Does having the feet up on older mechanical keyboards hurt anything?

[supamesican]

Basically was talking to a guy I know who is into retro boards, he said to always keep the feet down on them because something about being brittle and breaking stuff. Is that true, or is he full of it and I get to keep my model f's feet up how I like it?

[fohat.digs]

I never use keyboard legs but it should not hurt them to be used as intended.

And Model Fs are particularly well-made.
 

[NewbieOneKenobi]

Not sure, but in any case I wouldn't expect anything huge to happen, and the advantage of raising the feet can be significant.

Myself, I can type faster with the feet down, but it feels much, much better with the feet up.

[supamesican]

and the advantage of raising the feet can be significant.

besides feeling better what other advantages are there, or is that the only(admittedly pretty big to me) advantage?

[CPTBadAss]

Changes the angle...that's about it. You won't hurt anything and there's nothing magical to it. Just changes the angle of the board lol.

[Tactile]

I think what your friend was referring to was the fact that some types of plastics can become brittle with age and thus more delicate. However, if you're whomping on a keyboard hard enough to break the flipped-out legs - even old, brittle ones - you're doing something wrong.

[xtrafrood]

Oh, he says that to everyone I bet. Because maybe that one board he wanted had a broken leg and it ruined his day. I've only seen broken legs on cheapie membrane keyboards. The legs would have to be pretty thin for them to break under normal usage

[NewbieOneKenobi]

besides feeling better what other advantages are there, or is that the only(admittedly pretty big to me) advantage?

Yup.

I prefer it because it allows me to rest my wrists more or less comfortably, with only minimum relocation necessary if I want to reach function keys. In other words, it's easier to reach stuff from where you already are.

However, you've tempted me to put the feet down and try it that way for a while, to see if there is any advantage to be found. So far I can observe a less flat palm/finger arch, closer to how normal people type, which is closer to claw grip on a mouse. My normal way of typing tends to be more similar to the fingertip grip.

[tp4tissue]

Feet-up  is the #1 Leading cause of Hand-cancer..

//You have been warned.... !

[klennkellon]

It depends on the condition of the keyboard and how good the feet are on the board.

My favorite feet are the wide flip out feet on Focus's, not the sturdiest boards but the size of the feet make it seem really stable.

[jacobolus]

1. There are some keyboards with poorly engineered brittle feet. On a Model F, you aren’t going to break the feet with regular use. On some other keyboard, you also probably won’t break the feet, but nobody will be able to give you a good answer about that unless you post some pictures / description of the feet in question.

2. Whether or not to use keyboard feet depends on the height of your desk and chair. If you have a tall desk, I generally recommend using the feet. If you have a low desk, under-desk keyboard tray, use your desk while standing, or set the keyboard directly in your lap, you probably want the feet retracted. In some cases the angles provided by feet/no feet are not actually sufficient, and you’ll want to prop a book or something under the front or back of the keyboard to change the angle.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

After a bit more reflection, it depends on the distance. More stretched-out hands, farther on the desk etc. means you're better off with KB feet up. Closer to the edge or in a KB tray, you're better off with them down. In the former case, I can't type with the feet down, in the latter I can't type with the feet up. Well, I can, but it begs me to switch the foot position.

[Data]

Up / down is confusing in this context. Deployed / retracted is easier.

I never use the feet on a keyboard, probably because I keep my chair at a proper height. If I could tilt the keyboard away from me (raise the front) instead I probably would. I like it flat.

I've seen plenty of broken feet though, always on cheap rubber does and usually because of misuse.

[davkol]

Not entirely on-topic, but one thing I dislike about pop-up feet is that typing on the keyboard usually sounds more hollow, when it's up in the air.

[Touch_It]

The only thing I can imagine happening is you have a board that the plastic on the feet is cracked badly and typing on it ended up being "the straw that broke the camels back".  Eg no worries.  Personally (at work)  I use 2 wrist wrests and is far more comfortable than putting feet up on my keyboards.

[MOZ]

Feet-up  is the #1 Leading cause of Hand-cancer..

//You have been warned.... !

Confirmed. And yes, every time you put the feet up, a kitten dies, so technical something did get hurt and more.

[quasistellar]

You aren't going to hurt the feet on a model M or F unless you hit them with a hammer.

As far as benefits of having the feet deployed: it depends on where your elbows are in relation to the keyboard. If your board is higher, you might benefit from the increased angle to match the angle of your forearms and have your wrists less bent.

Everyone's desk/chair/body/keyboard setup is different so there's no right answer for everyone.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

I've seen plenty of broken feet though, always on cheap rubber does and usually because of misuse.

Also on my Filco. Something fell on it. Possibly a cat.

[jacobolus]

After a bit more reflection, it depends on the distance. More stretched-out hands, farther on the desk etc. means you're better off with KB feet up. Closer to the edge or in a KB tray, you're better off with them down.

I recommend against putting the keyboard far out in front of your body.

But the #1 most important rule for avoiding RSI is: make sure you keep your wrists straight. If your wrists are flexed downward or extended upward, you’re just asking for suffering later.

[xtrafrood]

I've seen plenty of broken feet though, always on cheap rubber does and usually because of misuse.

Also on my Filco. Something fell on it. Possibly a cat.

Confirmed, cats have secretly banned together to kill all keyboards.

[jcoffin1981]

I prefer boards with the feet raised vs totally flat.  What is nice about some of the newer mech boards is the case is molded to make the board have a slightly elevated position.  This makes typing feel more solid.  Also it's really annoying when a keyboard foot unclicks itself and the board is unlevel.

[NewbieOneKenobi]

After a bit more reflection, it depends on the distance. More stretched-out hands, farther on the desk etc. means you're better off with KB feet up. Closer to the edge or in a KB tray, you're better off with them down.

I recommend against putting the keyboard far out in front of your body.

But the #1 most important rule for avoiding RSI is: make sure you keep your wrists straight. If your wrists are flexed downward or extended upward, you’re just asking for suffering later.

I kinda like putting the weight of my arms on the desk space and a lot of it. If I sit back a bit, I draw the KB closer to the edge of the edge, which also provides partial support for my wrists then. I hate retractable trails. They are made for breaking, so unstable, so shaky. I need solid freaking wood under my hands, or I'm gonna freak out. Diagnose this as you will.

Re: straight wrists, I can't hold that position for a longer time. Not with my size. I may not be too overweight, but I'm 6'5'' tall and quite wide. Parallel straight wrists with a standard keyboard is just not doable, not any more for a woman with large breasts. My wrists ache if I try to bring them that close to each other. I'd need an ergo unit split in two halves dangling on a cord, then maybe. Hence I type diagonally, sort of like you'd type on MS Natural.

I've seen plenty of broken feet though, always on cheap rubber does and usually because of misuse.

Also on my Filco. Something fell on it. Possibly a cat.

Confirmed, cats have secretly banned together to kill all keyboards.

A cat and a loudspeaker IIRC. Unless that was a different tale.

[Data]

I prefer boards with the feet raised vs totally flat.  What is nice about some of the newer mech boards is the case is molded to make the board have a slightly elevated position.  This makes typing feel more solid.  Also it's really annoying when a keyboard foot unclicks itself and the board is unlevel.

See, when you say "feet raised" it's totally unclear what you mean by that.

[jacobolus]

Re: straight wrists, I can't hold that position for a longer time.

By “straight wrists” what I mean is that your wrists are in a neutral, relaxed position. They should be straight as an extension of your forearms, not rotated or extended.

If you stand up and dangle your arms at your sides, completely relaxed, your wrists will be straight.

When typing, your two forearms should not be parallel to each other unless you have a split keyboard with a wide distance between the two halves.

Hence I type diagonally, sort of like you'd type on MS Natural.

That’s what you should be doing, IMO.

[jcoffin1981]

After a bit more reflection, it depends on the distance. More stretched-out hands, farther on the desk etc. means you're better off with KB feet up. Closer to the edge or in a KB tray, you're better off with them down.

I recommend against putting the keyboard far out in front of your body.

But the #1 most important rule for avoiding RSI is: make sure you keep your wrists straight. If your wrists are flexed downward or extended upward, you’re just asking for suffering later.

The greatest factor in RSI, or at least damage to your tiny carpal bones and ligaments is keeping  your wrist straight.  The ideal height is usually where the keyboard drawer would pull out above your lap.  When the board is at the desktop level you tend to rest your wrist on the bottom of the desktop and then type with your wrists extended.  This places undue stress on the carpal bones and whatnot.  However, a keyboard drawer would most likely hit your legs.  The best thing to do to combat this issue it to keep the height of your desk chair (if its height is adjustable) is keep it as high as possible.


I kinda like putting the weight of my arms on the desk space and a lot of it. If I sit back a bit, I draw the KB closer to the edge of the edge, which also provides partial support for my wrists then. I hate retractable trails. They are made for breaking, so unstable, so shaky. I need solid freaking wood under my hands, or I'm gonna freak out. Diagnose this as you will.

Re: straight wrists, I can't hold that position for a longer time. Not with my size. I may not be too overweight, but I'm 6'5'' tall and quite wide. Parallel straight wrists with a standard keyboard is just not doable, not any more for a woman with large breasts. My wrists ache if I try to bring them that close to each other. I'd need an ergo unit split in two halves dangling on a cord, then maybe. Hence I type diagonally, sort of like you'd type on MS Natural.

I've seen plenty of broken feet though, always on cheap rubber does and usually because of misuse.

Also on my Filco. Something fell on it. Possibly a cat.

Confirmed, cats have secretly banned together to kill all keyboards.

A cat and a loudspeaker IIRC. Unless that was a different tale.

[LiquidEvilGaming]

Somehow this turned into a use keyboard feet or not discussion....i'll bite.

I hate using the feet on keyboards as it puts my wrists at a very uncomfortable angle and causes substantial pain with long term usage.  I like a slim wrist rest while not using the feet as it keeps my wrists in a more normal position as opposed to unnaturally bent upward which i imagine can't be healthy for long term use.

[SBJ]

I remember reading at one point that feet up was bad for your hands/fingers. Is there anything to this?

[need]

I remember reading at one point that feet up was bad for your hands/fingers. Is there anything to this?

Total BS, it's all depends your position not the keyboards position

[Moistgun]

TP and MOZ are on to something here...

you have been warned.

[xtrafrood]

I never bend my wrists while typing, even if I raise the keyboard with the included feets. I don't understand..

[jacobolus]

I hate using the feet on keyboards as it puts my wrists at a very uncomfortable angle and causes substantial pain with long term usage.  I like a slim wrist rest while not using the feet as it keeps my wrists in a more normal position as opposed to unnaturally bent upward which i imagine can't be healthy for long term use.

You probably either (a) have a low desk (or under-desk keyboard tray) relative to your torso, or (b) hold your elbows up and either out to the side or out in front of your body, possibly while slouching. If it’s (a), then you’re fine. If it’s (b), then I recommend lowering your desk, bringing the keyboard closer to your torso, sitting up straight, ditching the palmrest while actively typing, and aligning the keyboard so that its top is parallel to your forearms.

In general the keyboard should be kept near the edge of the table, so the typist can keep relaxed shoulders and upper arms.

Keyboard feet – or more generally steeply slanted keyboards – are designed for use with a tall desk relative to the chair, because that’s the way most office furniture is built (since office furniture is traditionally designed for writing with pen and paper). If you have a high desk and low chair and can’t do anything about it (like raising the chair or lowering the desk or switching to a standing desk or typing with the keyboard on your lap) then I recommend using the feet. When I take my laptop to a coffeeshop with high tables, I often pile a couple books under the back end to increase the tilt.

Caveat lector. YMMV. &c.

[BucklingSpring]

Feet-up  is the #1 Leading cause of Hand-cancer..

//You have been warned.... !

Confirmed. And yes, every time you put the feet up, a kitten dies, so technical something did get hurt and more.

Oh guys thank you for the giggles.

[Krustyboomer]

If you guys haven't broken keyboard legs, then you're not gaming hard enough!

[SBJ]

TP and MOZ are on to something here...

you have been warned.

I feel like trying it now, just because.

[xtrafrood]

If you guys haven't broken keyboard legs, then you're not gaming hard enough!

Videos or it never happened!

(Erik Charles Nielsen - So awesome)