Thick PBT Costar Stabilizer Problems

[Keytrun]

I've always had a tough time getting the lube just right / positioning ect to get my thick IMSTO Cherry profile PBT caps working on my filco MJ2 TKL. I read that sanding the inside can do the trick. What kind of sandpaper? Does sanding the inside front change the outside look / feel of the key caps in any way? I don't care about resale. Could I use a nail file? Which type of sandpaper? Any advice whatsoever would really help. I just want to make sure there are 0 drawbacks - assuming I'll never sell them. Thanks!

[phoenix1234]

I've always had a tough time getting the lube just right / positioning ect to get my thick IMSTO Cherry profile PBT caps working on my filco MJ2 TKL. I read that sanding the inside can do the trick. What kind of sandpaper? Does sanding the inside front change the outside look / feel of the key caps in any way? I don't care about resale. Could I use a nail file? Which type of sandpaper? Any advice whatsoever would really help. I just want to make sure there are 0 drawbacks - assuming I'll never sell them. Thanks!

Don't modify the keycap, modify the Costar stabilizers wire instead.

[Keytrun]

It seems like it would be a lot easier to sand the inside of a keycap than properly bend a wire. Right? There's no drawback to sanding it is there? Which part of the inside needs to be sanded?

[phoenix1234]

If you prefer sanding the keycap, the part should be sanded is the one touch the Costar stabilizer wire.

[Keytrun]

How would you go about doing the wire? Can you answer any of my other questions about specifics?

[phoenix1234]

How would you go about doing the wire? Can you answer any of my other questions about specifics?

It seems like it would be a lot easier to sand the inside of a keycap than properly bend a wire. Right?
It depends, in my opinion, bending the wire is cheaper and easier. In my case, I manage to bend the wire in order to avoid the bottom keycap hit the Costar stabilizer wire. Imsto PBT is just a small grinding, it even happens more obviously with Leopold PBT keycap.

There's no drawback to sanding it is there?
Sanding will make the keycap lighter and it may reduce the value of keycap even it only happened at the bottom. It is up to you. If you don't mind, you can sand it.

Which part of the inside needs to be sanded?
If you prefer sanding the keycap, the part should be sanded is the one touch the Costar stabilizer wire. You must figure it by yourself by pressing the keycap to the bottom until it touches the wire. It is where you should sand it. You can use a small jewelry file in order to sand the keycap, a nail file could be ok but it would be very hard to use.

[Keytrun]

How would you even go about bending the wire? I tried using an exaxto knife and took some of that bottom area out only to still have the same provlem.

[tp4tissue]

I've had 2 of the thick pbt sets so far..

Both used on my costar stabs,  no conflict..

Could you put up a ruler to the inside and outside of the Cap-in-question..  also the stem.. check if the stem is maybe pushed forwards/backwards 

It might be the stabilizer side that's offset and not the cap..

[Keytrun]

How do you mean the stabilizer side and not the cap? It's the cap that is getting hung up on the bar I'm pretty sure. It's really hard to tell. This is a pretty well documented issue with thick PBT and costar. It's mainly my left shift that's really bad.

[tp4tissue]

How do you mean the stabilizer side and not the cap? It's the cap that is getting hung up on the bar I'm pretty sure. It's really hard to tell. This is a pretty well documented issue with thick PBT and costar. It's mainly my left shift that's really bad.

I haven't had the issue with 2 separate thick pbt sets, tried on several wire stabilizer boards

So, i was just wondering if it maybe it was the stabilizer side that is slightly off.

[Keytrun]

Can you be more specific about what you mean in regards to the stabilizer side being off? Things I can check for what I can do? What happens is is that it gets to the bottom and it sits and it's hard to get back up. It's mushy and such and doesn't consistently pop all the way back out.

[tp4tissue]

Can you be more specific about what you mean in regards to the stabilizer side being off? Things I can check for what I can do? What happens is is that it gets to the bottom and it sits and it's hard to get back up. It's mushy and such and doesn't consistently pop all the way back out.

hahaha, do the ruler thing..   or a small piece of straight edge..  dark colored paper even, as long as it's a factory edge.

you only need to test   Either the cap,  or the stabilizer..

Because if it's not one,  it's the other.

[Keytrun]

The stabilizers are brand new from WASD.

http://imgur.com/a/ln1nW Is what I'm looking at.

[tp4tissue]

The stabilizers are brand new from WASD.

http://imgur.com/a/ln1nW Is what I'm looking at.

The ones in those pictures are not the imsto PBTs..

I don't know if these come from the same maker.. \


it has nothing to do with the wear level of te WASD stabilizers.

It has to do with the Steel punchout they go into.

If that's off even by half a millimeter, it could be more susceptible to contact the caps.

[Keytrun]

I just got home with some sand paper. Sanded the inside of the key and everything seems to be working. I'll put the rest of the keyboard together later.

[tp4tissue]

I just got home with some sand paper. Sanded the inside of the key and everything seems to be working. I'll put the rest of the keyboard together later.

are these the "ducky"  caps  (round edge),  or the square edged imsto ones.

[Keytrun]

Square IMSTO

[lucidinertia]

I know this is an old thread necro, but I found a solution here in the differing opinions that worked very well.

I bought thick PBT keys, NPKC brand, that had binding issues on backspace, enter, shift ... the usual stabilized keys.  I ended up finding a solution by using a rat-tail file and filing down the front inside of the keycap.  It took a few tries to get it right, but now every key is buttery smooth.

Hopefully this helps someone out.  I would not recommend bending the stabilizing bar as that would not help the binding issue.

[Hyde]

Here I found the old threat that describe the issue:

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=31861.msg827711#msg827711
and
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=31861.msg836990#msg836990

But yes sanding down the front lip will help it.