remove Old Foam Pads
  • Dig out all the bad foam pads. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Dig out all the bad foam pads. Photo credit: deskthority.net

Step 5

              Set Keyboard Aside
  • Set the keyboard aside.

Set the keyboard aside.

Step 6

              Cut Film
  • Find a steady-flat surface. Cut off a chunk of the metallic film. Size varies depending on how many pads you want to create.

Find a steady-flat surface. Cut off a chunk of the metallic film. Size varies depending on how many pads you want to create.

Step 7

              Find Metal Side
  • The metalized film has a plastic and metal side. Find the metal side. I find that the metal side has subtle streaks on it whereas the plastic side is clean/smooth.

The metalized film has a plastic and metal side. Find the metal side. I find that the metal side has subtle streaks on it whereas the plastic side is clean/smooth.

Step 8

              Spray Adhesive
  • Lay the plastic side of the film down on the flat surface. Lightly spray the metal side with the gorilla adhesive and wait 30 seconds before following the next step.

Lay the plastic side of the film down on the flat surface. Lightly spray the metal side with the gorilla adhesive and wait 30 seconds before following the next step.

Step 9

              Cut the Foam Strip
  • Cut off a section of the vinyl weather strip and lay the non adhesive side down on the metal side of the metalized film.

Cut off a section of the vinyl weather strip and lay the non adhesive side down on the metal side of the metalized film.

Step 10

              Remove Sticker Backing
  • After waiting a few minutes for the adhesive to dry, remove the sticker backing from the foam strip.

After waiting a few minutes for the adhesive to dry, remove the sticker backing from the foam strip.

Step 11

              Punching
  • Place foam side down (film side up) on the flat surface. Position the 7/16 punch on the film and hammer firmly with the rubber mallet. Photo credit: lisa.sunder.net

Place foam side down (film side up) on the flat surface. Position the 7/16 punch on the film and hammer firmly with the rubber mallet. Photo credit: lisa.sunder.net

Step 12

              Cleaning the Pad Edges
  • After punching the desired amount of pads, remove the punched pads from the foam strip. Use scissors to cut any rough edges from the created pads.

After punching the desired amount of pads, remove the punched pads from the foam strip. Use scissors to cut any rough edges from the created pads.

Step 13

              Inserting Pad
  • Stick the new foam pad onto the underside of the key mechanism so the sticky side is adhered to the key mechanism and the plastic side of the metal film is oriented toward the circuit board (when Keyboard is reassembled.) Photo credit: deskthority.net

Stick the new foam pad onto the underside of the key mechanism so the sticky side is adhered to the key mechanism and the plastic side of the metal film is oriented toward the circuit board (when Keyboard is reassembled.) Photo credit: deskthority.net

Step 14

              Reassemble Keyboard
  • Reassemble keyboard. Verify all the foam pads function. If they don’t verify that they are wrinkle free and are perfectly sized.

Reassemble keyboard. Verify all the foam pads function. If they don’t verify that they are wrinkle free and are perfectly sized.

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

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                    LisaGuide

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