Poll: Costar or Cherry Stablizers?

[The_Beast]

What do you prefer in terms of stabilizers?

Poll

Results

Then in the comments below, why

[rowdy]

Cherry Plate Mount - I only have experience of this and Costar, and the Costar on the CM QFR was a bugger to get the pins out of the key cap to swap key caps, and then the pins would not stay in the replacement key caps - far too loose.  Plus all the fiddling around to wiggle the key caps on and off - Cherry seems simpler, just lift off or push on and it's done.

[metalliqaz]

My good old Leopold.  First mech keyboard and still love typing on it.

[Kensy]

I prefer Costar as personally I think it feels better ! However there's a offset, as the sound is more distinct than Cherry stabilizers

[sth]

cherry pcb mount stabilizers are easily modded to feel like costar with the added benefits of everything else about cherry stabilizers that makes them better
check out the kmac DIY thread for a video guide by the ever lovin Litster.

[WhiteFireDragon]

Except plate mounted Cherries are harder to source.

How many difference part numbers are there for these plate mounted stabilizers? I believe you can mount it so the wire can be either on the top or the bottom, but you can't just turn the mount around because of the different size holes. So are there two different parts we can choose from?

[wetto]

Costar stabilizers feel damn nice, but when it comes down to changing keycaps... Dear god...

But anyway, I don't think I'll be changing my Das Keyboard's keycaps, but for those who want to do that, avoid Costar.

[sth]

Except plate mounted Cherries are harder to source.

How many difference part numbers are there for these plate mounted stabilizers? I believe you can mount it so the wire can be either on the top or the bottom, but you can't just turn the mount around because of the different size holes. So are there two different parts we can choose from?

except what? i was talking about pcb mount not plate mount.

[The_Beast]

Costar takes 5 minutes max to do. I'm more scare to remove caps from a PCB mount board since I always snag the switch

[shibbyllama889]

I only have experience with Costar and Cherry pcb mount. I prefer Cherry because they allow the modifiers to sound the same as the rest of the keys. Costars always have a louder, metallic, clinky sound when you press on the keys. I like a constant sound across all the keys. I don't find them any mushier either; I think their lack of sound makes people think they feel mushier. Just a hypothesis. Also, removing the keycaps is way easier. I haven't had any trouble with pulling up the switch yet.

[jeroplane]

Costar takes 5 minutes max to do. I'm more scare to remove caps from a PCB mount board since I always snag the switch

This. I was so scared of ripping out the switches when I first removed the key caps on my 11900, but I think I've got the hang of it now.

I've only had experience with Cherry PCB Mount and Costar stabilisers, but Costar feels better to me. I feel that Cherry PCB Mount stabilisers somewhat dampen the keys, which I guess some may like.

Concerning the fit, sellotape takes care of that and it's not like you'd be changing caps that often anyway, so that's not really a deciding factor to me.

Edit: Interesting contrast with shibby's post above, haha. I guess it really is personal preference as to whether you like the "mushy" or "clinky" sound/feel.

[WhiteFireDragon]

It honestly takes me less than 1 minute to take off the all the modifiers with costar stabilizers. This doesn't include taking off the white stems though, because usually never have to change those. I have a few stem sets around. If you get use to taking modifiers off from costar, the motion is pretty fast. With cherries, it take me longer because I'm more caution of just ripping it out.

except what? i was talking about pcb mount not plate mount.

Ah the reply was out of context, it wasn't directed towards you. I looked at the poll results and during the time, nearly all of them preferred plated-mounted cherries, so my post was directed at the poll lol.

[rowdy]

Mine were jammed in to the stock CM key caps, at first I thought they were glued in they were that tight.  Took ages to get them all out.

Then in complete contradistinction they would not stay in the SP key caps as they were far too loose.

Go figure.

[The_Beast]

Blame SP not Costar. SP keys tend to be loose

[rowdy]

The Costar ones were too tight IMHO.

[blighty]

I must say that I'm a fan of Cherry PCB mounted stabilizers.  I like the fact that they seem to make less sound than Costar, or feel more solid? They don't seem to rattle as much, or sound as "hollow," especially noticeable on the space bar. I know the Costars can be adjusted somewhat to lessen noise, but eh.  The only downside is when you accidentally rip one of the stab mounts off the board while rushing to switch caps.

[Terrorsathan]

Costar... duh...

to everyone crying about having to change keycaps on a costar based board...

[Lethal Squirrel]

Can't stand cherry : P

[exousia7]

Cherry PCB mounted ftw =)

[IvanIvanovich]

Cherry all the way. Costar is rubbish, the inserts are fiddly and harder to remove or fall out on many keyset, they tend to rattle and make a lot of noise, and seem to be more prone to binding up and getting stuck. I only have 1 board with costar style, and I'm currently working on modding the plate to fit Cherry plate mount. I already removed all the stabilizer except the spacebar since I couldn't stand all the rattling and the inserts were always falling out of my Cherry keys anyway.

[SmallFry]

Says the Cherry Friend... I don't have any Costar's but from what I've tested at the Chicago meet up, I definitely prefer Cherry as well.

[The_Beast]

Costar - 21
Plate Mount Cherry - 8
PCB Mount Cherry - 5
Other - 2

Looks like costar is the big winner here

[aesthetics1]

OK, I'm sorry for the necro-bump, but I searched and couldn't really find a great answer.

Regarding removing and reattaching keys from/to costar stabilizers, what is the best (safest, not fastest) method? I have been using a tiny flathead screwdriver to pop the metal bar off to the side, but I have only done it on two keyboards so far. Hopefully there's something simpler. I feel like I'm going to break something!

[wetto]

Now I can finally compare Costar Stabilizers and Cherry stabilizers since I now have a Das Keyboard and a CM Trigger.

Anyways, what they say it's true. Costar stabilizer does feels better, but removing keycaps on Cherry stabilizers is soo damn easy...

[daerid]

Costar, all the way. I've removed caps on costar stabs so many times that it's not even an issue in the slightest.

[Hyde]

Blame SP not Costar. SP keys tend to be loose

lol I agree.

Costar, all the way. I've removed caps on costar stabs so many times that it's not even an issue in the slightest.

It's true, like if you've never done it then it might seem hard.  But it's one of those you either know or you don't type of thing, so after you do it once it's super simple.  I seriously don't know why people think it's hard.

Look how simple it is !!!

Oh another note, I tried CM Storm Trigger the other day at a local shop.  Since I never tried cherry stabilizers so I never knew what the complaint was about (my friend didn't like his Ducky because of that), then after that I finally understand.  It's actually pretty noticeable.

[firebt]

Blame SP not Costar. SP keys tend to be loose

lol I agree.

Costar, all the way. I've removed caps on costar stabs so many times that it's not even an issue in the slightest.

It's true, like if you've never done it then it might seem hard.  But it's one of those you either know or you don't type of thing, so after you do it once it's super simple.  I seriously don't know why people think it's hard.

Look how simple it is !!!

Oh another note, I tried CM Storm Trigger the other day at a local shop.  Since I never tried cherry stabilizers so I never knew what the complaint was about (my friend didn't like his Ducky because of that), then after that I finally understand.  It's actually pretty noticeable.

I think the funniest thing is that such a simple process requires a 1:31 minute video.  LOL I thought it would have been like 5 seconds

[Ahlitah]

I prefer Cherry!

I really don't notice a difference when typing on them, compared to Costar (other then Costar squeeking!).

But when changing keycaps, Costar are a PAIN!

[Hyde]

But when changing keycaps, Costar are a PAIN!

Watch the video above, the guy did it with 1 hand and like 5 seconds.

[tp4tissue]

The poll is pointless, it's unanimous that Costar is preferred by the masses....

Cherry stabilizers is mechanically complicated but achieves a more even keystroke at greater variety of "keypress angles"  However, it sacrifices that "crisp feel" in order to do so.

[tp4tissue]

The poll is pointless, it's unanimous that Costar is preferred by the masses....

Cherry stabilizers is mechanically complicated but achieves a more even keystroke at greater variety of "keypress angles"  However, it sacrifices that "crisp feel" in order to do so.

Also a pain in the ass to reliably lube.

ah... you could just go "mega-sploooge" all over it.. as long as it's non conducting lube.