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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: amzee on Thu, 13 June 2013, 18:58:34

Title: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: amzee on Thu, 13 June 2013, 18:58:34
I recently got a set of the DSA retro caps, and I've been using them on my KBT Pure, and they work perfectly on the Cherry stabilizers, however, when I tried putting them on my QFR, the stabilizer inserts just fell out of the keys that needed them. Is there any way to make these caps fit the Costar stabilizers better?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Photoelectric on Thu, 13 June 2013, 19:02:22
I didn't have any issues putting DSA Retro caps onto my Filco.  Use some Teflon tape on top of the white plastic inserts before pushing them into the keycaps--that will keep the inserts firmly in when you put the caps onto the keyboard.  Also make sure the inserts go in in a proper orientation.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 13 June 2013, 20:55:57
Or even small squares (~1cm squre) of a plastic lunch bag works.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Lbeuol on Thu, 13 June 2013, 22:17:44
You could always just put some blu tack inside
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: alaricljs on Thu, 13 June 2013, 22:30:17
It's not DSA, it's all SP caps. 

I used cut squares of the baggy the space bar came in.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: bazemk1979 on Thu, 13 June 2013, 22:52:37
put small piece of square tape on the white stabilizers inserts
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Hyde on Thu, 13 June 2013, 23:46:07
Saran wrap works for me.  But yes like everyone said, put something into the stem to increase its thickness until it fits basically lol.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Hak Foo on Thu, 13 June 2013, 23:47:49
It seems to be the problem is Costar stabilizers, not the caps.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: hashbaz on Thu, 13 June 2013, 23:59:40
It seems to be the problem is Costar stabilizers, not the caps.

Nope, it's definitely the caps.  It's a well-known fact that Costar stabilizers are perfect.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: SmallFry on Fri, 14 June 2013, 00:05:02
I thought that DSA was very very tight, but perhaps that was just the PBT ones that came with an eDox, FWIW.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Hyde on Fri, 14 June 2013, 00:44:59
The only issue that I'm aware of with Costar stabilizer is that the stabilizer wire grinds the front wall of enter key if you use Cherry profile.  Not sure if this is the case with DSA profile.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: The_Beast on Fri, 14 June 2013, 00:47:28
I've had no problems with costar with DSA, imsto thicks, cherry DS or stock thin ABS.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Photoelectric on Fri, 14 June 2013, 10:21:31
DSA is quite short in profile.  I'm thinking the wire grinds only with improper installation, because none of my keys with Costar stabilizers had this issue once the keycaps were properly and carefully installed.  If installed incorrectly, like with the little white plastic inserts backwards, the keys would stick.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Fri, 14 June 2013, 16:01:53
The only issue that I'm aware of with Costar stabilizer is that the stabilizer wire grinds the front wall of enter key if you use Cherry profile.  Not sure if this is the case with DSA profile.

not every enter key it depends on whether your enter key shrinks forward or shrinks backwards during cooling.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Hyde on Fri, 14 June 2013, 23:24:55
The only issue that I'm aware of with Costar stabilizer is that the stabilizer wire grinds the front wall of enter key if you use Cherry profile.  Not sure if this is the case with DSA profile.

not every enter key it depends on whether your enter key shrinks forward or shrinks backwards during cooling.

Ahhhhhhhh I guess I got unlucky then  :(
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 15 June 2013, 00:29:26
The only issue that I'm aware of with Costar stabilizer is that the stabilizer wire grinds the front wall of enter key if you use Cherry profile.  Not sure if this is the case with DSA profile.

not every enter key it depends on whether your enter key shrinks forward or shrinks backwards during cooling.

Ahhhhhhhh I guess I got unlucky then  :(

just think of it as your caps having 'personality" :D
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Photoelectric on Sat, 15 June 2013, 08:14:26
just think of it as your caps having 'personality" :D

(http://www.babyzone.com/assets/cms/images/baby/baby-week-by-week/baby-playing-with-block-toys-photo-420x420-ts-80472156.jpg)
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Lighthouse1 on Sat, 15 June 2013, 10:19:21
Thanks for the tips, was having issues with the new DSA retro set space bar and enter key and the white inserts kept falling out; little bit of cling film worked wonders.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: tp4tissue on Sat, 15 June 2013, 11:57:08
Thanks for the tips, was having issues with the new DSA retro set space bar and enter key and the white inserts kept falling out; little bit of cling film worked wonders.

make sure you use a small enough piece, otherwise frilled edges of cling wrap could get caught between the white insert and stabilizer guide during key press which would cause mushiness and stickiness.
Title: Re: Making DSA Caps fit Costar stabilizers
Post by: Lighthouse1 on Sat, 15 June 2013, 12:53:55
Thanks for the tips, was having issues with the new DSA retro set space bar and enter key and the white inserts kept falling out; little bit of cling film worked wonders.

make sure you use a small enough piece, otherwise frilled edges of cling wrap could get caught between the white insert and stabilizer guide during key press which would cause mushiness and stickiness.

Thanks, good tip.

I used a very tiny piece just enough to squash inside the actual insert with nothing sticking out and take the gap out of the equation. Keys appear to feel like they did before (well I prefer the flat typing on these keys, but the feel as you depress a key and the sound is the same as it was on the space bar, big enter etc).