Updated Topre Silencing

[Hypersphere]

I've been tweaking my method for silencing Topre-switch keyboards, using a combination of Silencing Rings and lubing of stabilizers and switches. This most recent "ring job and lube" produced the best silencing yet.

Previously, I had lubricated only the stabilizers. My earlier method was to use relatively thick grease,such as MechLube2 from EK. However, all of the greases I had tried seemed to dry up after a time.

My current method is to install Silencing Rings in all the switches and then to lubricate the stabilizers and switches using SuperLube 51010 Oil. The oil is applied with a small paintbrush on friction points such as articulations of stabilzer wires and the slider rails of switches. I've reproduced an image showing a similar procedure on the switch slider rails of a HHKB Pro 2 keyboard:


https://i.imgur.com/DQyf2Sa.jpg

I also put a two-layer square of self-adhesive anti-skid strips on each side of the spacebar switch to serve as downstroke dampers for the spacebar.

This method produced the best silencing I have experienced to date, as demonstrated in the following video/audio clips and audio waveforms. Keystrokes were 3 each of Tab, Backslash (HHKB Delete/Backspace), CapsLock/Ctrl, Return/Enter, Left Shift, Right Shift, and Spacebar, followed by 3 each of "This is this." (without quotation marks), ending with 3 each of Return/Enter and Spacebar.

Before silencing:

After silencing:

I hope that these tips will help others who are interested in silencing their Topre-switch keyboards. The same principles should apply to any Topre-switch board, including RF87U/104U, HHKB Pro 2, Leopold FC660C, CM Novatouch, and others.

[retrochick]

Thanks for this. I lube my hhkb with krytox 103 and love it. Thick lube tends to also dampen the springiness of the switch I find.

[Latin00032]

Thanks for this. I lube my hhkb with krytox 103 and love it. Thick lube tends to also dampen the springiness of the switch I find.

Is dampening the springiness bad?

[dgneo]

Thanks for this. I lube my hhkb with krytox 103 and love it. Thick lube tends to also dampen the springiness of the switch I find.

Is dampening the springiness bad?

More preference than anything. I too lubed my HHKB with 103, and I love it even more.

I should clarify, as long as you don't overlube them, you'll be fine. You only need a small bit on the tip of a brush, and only need to brush here:

[retrochick]

Thanks for this. I lube my hhkb with krytox 103 and love it. Thick lube tends to also dampen the springiness of the switch I find.

Is dampening the springiness bad?

Yes unless you like mushy topre

[raymogi]

Might try this. How do you clean up the previous lube job though? Used mechlube also on my HHKB. I think it's been 2 months since I did it.

[retrochick]

Might try this. How do you clean up the previous lube job though? Used mechlube also on my HHKB. I think it's been 2 months since I did it.

I think q tips with isp alcohol will remove any existing lube.

[iss]

Another satisfied GPL103-lubed Hypersphere-silenced HHKB user chiming in! It was definitely kind of a pain to do (although not as bad as switch lubing), but the results were fantastic.

[bocahgundul]

I don't need to lube the stem right? just the rail right?
I'm waiting for my silencing ring and I'm gonna try to lube it with ro-59 which have the same viscosity as krytox 103

[Hypersphere]

@raymogi: If you have previously lubed with a thick grease such as MechLube2, you can remove this by cleaning all the sliders and housings with 70% isopropyl alcohol. You might want to do a soak in detergent followed by thorough rinsing with water, possibly finishing with an isopropyl alcohol rinse and allowing to dry completely.

@bocahgundul: I have heard of some people lubing the stems, but I think this might make the switches too sluggish. I would recommend lubing only the rails, using a small paintbrush to apply the lube sparingly. I just received some ro-59 from hasu, but I have not tried it. I have also not tried Krytox 103. So far, I have gotten my best lubing results using SuperLube 51010 oil, which is readily available and much less expensive than Krytox 103.

[dgneo]

I don't need to lube the stem right? just the rail right?
I'm waiting for my silencing ring and I'm gonna try to lube it with ro-59 which have the same viscosity as krytox 103

This is all you should need to lube.

I've just finished installing the Silencing Rings in my already-lubed (Krytox 103) HHKB, and the difference is fantastic. Upstroke is way quieter, if not deeper, and the switches/keycaps feel a bit more solid now as well.

Definitely worth the money if you're looking for something to add to your board.

[Latin00032]

I don't need to lube the stem right? just the rail right?
I'm waiting for my silencing ring and I'm gonna try to lube it with ro-59 which have the same viscosity as krytox 103

Show Image

This is all you should need to lube.

I've just finished installing the Silencing Rings in my already-lubed (Krytox 103) HHKB, and the difference is fantastic. Upstroke is way quieter, if not deeper, and the switches/keycaps feel a bit more solid now as well.

Definitely worth the money if you're looking for something to add to your board.

When are the rings going to be available again?

And, which is the right lube to use?

[graefeln]

When are the rings going to be available again?

They should be available now. Try this link: http://www.ebay.com/usr/katesattic2?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2754

[Hypersphere]

@Dolch: The rings are available now from "katesattic2" on eBay. As for which lubricant is the "right" one to use, I suppose this varies according to individual preference, but I got the best results lubing all the switch rails with SuperLube 51010 oil, applied sparingly with a small paintbrush. I used a higher viscosity oil for the stabilizer wires: SuperLube 51004. It seems that quite a few people recommend Krytox 103 or a Krytox blend. I have not yet tried Krytox oils, but I would like to do so. However, Krytox is quite expensive.

[bocahgundul]

I can't find krytox 103 anywhere 

[Hypersphere]

I can't find krytox 103 anywhere 

If you Google it, there are several sites that come up.

[dgneo]

I can't find krytox 103 anywhere 

MrRooks on here is actually selling some, that's where I got mine from. Here's his sale thread.

[Bevo]

Do you find topre switches to be too loud or just trying something different?

For me, half the reason i bought topre was for the satisfying "thock" sound.

[nmur]

Do you find topre switches to be too loud or just trying something different?

For me, half the reason i bought topre was for the satisfying "thock" sound.

topre silencing is nothing to do with ridding the bottom out thock, but more to do with eliminating the plastic-on-plastic snap sound at the end of the upstroke.

[Hypersphere]

Do you find topre switches to be too loud or just trying something different?

For me, half the reason i bought topre was for the satisfying "thock" sound.

topre silencing is nothing to do with ridding the bottom out thock, but more to do with eliminating the plastic-on-plastic snap sound at the end of the upstroke.

Yes. +1!

[graefeln]

I can't find krytox 103 anywhere 

MrRooks on here is actually selling some, that's where I got mine from. Here's his sale thread.

Thanks for the heads up on the Krytox... I was actually wondering where to get some. If anyone else is curious, MrRooks is on holiday in Mexico and said he wouldn't be able to ship until the 31st... I am in no rush anyways.

[bocahgundul]

The problem is nobody wants to ship to Indonesia 

[romevi]

Excellent. Will try this once I get your silencing rings.

[Wildcard]

Do you find topre switches to be too loud or just trying something different?

For me, half the reason i bought topre was for the satisfying "thock" sound.

topre silencing is nothing to do with ridding the bottom out thock, but more to do with eliminating the plastic-on-plastic snap sound at the end of the upstroke.

This is 100% correct. IMO putting a damper on the down stroke ruins the best part about Topre. Fixing the upstroke is the method used in all the type S boards.

[XMIT]

Do you find topre switches to be too loud or just trying something different?

For me, half the reason i bought topre was for the satisfying "thock" sound.

topre silencing is nothing to do with ridding the bottom out thock, but more to do with eliminating the plastic-on-plastic snap sound at the end of the upstroke.

Am I the only one who is irritated by the plastic-on-plastic clack at the bottom of the stroke on a HiPro? I've been thinking of experimenting with a second damping ring just for the HiPro. With the taller switch guides these bottom out - painfully and loudly - on plastic.

[Hypersphere]

@XMIT: Perhaps we could put our heads together on this one. I wonder how many HiPro users are out there? I do not have one myself. The closest I have come to this is a Novatouch with SA profile caps. Interestingly, to avoid bottoming-out noise on the Novatouch, you need the higher profile caps, such as OEM or SA profile. Cherry profile results in bottoming-out noise. Of course, the HiPro design is quite different.

[XMIT]

Yes, we've chatted about this some in various PMs.

The bottoming out on the HiPro is a lot like the bottoming out of thick PBT Cherry profile caps on the Novatouch. Same idea. And ... no progress since last time :-(

I was hoping that another HiPro user would see this post and comment!