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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: rf86u on Fri, 23 October 2020, 05:55:09

Title: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: rf86u on Fri, 23 October 2020, 05:55:09
I have a Realforce 86u variable made in 2010, 87u variable in 2015, and a R2 PFU limited made in 2018

The R2 is significantly stiffer than the 86u and 87u. So I think it is the opposite, Topre domes weaken over time.
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: Sup on Fri, 23 October 2020, 07:56:03
Topre does indeed stiffen they get heavier and more snappier over the years can be a good thing or bad thing. I got a hhkb pro 1 from 2003 and the domes feel like 55g domes. Not sure how R2 is since i never touched it maybe they changed the secret formula for there dome sheets to make it more tactile and stiffer since all the fornighters love holy panda idk  :)
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: nathanchere on Fri, 23 October 2020, 09:13:18
That's weird, my experience with BKE domes at least is that they break in over time and become lighter if anything.  Maybe there are two forces at play here - the collapse point of the dome weakening with use and the rubber hardening overall with age?
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: Polymer on Fri, 23 October 2020, 10:28:49
I have my 87U and R2 side by side and there isn't a significant difference.

The 45g keys on my 87U are slightly stiffer than my R2.  I've had my 87U for a long time and when I measure it, it doesn't seem to have changed much.

My HHKB is older than both, by quite a bit, and while it is slightly stiffer, that's to be expected and isn't isn't significantly so. 

There is a fair bit of variability with Topre...so it wouldn't surprise me one is slightly more stiff than the other.  Have you measured them?  I can't be bothered to do that right now..
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: DrJackman on Fri, 23 October 2020, 10:53:05
There's rubber in there... so it's more of a question of what conditions the board was subjected to over its lifetime. 
Lots of things can cause degradation / release of free radicals / hardening / all that stuff
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: rf86u on Wed, 28 October 2020, 01:45:49
I take my word back. After a few days of use I think the new R2 is softer. However I type more confidently on the old board.
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: Riverman on Wed, 28 October 2020, 11:05:26
I can definitely say that an R2 RGB and an original RGB are both softer than a Type Heaven (all are supposed to be uniform 45g), which is several years older, but whether that's due to manufacturing differences or age, I don't know.
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: Polymer on Wed, 28 October 2020, 15:04:46
I can definitely say that an R2 RGB and an original RGB are both softer than a Type Heaven (all are supposed to be uniform 45g), which is several years older, but whether that's due to manufacturing differences or age, I don't know.

I think that's normal given what people have written about it before...

Eg.  660c and HHKB are slightly stiffer IMO...but that could just be how the rubber reacts w/ the rest of the board....
Title: Re: Topre key get stiff over age?
Post by: Nonnegaard on Fri, 30 October 2020, 04:27:48
Topre does indeed stiffen they get heavier and more snappier over the years can be a good thing or bad thing. I got a hhkb pro 1 from 2003 and the domes feel like 55g domes. Not sure how R2 is since i never touched it maybe they changed the secret formula for there dome sheets to make it more tactile and stiffer since all the fornighters love holy panda idk  :)
I bought my first mechanical keyboard with Holy Pandas to play Fortnite with. I somehow feel offended and understood at the same time.