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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: rowdy on Sat, 27 October 2012, 20:20:50

Title: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 27 October 2012, 20:20:50

I am swapping my CM QFR (MX blacks fwiw) key caps for another set, and swapping the modifiers for the Red Alert red modifier set.

The Costar stabiliser pins in the QFR standard key caps are a bugger to get out, I almost thought they were glued in, but eventually managed to work two of them out (and almost lost a finger nail in the process).

Putting them in to the SP red modifier keys and they just fall out if you hold the key the right way up - complete contrast to the original key caps.

Anyone else seen this?

Will it render the stabilisers ineffective if the stabiliser pins (is that what they are called?) just seem to fall out?

Is there any simple fix for this?

All of the red modifier caps seem to come off easier than the QFR caps in general - perhaps they just have a bigger + hole underneath?

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: alaricljs on Sat, 27 October 2012, 20:48:30

Yes SP caps and Costar stab inserts are not a good fit.  Shim material ranges from plastic wrap to ziplock bags of varying thickness (sandwich, freezer).

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: nokcha on Sat, 27 October 2012, 22:12:26

The stabilizers from wasdkeyboards seem to fit the SP profile keys pretty well.

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 27 October 2012, 23:49:32

^ That is good news, as I am hoping to get a WASD key cap set on there eventually :)

Until then, I will try the above suggestions, thanks.

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: WhiteFireDragon on Sun, 28 October 2012, 03:01:51

It's pretty well known that SP caps are loose on the stabilizers. Use a bag or tape to tape the stabilizer stems first before putting in the stems.

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 28 October 2012, 03:22:34

Little slices of zip lock lunch bag worked a treat :)

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: dorkvader on Mon, 29 October 2012, 09:15:50

Quote from: rowdy on Sun, 28 October 2012, 03:22:34

Little slices of zip lock lunch bag worked a treat :)

I had the same issue with cherry POM, and this was the fix. I'm a big fan of LDPE sheets.

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 29 October 2012, 14:17:24

Heh that sounds way more technical then my little slices of zip lock lunch bag ;)

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: HotKillerZzz on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:34:28

Oh thanks. Finally gpfound a way to fixing my problem.

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 20 September 2013, 06:31:53

I just realise this was one of my threads from 11 months ago.

Glad it helped someone else :)

Title: Re: Costar stabiliser pins in QFR vs. SP key caps
Post by: Lu_e on Fri, 20 September 2013, 19:18:43

I don't know if it was mentioned here but; because the qfr keycaps are such a tight fit it really crushes the 'barbs' on the stabilizer inserts. Those little 'barbs' are what hold the insert in & once the barbs are crushed they're going to be looser in SP caps and other not-as-tight caps.

So you're best off starting with NEW stabilizer inserts (available at wasdkeyboards.com), that haven't hard their 'barbs' smooshed by super tight fitting qfr caps. It helps quite a lot.