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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: thestateofmay on Tue, 22 September 2020, 16:55:29

Title: Keyboard foam?
Post by: thestateofmay on Tue, 22 September 2020, 16:55:29

I don't feel like buying custom keyboard foams so I'm planning on buying some foams from Amazon and cut them myself. Do the type of foam matter? I'm look at these: https://www.amazon.com/Sheets-Craft-Cosplay-Thickness-1-10mm/dp/B07BSWRCQM

I made some rough measurements, I think the 1mm can fit as stab foams and the 2-5mm foams can fit as PCB or plate foams. Am I right about that? Does anyone have experience with this?

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: SKx1 on Tue, 22 September 2020, 17:24:49

I use the 1mm foam from the link you shared and works just fine in my builds. Go for it.

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 22 September 2020, 17:42:38

Remember that it doesn't have to lay flat in sheets. You can also fill any configuration of void with strips rolled into cylinders.

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: ddot on Tue, 22 September 2020, 18:45:30

I've had good luck with shelf liner over the years to dampen the noise.  Similar to this:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52677.0

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: thestateofmay on Tue, 22 September 2020, 21:00:02

Hmm I guess besides the aesthetics, they're mostly the same functionally...?

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: Leslieann on Tue, 22 September 2020, 21:57:44

Quote from: ddot on Tue, 22 September 2020, 18:45:30

I've had good luck with shelf liner over the years to dampen the noise.  Similar to this:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52677.0

I'm using that as well.
I've also used the foam that comes with motherboards but I don't think it works as well.

Quote from: thestateofmay on Tue, 22 September 2020, 21:00:02

Hmm I guess besides the aesthetics, they're mostly the same functionally...?

Unless your case is plex you can't see it anyhow.

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: treeleaf64 on Wed, 23 September 2020, 08:51:49

Art foam works. I have 2 mm sheets of it

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: hpetrovski on Mon, 12 October 2020, 16:20:00

I've found that regular polyurethane foam, usually used for upholstery works great. I bought a couple of 4mm rolls to fix some hollow cases, but usually you'd go with something thinner. Thin sorbothane is also a good option, but I try to use foam as a last resort.

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: CarnageHimura on Mon, 12 October 2020, 19:48:47

Quote from: treeleaf64 on Wed, 23 September 2020, 08:51:49

Art foam works. I have 2 mm sheets of it

Yes that works, I've used that too.

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: hwood34 on Mon, 12 October 2020, 23:01:08

Quote from: ddot on Tue, 22 September 2020, 18:45:30

I've had good luck with shelf liner over the years to dampen the noise.  Similar to this:
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=52677.0

shelf liner is the classic option lol

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: KPreeny1 on Tue, 25 January 2022, 05:11:14

I use thin sheets of plastazote (https://www.gbfoamdirect.co.uk/foam-cut-to-size/plastazote-foam-closed-cell-foam-sheets/) which works pretty well

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: c.a.t. on Fri, 04 February 2022, 21:59:24

With my firsts builts, I buy cheap foam and cut it myself! it did the job very well.. but my god the lost of time... Just cut it, try it, cut it....
Now I buy the foam fiting the pcb / plate on kbdfan... Cost a little bit more, but save a lot of time!!

Title: Re: Keyboard foam?
Post by: granola bar enthusiast on Sat, 23 April 2022, 22:18:27

the standard thickness' for the most common foams used in "enthusiast keyboards' are .5mm for PE foam, 3.5mm for plate foam, and whatever removes the hollowness/ping from the bottom of the case if there is any the best for case foam. completely unrelated but just wanted to put it out there. Not sure if 5mm foam would work for the plate