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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: karljs on Sun, 02 September 2012, 23:33:02

Title: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: karljs on Sun, 02 September 2012, 23:33:02
Title says it all---do keyboard roofs really reduce or eliminate the need to regularly remove keys and clean things out, or are they more of an aesthetic accessory? Any keyboards I keep at home for long ends up with cat hair in them, which I'm tired of cleaning.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: TheProfosist on Mon, 03 September 2012, 00:47:55
Yes it keeps dest and dirt off if them or anything from directly falling on them. I used to use roofs all the tim but recently ive just been forgetting to put them back on everytime i leave the computer for a lengthly peroid. I guess that because i have a standing desk now that my cats cant get up on.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: PointyFox on Mon, 03 September 2012, 00:51:46
If you have animals that sit on the keyboard when you're not using it; yes.  Otherwise no.  Most of the stuff that ends up in a keyboard falls off/out of you when you are using it.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 03 September 2012, 03:40:29
My house is somewhat dusty - nothing much I can do about it except clean regularly (which sets my hay fever off).

My Ducky SHine came with a plastic dust cover which I try to leave on as often as possible - definitely overnight and when I am at work during the day.

It doesn't stop the odd dust particle or hair falling on the keyboard during normal use, but I am hoping that it will stop needless avalanches of dust burying the keyboard in the short term.  That was a slight exaggeration, but anyway.

I have not had mine for long enough to notice any significant difference, but so far so good.  Can't be bad.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: quake4mhg on Mon, 03 September 2012, 03:54:58
It works.  My house is dusty too. I don't feel safe because no PCB cover inside KBT Race. It is an expensive peripheral to me  ;D
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 03 September 2012, 03:59:22
Apart from being relatively expensive, I also do not want my mechanical keyboards to fail before their time.  Each key switch is supposed to last 50 million key strokes - I would prefer not to have it clogged with dust before then.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: MarkPharaoh on Mon, 03 September 2012, 04:12:20
Of course it reduces the frequency of cleanings. Dust particles are always floating in the air. The more often your keyboard is covered, the less it's exposed to dust.

Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: silat on Mon, 03 September 2012, 04:30:54
I highly recommend the one I use:
http://www.fentek-ind.com/keyboard-cover.htm (http://www.fentek-ind.com/keyboard-cover.htm)
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: RiGS on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:26:30
Apart from being relatively expensive, I also do not want my mechanical keyboards to fail before their time.  Each key switch is supposed to last 50 million key strokes - I would prefer not to have it clogged with dust before then.
It is quite easy to clean the switches from time to time with something like deoxit. You do not even need to open those switches. Pesonally I have never seen a Cherry switch filled with dust.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: 1stGenRex on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:29:00
I use the cover that came with my Filco.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: JaccoW on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:41:43
I highly recommend the one I use:
http://www.fentek-ind.com/keyboard-cover.htm (http://www.fentek-ind.com/keyboard-cover.htm)
Thanks for that one, finally one that can house my Deck Legend!
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: RiGS on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:52:20
I find the original plastic cover that comes with Filco keyboards sufficient. Maybe I'm just too cheap to buy an acrylic one.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: dirge on Mon, 03 September 2012, 07:56:07
I use a bar towel

(http://www.drinkstuff.com/productimg/41457.jpg)

Also handy to have if you spill anything.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 03 September 2012, 08:31:51
If you have a Focus 2001 I have a nice hinged cover that I will sell you.
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: TurdFurgusand on Mon, 03 September 2012, 17:05:36
Yes, it keeps the dust off of mine
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: _js_ on Thu, 04 October 2012, 14:28:43
I never used a roof before my HHKB Pro 2, partly because they were out of stock at EK and partly because I didn't like the full sized roof design as much as for the HHKB.  But, in any case, not that I have a roof, I really like it, and it definitely does keep dust off your board, especially if you put the roof on for many hours (or days) at a time--such as if your board is at work (as is my case).  Mostly, though, it's just cool!  :)
Title: Re: Do keyboard roofs work?
Post by: dorkvader on Thu, 04 October 2012, 18:45:06
I'm not worried about dust (So my plates get a little dandruffy) but I'd definitely use a roof for travel, to protect the keycaps.