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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: zoolzoo on Mon, 21 January 2013, 20:58:49

Title: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Mon, 21 January 2013, 20:58:49
Greasing the stabilizers on my Filco board makes me feel like I'm typing on a $160 keyboard  :cool:. I was skeptical, but my stabilized keys feel much more solid...especially the space bar. This probably the best "mod" for your board with Costar stabilizers. Do it!                       

       







   
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 21 January 2013, 21:04:13
I tried that when I swap the stock keycaps to PBT keycaps on my g/f's keyboard.  I didn't find it make it too different.

Though I wonder maybe I didn't apply enough or maybe I didn't mix the white lithium grease properly (need to shake more maybe).
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Mon, 21 January 2013, 21:08:09
I tried that when I swap the stock keycaps to PBT keycaps on my g/f's keyboard.  I didn't find it make it too different.

Though I wonder maybe I didn't apply enough or maybe I didn't mix the white lithium grease properly (need to shake more maybe).

Well for what its worth I'm currently using ABS caps. Also, I used a bit more than a "dab" of white lithium on the key cap inserts and on the area where the stabilizer connects to the board. I was going for maximum coverage and I think it made a big difference. 
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: Hyde on Mon, 21 January 2013, 23:18:55
lol ahhhhhhh that could be why, I think I forgot to grease the joint where the stabilizer connect to the board.  Maybe I'll try that next time  :P
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: rknize on Mon, 21 January 2013, 23:22:26
I did it to some boards and not others.  Some seem to need it more, I guess.  Cherry stabs benefit from it too.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: daerid on Tue, 22 January 2013, 00:01:38
Make sure you get the plastic inserts that clip into the plate, not just the white keycap inserts. It makes a difference.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 22 January 2013, 10:04:46
Make sure you get the plastic inserts that clip into the plate, not just the white keycap inserts. It makes a difference.

*   *   *   *   *

The plastic base tabs are all I really worry about lubricating. The holes/slots in the back of the keys are of little consequence, it seems to me.

This stuff is great and cheap, I recommend it:

http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,misc&pid=mechlube (http://elitekeyboards.com/products.php?sub=access,misc&pid=mechlube)



Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: link_tree on Tue, 22 January 2013, 13:03:45
I don't know I don't feel the need to lube my own keyboard. it feels great as is.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: laffindude on Tue, 22 January 2013, 15:56:22
Lube is to get rid of the rattling sound, not to make it feel better.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 22 January 2013, 16:05:14
What kind of lube did you use?
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: machmkv on Tue, 22 January 2013, 16:09:35
Lubing is fun too.  I wouldn't mind if I had 100 keyboards laying around and just lubed them all in.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: The_Beast on Tue, 22 January 2013, 16:09:50
I use Superlube. Same stuff WASD uses and I guess he tested a bunch of other lubes before sticking with Superlube


Plus I used it to lube switches so it has a dual purpose. But you should test first to see if you like it. I like a thicker grease lube where others like a thinner oil type lube
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Tue, 22 January 2013, 17:45:56
I used a tube of white lithium I got from Autozone.  :)
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: lazerpointer on Tue, 22 January 2013, 17:52:38
Saw this thread and noticed my HPE 87's spacebar and backspace were rattling like crazy. Went to Home Depot and got some Danco Sillicon Grease --- perfection. The board is much quieter and you get that solid, smooth feel. Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Tue, 22 January 2013, 17:56:27
Saw this thread and noticed my HPE 87's spacebar and backspace were rattling like crazy. Went to Home Depot and got some Danco Sillicon Grease --- perfection. The board is much quieter and you get that solid, smooth feel. Highly recommended.

Awesome, yah it does add more of a solid "thud" feel as well.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: fohat.digs on Tue, 22 January 2013, 18:48:12
Always be careful with lubricants.

The actual "lubrication" substance is usually carried by something else, and that something can often be a solvent to plastics, short-term or long-term.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: CPTBadAss on Tue, 22 January 2013, 18:53:55
I use Superlube. Same stuff WASD uses and I guess he tested a bunch of other lubes before sticking with Superlube


Plus I used it to lube switches so it has a dual purpose. But you should test first to see if you like it. I like a thicker grease lube where others like a thinner oil type lube

Just the general Multipurpose Grease they have? Where do you get yours from?
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: lazerpointer on Tue, 22 January 2013, 18:55:03
Silicon grease is okay and I recommend it - use a q tip to apply. A little one ounce thing of it cost me like 3 bucks at home depot. Found it in the plumbing aisle lol
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 22 January 2013, 18:57:19
Silicon grease is okay and I recommend it - use a q tip to apply. A little one ounce thing of it cost me like 3 bucks at home depot. Found it in the plumbing aisle lol

q-tip? what are you a woman???

I just slab that **** on with a butter knife... "totally serious"
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: lazerpointer on Tue, 22 January 2013, 19:07:16
Lol
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: uJalled on Tue, 22 January 2013, 19:41:39
Technically, you're typing on a 140-150 dollar board, so what does a 160 dollar board feel like?  :-[
btw I've figured out that white lithum grease is the best for the job
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: Hyde on Tue, 22 January 2013, 19:57:40
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/jig-a-loo-super-white-lithium-grease/902322

I use this it says "safe for plastic" and I hope they didn't lie to me  :P
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Tue, 22 January 2013, 20:57:42
Technically, you're typing on a 140-150 dollar board, so what does a 160 dollar board feel like?  :-[
btw I've figured out that white lithum grease is the best for the job

Hi. It was 159.00 on Amazon.
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 22 January 2013, 22:12:25
Technically, you're typing on a 140-150 dollar board, so what does a 160 dollar board feel like?  :-[
btw I've figured out that white lithum grease is the best for the job

Hi. It was 159.00 on Amazon.

The deminishing returns on a keyboard is like... 89* degree cliff after $80....

you can throw another $300 for an aluminum case, it does pretty much get nothing except a slightly more solid feel.

In retrospect, I think i could've achieved the same effect had I filled my keyboard with sand, which wouldn't have been all that hard to do......
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: The_Beast on Tue, 22 January 2013, 22:34:11
I use Superlube. Same stuff WASD uses and I guess he tested a bunch of other lubes before sticking with Superlube


Plus I used it to lube switches so it has a dual purpose. But you should test first to see if you like it. I like a thicker grease lube where others like a thinner oil type lube

Just the general Multipurpose Grease they have? Where do you get yours from?

http://www.amazon.com/Synthetic-Grease-Syncolon-Purpose-Lubricant/dp/B000XBH9HI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1358915637&sr=8-1&keywords=superlube

Got mine at Ace hardware
Title: Re: Cant believe how much greasing Costar stabs actually helps....
Post by: zoolzoo on Wed, 23 January 2013, 06:12:54
Technically, you're typing on a 140-150 dollar board, so what does a 160 dollar board feel like?  :-[
btw I've figured out that white lithum grease is the best for the job

Hi. It was 159.00 on Amazon.

The deminishing returns on a keyboard is like... 89* degree cliff after $80....

you can throw another $300 for an aluminum case, it does pretty much get nothing except a slightly more solid feel.

In retrospect, I think i could've achieved the same effect had I filled my keyboard with sand, which wouldn't have been all that hard to do......

Interesting story, but it seems out of context posted on a forum where most of us over pay for little pieces of plastic anyway.