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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: tbc on Fri, 11 October 2013, 04:27:50

Title: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: tbc on Fri, 11 October 2013, 04:27:50
is there a reason metal spacebars for topres aren't popular?  do people actually PREFER ABS with their topres?   I really doubt cost is a reason when you count the amount of clacks on HHKBs lol
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: longweight on Fri, 11 October 2013, 04:31:43
It would destroy the switch.

Also you can not get heavy enough domes to support the spacebar properly.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: Linkbane on Fri, 11 October 2013, 13:03:04
^^ That.
I know that feng makes zinc spacebars, but I think that Topre springs couldn't support it. If you wanted metal, maybe you could spray it chrome?
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: longweight on Fri, 11 October 2013, 13:03:59
It's the dome not the spring that give the switch it's weight and feel.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 11 October 2013, 14:19:35
Are you sure it couldn't support it? I mean, the aluminum ones are pretty dang light. People put those titanium ones on Reds and they still work... And there is always the additional spring around the slider option from the FC660C.

Also, how would it destroy the switch? The stem of a Topre cap goes inside of the slider, right? Wouldn't it just technically have to sit inside and not be turned upside down to where it might fall out?
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: AuRinBei on Fri, 11 October 2013, 16:21:45
It could have some kind of rubber or plastic around the stems so as not to damage the stems on the switch when inserted. I bet an aluminum one would be fine, even on a 45g, but I don't know about Titanium. I remember hearing people complain that the Titanium spacebar from Hammer rose up too slowly. I don't know if a 45g Topre switch would push it up passed the actuation point at all, considering that unlike a Cherry switch a Topre swtich doesn't press up as hard at the bottom.

Also, I'd like to point out that nothing is popular for Topres. You basically have Clacks and whatever is on EK.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 11 October 2013, 22:56:47
How about the Topre boards with two springs under the space bar?

Would they support a metal space bar better?

How about three springs?
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: tbc on Fri, 11 October 2013, 23:28:57
Anyone wanna experiment? :)
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: esoomenona on Fri, 11 October 2013, 23:41:28
If I had an aluminum spacebar, I'd do it. I have a hacksaw.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: tbc on Sat, 12 October 2013, 01:18:10
If I had an aluminum spacebar, I'd do it. I have a hacksaw.

wouldn't you have to have a metal topre stem though?  I guess the shape isn't actually very complex though lol
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 12 October 2013, 06:06:12
Topre keys are already hard enough to come by
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: SNF on Sat, 12 October 2013, 12:50:16
It's the dome not the spring that give the switch it's weight and feel.

Topre keys are already hard enough to come by

#truth
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: mehkat1974 on Sat, 12 October 2013, 19:14:52
I will take an abs space bar over a bent pbt one.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 12 October 2013, 19:28:08
I will take an abs space bar over a bent pbt one.

Bent PBT can be straightened, and will not sine.  ABS will shine in a week.
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: Photoelectric on Sat, 12 October 2013, 19:59:59
My aluminum spacebars were definitely too heavy for stock MX Browns.  Clear spring stiffness made them okay (though still clanky).  I prefer plastic, having tried both Cherry and OEM profile aluminum spacebars. 
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: terran5992 on Sun, 13 October 2013, 05:56:01
Hmm, ever tried a wood spacebar?
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: mehkat1974 on Mon, 14 October 2013, 02:40:45
Bent PBT can be straightened, and will not sine.  ABS will shine in a week.

Really? A week? Maybe if you are coding on it 12 hours a day and eating chips at the same time,
but my type s would beg to differ, as would my poker...
I had a couple of RF's as well that didn't get any shine in the time I had them... but tbh I usually sell my keyboards before they look used, the type S is the only one I wont part with

all the hair drying in the world wont make a bent space bar perfectly straight and it must be a PITA to do
quality ABS doubleshots are better than pbt IMO

People put those titanium ones on Reds and they still work

No. No way. It "works" as in you can use it to put spaces in between your words, but it sucks. It's sluggish and crap. blacks only for a titanium space bar

^what this guy above said, metal space bars look good in a photo with a nice key set and a plastic skull, but if you wanted to use it for, you know, typing and that, plastic is much better
Title: Re: metal topre spacebar?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 14 October 2013, 04:48:49
Bent PBT can be straightened, and will not sine.  ABS will shine in a week.

Really? A week? Maybe if you are coding on it 12 hours a day and eating chips at the same time,
but my type s would beg to differ, as would my poker...
I had a couple of RF's as well that didn't get any shine in the time I had them... but tbh I usually sell my keyboards before they look used, the type S is the only one I wont part with

Yeah, about a week.  I put the EK set on my KeyCool and used them at work.  I press the space bar in the same spot on the right side all the time, and it has started going shiny on the front top corner.