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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: crimsonTofu on Wed, 10 September 2014, 22:05:23

Title: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: crimsonTofu on Wed, 10 September 2014, 22:05:23
Does anyone know where I can get my hands on some keycap stabilizers in Canada? I know I could order them off wasdkeyboards but shipping two little inserts to Canada will cost me ~22...
LOOK AT THE TERROR I AM DEALING WITH. NO SHIFT KEYS!
(http://i57.tinypic.com/22cl5y.jpg)
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: frosty on Wed, 10 September 2014, 23:44:44
what about getting a proxy?
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: frosty on Wed, 10 September 2014, 23:48:36
try this (http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=316), it's still from WASD Keyboards but now the seller is MK. Maybe it'll have cheaper shipping.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 11 September 2014, 01:07:29
Sigh... yet another reason to use Cherry style stabs instead.

AFAIK, WASD and MK are the only places to get them. And they're quite expensive for 2 tiny pieces of plastic. $11 just for 2 Shift keys.

If the plate or PCB support them, maybe try to get some Cherry stabs instead? If you don't like the "mushy" bottom out feel, you can clip them. Then they're better in practically every way than Costar style, IMHO.

Plate mount 2x, 2.25x, 2.75x stabiliser unit:
Mouser sells some: http://fi.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CHERRY/0G990224/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsaqnnEkh1zaR6b6%2fY%252bBATZ%2fM4l7siKl0I%3d
As does DigiKey: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0G990224/0G990224-ND/424648
And Farnell/Newark/element14: http://www.newark.com/cherry/0g990224/mx-leveling-mechanism-kit-1x2/dp/98B1430

This place in Canada sells the PCB mount 2x units: http://www.e-sonic.com/product-detail/cherry-electrical/g990742.html?p=11075025&ref=OctopartFeed
And they happen to have 2 in stock :)
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: frosty on Thu, 11 September 2014, 03:47:33

Sigh... yet another reason to use Cherry style stabs instead.

AFAIK, WASD and MK are the only places to get them. And they're quite expensive for 2 tiny pieces of plastic. $11 just for 2 Shift keys.

If the plate or PCB support them, maybe try to get some Cherry stabs instead? If you don't like the "mushy" bottom out feel, you can clip them. Then they're better in practically every way than Costar style, IMHO.

Plate mount 2x, 2.25x, 2.75x stabiliser unit:
Mouser sells some: http://fi.mouser.com/ProductDetail/CHERRY/0G990224/?qs=sGAEpiMZZMsaqnnEkh1zaR6b6%2fY%252bBATZ%2fM4l7siKl0I%3d
As does DigiKey: http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/0G990224/0G990224-ND/424648
And Farnell/Newark/element14: http://www.newark.com/cherry/0g990224/mx-leveling-mechanism-kit-1x2/dp/98B1430

This place in Canada sells the PCB mount 2x units: http://www.e-sonic.com/product-detail/cherry-electrical/g990742.html?p=11075025&ref=OctopartFeed
And they happen to have 2 in stock :)

OP's keyboard looks like a QFR.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 11 September 2014, 05:20:23
Looks that way. So, does it support plate or PCB mount Cherry stabs?
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 11 September 2014, 05:43:29
From what I can tell, if you enlarge the holes in the plate you can fit Cherry plate mount stabs.

Looks like the PCB doesn't have mount holes for Cherry PCB mount stabs.

Of course the easiest would be to just buy the inserts from Mechanical Keyboards or WASD. I am providing infromation on another possibly cheaper option, but it requires more work.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: yomammary on Thu, 11 September 2014, 07:22:16
Something like that?
http://www.qwer.io/shop/accessories/2u-cherry-stabilisers/

Shipping doesn't seem too expensive I guess... :-[
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 11 September 2014, 07:47:36
From what I can tell, if you enlarge the holes in the plate you can fit Cherry plate mount stabs.

Looks like the PCB doesn't have mount holes for Cherry PCB mount stabs.

Of course the easiest would be to just buy the inserts from Mechanical Keyboards or WASD. I am providing infromation on another possibly cheaper option, but it requires more work.

Yeaaa... but you gotta measure it correctly, and it's kinda hard to get it under there without some cutting or desoldering surrounding switches.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: abjr on Thu, 11 September 2014, 09:10:03
It shouldn't be that expensive. The minimum order on wasdkeyboards.com is $3 and the clips and insert kits are 50 cents for a pair and the springs are 50 cents for one. Their shipping to Canada is under $7 dollars. So it should be less than $10 USD ... where is the $22 coming from?

From their site:

USPS
 First-Class Package International Service $6.55

If you are desperate, just PM me your address. I'll throw 4 in an envelope and send them to you.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: abjr on Fri, 12 September 2014, 11:42:30
So the Post Office here wouldn't just let me throw 4 in an envelope. They were going to make me ship them First Class International in a padded envelope which was almost $9 to ship $1 worth of plastic. I'm nice but I guess I'm not that nice. Not to mention I would have had to fill out a customs form. I guess that shows how naive I was about just throwing 4 in an envelope!

Surely someone in Canada can send you 4 otherwise I would suggest to just order $3 worth of stuff from WASD and it's $6.55 shipping.

Sorry :(
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: GL1TCH3D on Sat, 13 September 2014, 11:18:04
I'm going to be ordering stabilizers from Qwer and I'm in Canada too. We could split the price. PM me
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: crimsonTofu on Sun, 21 September 2014, 21:11:47
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Abjr ended up sending me 4 inserts so big thanks to you sir.  :)
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: dorkvader on Sun, 21 September 2014, 21:29:52
So the Post Office here wouldn't just let me throw 4 in an envelope. They were going to make me ship them First Class International in a padded envelope which was almost $9 to ship $1 worth of plastic. I'm nice but I guess I'm not that nice. Not to mention I would have had to fill out a customs form. I guess that shows how naive I was about just throwing 4 in an envelope!

Surely someone in Canada can send you 4 otherwise I would suggest to just order $3 worth of stuff from WASD and it's $6.55 shipping.

Sorry :(

$6.16 is the price if you pay online. cheapest possible international shipping. WASD price is a little more to cover the cost of a bubblemailer.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Abjr ended up sending me 4 inserts so big thanks to you sir.  :)
Such a great person. Glad you got it sorted out.
Title: Re: Cherry MX Keycap Stabilizer Inserts
Post by: abjr on Sun, 21 September 2014, 23:25:44
In fact I was able to send them as "First-Class Mail International Large Envelope" in a bubble mailer for $2.29 :)