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Author Topic: Lubing an old Rubber Dome  (Read 5082 times)

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Offline Defect

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Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« on: Mon, 07 July 2014, 09:12:56 »
Extra Lube and a big box of old keyboards.  My entertainment for a couple hours.

I got bored and wanted to see if I could improve an old RD.  Pics aren't that great but w/e


Removed caps for cleaning on the right side.  Left side was left untouched as a control.


Silicone grease on the stabs.  Spacebar so smooth and quiet now.


Keycap (probably can't see the lube)

Results?  You need a lot of lube, then the keys feel much better and the sound is less clacky.  Close to topre in smoothness, but topre domes are better than the ones in  the Microsoft ergonomic.  Still, feels pretty nice.

YouTube with ****ty camera for sound test.  Used same force for both sides, this is the true difference in sound.
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Not pictured: KeyCool 84 [MX Red] | Focus 2001 [Complicated White Alps]
Endgame Board | Defect's Watermelon Board Build Doc

Offline davkol

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 07 July 2014, 15:52:20 »
Interesting. I've actually wanted to do this for ages, but never got to it. Sounds like a good thing to even improve le French keyboard I've cleaned today (anyone ever heard of the Leanord brand?).
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Offline Defect

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 07 July 2014, 16:49:43 »
Quote from: davkol on Mon, 07 July 2014, 15:52:20
Interesting. I've actually wanted to do this for ages, but never got to it. Sounds like a good thing to even improve le French keyboard I've cleaned today (anyone ever heard of the Leanord brand?).

Never heard of it.  Post pics here :)

Btw it'll still be a RD at the end of the day.  If you have nice domes I imagine you can get very close to Topre.  Want to try this on a better dome board.  Obviously it'll still be RD and not Capacitive...but close to Topre for a $15 bottle of lube and some silicone grease.
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Not pictured: KeyCool 84 [MX Red] | Focus 2001 [Complicated White Alps]
Endgame Board | Defect's Watermelon Board Build Doc

Offline davkol

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 07 July 2014, 17:36:05 »
Well, imagine a keyboard that has decent keycaps (e.g. PBT dyesubs), discrete sliders mounted on a metal plate, high-quality rubber dome over PCB and a metal case housing; total weight around 2 kg or more; very solid feel, fast key rebound. I have several keyboards like that.
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Offline Defect

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 07 July 2014, 18:08:48 »
Quote from: davkol on Mon, 07 July 2014, 17:36:05
Well, imagine a keyboard that has decent keycaps (e.g. PBT dyesubs), discrete sliders mounted on a metal plate, high-quality rubber dome over PCB and a metal case housing; total weight around 2 kg or more; very solid feel, fast key rebound. I have several keyboards like that.

How did you make rubber down sound like it could be a great thing. ..
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Not pictured: KeyCool 84 [MX Red] | Focus 2001 [Complicated White Alps]
Endgame Board | Defect's Watermelon Board Build Doc

Offline davkol

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 08 July 2014, 01:59:05 »
In fact, the only problem with le French keyboard is that some idiot cut the cable (hence I'll have to resolder some connector and hope the board is AT-compatible) and I've found a dead bug inside.
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Offline noisyturtle

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Re: Lubing an old Rubber Dome
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 08 July 2014, 03:06:40 »
Having the sudden urge to try this on an old Keytronic...
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