O-Ring mod: how is it any different from a membrane keyboard?

[irjoe]

Hello geekhack,

New here, and hate to start off in a critical note (Promise not here to troll ), but just had a question bugging me since I've been lurking around the forums.

I've received my Leopold with Cherry MX Browns very recently, and have been typing away happily for about less than week now. Although I'm still trying to get adjusted to using my very first mechanical keyboard, I'm realizing that even though I have Brown switches, the noise is too loud at times because I bottom out on a lot of my hits. I live with 4 other housemates, and the walls are pretty thin. I usually do a lot of work late at night because I'm a grad student, but as for the rest of my housemates; they wake up early to goto work, so they need their beauty sleep.

Although I haven't had any major complaints yet, I know that the O-Rings will reduce the noise that results from me bottoming out. Besides this minor benefit to installing O-rings, how is the tactile feel to the keys when you bottom out with O-rings?

The big question I have is, how does bottoming out with O-rings differ from typing on a regular cheap-$10 membrane keyboard? Am I sacrificing the satisfying hits of bottoming out by putting in O-rings, or does it still give off a satisfying/confirming bounce for those who are using them?

Opinions?

[Jamesbeat]

I haven't used switches with the o ring mod, but I did recently buy an Apple Extended Keyboard II with cream ALPS.
When I opened the box, I was horrified to discover what I initially thought was a rubber dome keyboard!
I did my research first, so I knew it should be mechanical. Was there a rubber dome AEK that I hadn't read about? Did the seller send the wrong keyboard?
Obviously, a few seconds later I realised that the keyboard did in fact have mechanical switches, but they sure did a good impression of a rubber dome!

Fortunately, I have since learned how to remove the rubber dampers (and also make the switches clicky) so I'm now happy with the keyboard.

From what I've read, the o ring mod sounds like it does the same thing as the dampers in my ALPS.
If this is correct, then I'd have to say that, to me at least, they feel a lot like rubber domes.

[Inochi]

The 'tactile' feel of browns is at the actuation point, not bottoming out. As you know, o-rings are good for the times when you bottom out. But depending on the hardness of the o-ring, they can feel squishy.

[irjoe]

Sorry for the confusion everbody, guess I should've refrained from submitting a hastily written post.

I understand that cherry MX Brown switches recognize key strokes at the ' tactile' / actuation point; but since I cannot type without bottoming out, my only other solution (except ditching mechanical keys or going to MX blacks), is to look into O-rings.

When I started to consider O-rings, my main concern was how it would feel in comparison to typing on a membrane keyboard.
I would think that there would still be quite a bit of room for travel (to bottoming out), and that the actuation point would still be there for those who don't bottom out, but for those who bottom out normally when they type - does installing o-rings defeat the purpose of the 'feel' mechanical switches give?

Sorry if I'm not getting it

I guess it's only best to try them out myself than ask 10 questions online

[absfac]

I have 50a o-rings from wasdkeyboards on my Filco with browns at work. They have two notable effects. First, they reduce key travel distance slightly. Second, they turn the sharp clack when bottoming out into a dull thud. Since 50a o-rings are fairly stiff, they do not reproduce the mushy bottoming-out feel of a typical membrane keyboard --- subjectively I find that it still feels fairly precise at the bottoming-out point --- and obviously they do not alter the force profile over the remaining travel distance.

Overall the combination has grown on me.  I originally added the rings to reduce the noise for my co-workers, but I find that the dampened bottoming-out reduces the vibration that travels up my fingers, and reduces stress on my finger joints.  I might put rings on my red switch board at home.

Anyway o-rings are cheap and the mod is trivially reversible, so if you're curious just try them.

[smkr32b]

They're definitely worth a shot.  I personally cannot stand the feel of cherry mx switches with o-rings or other dampeners, but many can.  But please don't buy a keyboard with blacks expecting its bottoming-out noise to be any quieter than your browns without any dampeners.  It'll be basically the same, or at least that's my experience.

[Exort]

Read the Geekhack Mechanical Keyboard Guide stickied above.

Especially the definition of Mechanical Keyboard.

Next time read the post before commenting.
Yes, the title is misleading.

[sordna]

They're definitely worth a shot.  I personally cannot stand the feel of cherry mx switches with o-rings or other dampeners, but many can.

Not only we can, I actually use o-rings for the softer feel, which makes typing much gentler on the hands. I never minded my keyboards' noise, but hated the cherry switch bottom out which feels like hitting concrete. For those that do a lot of typing and have aching hands, o-rings are a great ergonomic enhancement.

[irjoe]

I ordered 100 o-rings from Mcmaster yesterday.
They just arrived in a huge UPS box today... kind of unnecessary; I feel like shipping cost me more than the o-rings itself.

anyways, I'll put them on sometime this week and post impressions if anyone's interested.

For future references, anyone know where to find cheaper deals for the 50A/40A O-rings than from Mcmaster?

[Djuzuh]

wasd has 130 orings for 14€ and 3€ shipping

[irjoe]

Wowzers, that's expensive.

McMasters charged me $2.08 for the rings, and around $8 for shipping. Wish i bought 2 more sets... they didn't tell me the shipping charges till they charged my card.

[sordna]

Don't know about cheaper, but the best readily available o-rings in my opinion are the pink EPDM 40A's at wasdkeybards.com
Unlike cheap rubber, these will last for many years, so the cost (around $20 shipped) doesn't really matter.