keyboard flex repair?

Well the operation was a success but the patient died! That is my story from yesterday. Well i orderd a high-powerd wifi card that some of you folks reccomended from "netgate" along with a longer "24" pigtail so i could use the stock rim antenna location for the antenna. I got the package and installed everything and it all works great; i can pick up signals that I could not imagine were there!!! BUT when i went to use my space bar key and my cap lock to type something NO GO Soo i took the keyboard off to reseat the flex cable(s) no go. I took the keyboard out again and looked it over and sure enough I tore thru 3 traces of the flex . I tryied to repair the joint(s) with conductive paste with no luck. I know i am barking up a big tree here but have any of you ever repaired one of these things??
I looked on ebay for a replacement rubberized backlit keyboard and started to curse to myself, I cant believe how much one of these things costs. I am tempted to get a standard non-backlit keyboard for cheap money from ebay, but I have become spoiled having this in my crusier at night and not having to turn on the interior lights to type. IF any of you folks have any extras that you want to part with incase this repair fails please let me know.
I guesst the moral of the story when working on electronics is procede with caution and take your time.

thanks

 

radiogeek... I have a rubber keyboard I can send you for free. It is well worn and fairly hideous looking but should work. I have another that looks pretty good but has a small tear in the crease of the spacebar rendering it useless as a "waterproof" keyboard... If you want one of them... Let me know which and I'll send it to you. Just PM me your address. Just Paypal me the shipping charges...

I have torn many a ribbon cable in my day. I used to hack cell phones for fun... Their ribbon cables are tiny in comparison to the CF-28. I have also torn a few on the CF-28. If anyone knows a way to repair them please let me know... I have several things I need to fix.

 

A few lead like 1-2 can be repair but if that is a whole ribbon, i don't know.

 

How do you repair one or two of them??? I have a few touchscreens that I'd like to fix where I cut through the ribbin cable... But only two of them.

 

Its a delicate operation that need patience, first try to strip both end just a bet. Find a flex tiny conductor strand like in broken headset. lay the ribbon steadily flat by puting a thin layer of tape( not electrical tape its thick) beneath so that to prevent movement of ribbon. Then cut a flex conductor the lenght that extend at leat 2mm from the open strip both side if you have a glue put a bet both end too, not on the open strip. Then, now its the parts that so delicate you must have steadily hand, if it is necessary to thin up your solder tip, do it. After soldering, reinforce the ribbon where you work by placing again a thin layer of tape above the surface and your done.


Note: radiogeek... if you decided to throw that keyboard just let me know? thanks

 

Toughbook
you are most generous i appreciate your help. I will PM you soon! Ohlip I tryied somthing very similar to what you described to repair this flex, the only part i didnt have was the patience
I cant wait to try this thing with the new network card.

 

hehe!!!!you must, a hacker can not accomplish something without patience. I have done so many times not only on toughbook but other notebook too.Same situation same operation but sometimes you've got no luck. I understand.