# Fixing my soldering mistake **URL:** \ **Category:** Hardware hacking\ **Created:** [October 23, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278 "2020-10-23T01:49:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 1:49am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/1 "2020-10-23T01:49:07Z")
![B704F387-4985-4121-BBBB-947CA096352A_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/2/2767b11b25f3ede25cfa5028cdcc6fbde5959ee2.jpeg) This setup is to fix my botched solder job on my Model 01. When we started working from home, it became obvious that my keyboard’s clicking was too obtrusive to my wife. She works 3 feet behind me. I ordered more online. Replacing the left half went fine. I removed the existing solder easy enough. But I got cocky and turned up the heat for the right side. ![AF10CA3E-F12E-4D12-9CDD-68B5EC74ABD7_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/9/9d71391782e7bac9229ea358bc75f4d86a603dec.jpeg) The temperature melted the metal that connects to key caps. The result was that one of the rows of keys was unresponsive. That’s when I turned it over and looked at the places where the solder job was seemed off. So now these little guys are going to replace the little metal sleeves. ![D624E3EC-4FC8-4B71-98CD-B644C3BCFC3B_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/6/6db5376ecdfa1ad690241b6d6e0a293d5f7143be.jpeg) They are M1.5\*2.5 and they are too big. Thats why I brought the dremel I’m going to widen the hole on the PCB by hand. The prongs on the keycaps don’t fit in the replacement sleeves. so I am widening them with the Dremel. I’ve watch a [youtube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ref9JHUf-uw) and I feel confident I can do a trace repair. That’s what I’m doing now. ---
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 4:42am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/2 "2020-10-23T04:42:44Z")
streaming live on [twitch.tv/voodoologic](http://twitch.tv/voodoologic) ---
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 7:16am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/3 "2020-10-23T07:16:34Z")
![779FBC98-BB26-4E7D-BC54-042CEB3C0D20_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/1/1a7bcca85be29307320fa5c3e50dc12bfd3518a1.jpeg) theres all the soldering before adding the rivets ![78932517-8800-4DA0-B5A5-DD83169D310B_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/4/4c07274daaafad7d0a2729f8932b7af05c2ba65c.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 8:39am UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/4 "2020-10-23T08:39:04Z")
![AD6B9E7C-12D5-41B5-91E8-C6917BF6E399_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/2/28605c41043ba80bc6d1ebd8924c92059abc27cc.jpeg) testing the key caps manually. Everything appears to be working! I spent about $100 on all this soldering gear. For me, it was worth it. The kickstarter attitude of this company (“you are going to get a screwdriver”) motivated me to solve my own problem. This was my version of “covid bread” and I am really satisfied right now. ---
**Author:** ![Rom1deTroyes](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/rom1detroyes/32/3352_2.png) [@Rom1deTroyes](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Rom1deTroyes)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 1:10pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/5 "2020-10-23T13:10:49Z")
When I receive my Model01 I was looking at the kind of posts, feeling you must be fool to screw up everything like that… … Now, I’ve groked more with this fabulous piece of hardware and I say : cool, you’re hackin’ it ! Thanx for sharing your experience live with us 😄 ---
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 4:30pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/6 "2020-10-23T16:30:33Z")
![5A5620A4-5766-4C62-A929-6FBA79E540BB_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/0/004c0fd613fe39549663c36c2906bf514c9311f2.jpeg) I _was_ a fool! (see attached photo of the foolery) I combined overconfidence, inexperience (too much solder iron heat), a lack of proper tools, and birthday whiskey. The PCB now reminds me of the Millennium Falcon – aint much to look at, but she has it where it counts 😄. If I couldn’t resuscitate her, I might be devastated right now. That was the risk I was willing to take when getting wrist pains from my spare keyboard. Now, I own all the proper soldering tools and I have a working keyboard to show for it. The best part is that I enjoy using the Model 01 even more! I’m glad you enjoyed the story. It was a labor of love. ---
**Author:** ![keyboard\_novice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f4b2a3/32.png) [@keyboard\_novice](https://community.keyboard.io/u/keyboard_novice)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2020, 4:35pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/7 "2020-10-23T16:35:18Z")
On the desktop are pics of my daughter, not some creepy webcam – just in case you look at it sideways. ![D214BF9D-1FB9-4DCE-95FA-D0EBE5514C39_1_105_c](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/uploads/keyboard/original/2X/0/06a40f06349c2e20781309ffbb982010719ee20b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Xerus](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/xerus/32/2902_2.png) [@Xerus](https://community.keyboard.io/u/Xerus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2022, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/8 "2022-05-19T19:57:12Z")
Hey, it seems I did a similar mistake. After replacing the “E” and “A” switches just fine, I replaced the “R” and “T” as they were failing, but now the whole left hand second row is down. The LEDs still all work, except for the on-press LED, which interestingly only works for the T key even though it does not type, this is better illustrated with a video: > **[39.68 MB file on MEGA](https://mega.nz/file/RYhh0Iia#3VTAHfMQf8o4XfkC9br4ZX1JAR6hw84Hy0yzj7CcoxQ)** Somehow I am not even able to upload images, so here a link to an image of the pulled out caps: > **[2.18 MB file on MEGA](https://mega.nz/file/0UJAjB5Q#vQsutPOTivF_l5xs2l8Y-ZBgUEVOzd7K-L22jwyuW5g)** Friends said it smelled like burnt wire, but I can’t really see anything wrong at the solder spots, though I have to admit I am very new to all this: > **[1.73 MB file on MEGA](https://mega.nz/file/FBxglZzD#oznQqPg1bewm-LMLgUMIbRW2S8RTcZW6ZSSpQFrqhnw)** Could it be that I damaged the contacts as Jesse warned in [Mechanical failure of keyswitch - #2 by coiley](https://community.keyboard.io/t/mechanical-failure-of-keyswitch/3236/2) ? Can I bridge the contacts as instructed in [Can't solder the new switch anymore. Solder doesn't stick to it](https://community.keyboard.io/t/cant-solder-the-new-switch-anymore-solder-doesnt-stick-to-it/4382) and make all the keys work? Any other advice? ---
**Author:** ![jessicat](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/jessicat/32/5206_2.png) [@jessicat](https://community.keyboard.io/u/jessicat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/9 "2025-03-09T14:24:45Z")
Thank you for sharing your journey here. I have done the same thing on the right-hand of an old Model 01 of ours. I would like to resuscitate it to learn, and also to have another functional keyboard. I don’t have a dremel; would you mind sharing what size hollow rivets you’d recommend for someone that also melted their through-hole pads with a soldering iron that was too hot? I realize such a rivet may not exist that fits the hole and also the key switch legs, but one can dream. On a different Model 01, I was able to successfully bridge two key switch legs and get them working after a similar mistake was made, so I’m cautiously optimistic I can fix this. I also have a cache of 1N4148 diodes at the ready. Some rivets and trace repair would be ideal though! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![jessicat](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/community.keyboard.io/jessicat/32/5206_2.png) [@jessicat](https://community.keyboard.io/u/jessicat)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2025, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.keyboard.io/t/fixing-my-soldering-mistake/4278/10 "2025-03-09T14:41:28Z")
I would like to follow along on your journey. I can’t see the pictures you linked to here, but would like to see them if you still want to share. Did you try testing with a multimeter? ☺