Author Topic: o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed  (Read 8987 times)

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Offline kohtachi

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  • Posts: 30
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 13:21:52 »
So, i did the o-ring mod and there is a noticeable dampening of the clack. But, there is also a noticeable decrease in travel of the keys. Don't know but i think the stems of the leopod are shorter then filcos?

o-ring used
2418T114   Soft Buna-N O-Ring, AS568A Dash Number 008, Packs of 125 from mcmaster.com
FC500RC modded with mod-m switches, PBT Double Shot Keycap Set - Gray/Dark Gray (Tai-Hao), and 008 Buna-N O-Ring, 50A Durometer mod  | REALFORCE R2 PFU Limited Edition  R2TLSABK 45g

Offline oddsratio

  • Posts: 74
  • Location: CA
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 14:34:20 »
The stems are the same on both boards-- the o-rings reduce travel by .5mm. You might notice this more on a lighter switch. There have been a couple people who were disappointed by this change, though you don't notice it as much if you're not bottoming out.
« Last Edit: Tue, 13 September 2011, 14:36:42 by oddsratio »

Offline elbowglue

  • Posts: 583
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 15:18:11 »
I did the orthodontic band mod to my keyboards in the past, I was also disappointed by the reduction in travel.  I find PCB monted cherry brown keyboards to be my favorite (bottom out is less jarring than bottoming out on plate mounted keyboards)
My keyboards: Filco Cherry Blue Tenkeyless(daily home), Compaq MX11800 (modded to blacks), Compaq "MX 84u",  Wellington\'s Dampened Endurapro, Pinkalicious Filco Blue Cherry, Chicony KB-5191, Chicony KB-5181, Desko MOS 5023 UP "elbowglue" spos (modded to blues), Siig Minitouch (monterey blue), SMK-88 (blue cherries), Ricercar SPOS
Smallest to biggest keyboards in inches (Length X Height) - Length is most important for a midline mouse position

KBC Poker: 11.6 x 3.9 - HHKB: 11.6 x 4.3 - Siig Minitouch (Geekhack Space Saver): 11.6 x 6 - Deck/Tg3 82: 12 x 6 - Noppoo Choc Mini 12.4 x 5.3 - Compaq "MX 84u": 13.1 x 7.5 - Filco Tenkeyless: 14 x 5.3 - Cherry "ricercar spos" G86-62410EUAGSA: 14 x 7.75 - Topre Realforce 86u: 14.4 x 6.65 - Desko "elbowglue spos" MOS 5023 UP: 14.5 x 8.4 - IBM Model M Spacesaver: 15.3 x 7 - G80-1800: 15.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-125B: 16 x 7.3 - Compaq Mx11800, Cherry G80-11900: 16.25 x 7.5 - Filco Standard: 17.3 x 5.4 - Unicomp Endurapro: 17.9 x 7.1 - Adesso MKB-135B: 18.3 x 6.0 - Cherry G80-3000: 18.5 x 7.6 - IBM Model M, Unicomp Customizer: 19.3 x 8.27

Offline sordna

  • Posts: 2249
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 15:41:04 »
I saw a big difference from keycap to keycap. Thick cherry doubleshots for example have too short stems, and travel is reduced noticeably (perhaps 1mm). The ABS keycaps on my Poker and Kinesis have longer stems, and the travel reduction is very minimal (perhaps .5mm)
Here's a cherry and poker keycap (both O keys) side by side, with an 008 silicon o-ring installed. Never had a leopold keycap to try. Looks like someone needs to do the research and source out thinner o-rings as an alternative.

[ Attachment Invalid Or Does Not Exist ] 26545[/ATTACH]
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline N8N

  • Posts: 795
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #4 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 15:54:14 »
this is probably going to be an unpopular post, but if you find yourself bottoming out on reds or browns, why not just go to a switch with a heavier spring, such as blacks or clears?  I know those aren't the cool, trendy switches, but they exist for a reason...
Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline sordna

  • Posts: 2249
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #5 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 17:20:04 »
I hear you. I have a board with blacks (a TG3) it's a great switch! However for typing all day like I do, I find reds less tiring, significantly less tiring than even browns. I don't bottom out too much, but I want a soft landing whenever I do. So, for my needs and priorities, o-rings + my Kinesis with reds happens to work perfectly.
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline AlleyViper

  • Posts: 101
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #6 on: Tue, 13 September 2011, 21:54:47 »
Wouldn't soft landing pads shorten travel a bit less after a few days of being squished? With a round puncture tool you could even try other thinner materials as felt, plastic velour, thin pleather, industrial cardboard, or anything else creative.

Offline RiGS

  • Posts: 1594
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 14 September 2011, 04:10:25 »
Quote from: N8N;415664
this is probably going to be an unpopular post, but if you find yourself bottoming out on reds or browns, why not just go to a switch with a heavier spring, such as blacks or clears?  I know those aren't the cool, trendy switches, but they exist for a reason...

Haha. That would be way too reasonable, so they just follow the crowd instead.
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline RiGS

  • Posts: 1594
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 14 September 2011, 04:12:16 »
Quote from: oddsratio;415615
The stems are the same on both boards-- the o-rings reduce travel by .5mm. You might notice this more on a lighter switch. There have been a couple people who were disappointed by this change, though you don't notice it as much if you're not bottoming out.

What's the point of o-rings if you are not bottoming out?
Last edited by RiGS; Jan 2011

Offline sordna

  • Posts: 2249
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #9 on: Wed, 14 September 2011, 09:49:56 »
Quote from: RiGS;415898
What's the point of o-rings if you are not bottoming out?

It's impossible to NOT bottom out at all, especially during quick-typing bursts, or when you are tired at the end of the day and control of your fingers is waning. It's like an airbag that has no point when you're not crashing the car, but you appreciate it when you do :-)
Kinesis Contoured Advantage & Advantage2 LF with Cherry MX Red switches / Extra keys mod / O-ring dampening mod / Dvorak layout. ErgoDox with buzzer and LED mod.
Also: Kinesis Advantage Classic, Kinesis Advantage2, Data911 TG3, Fingerworks Touchstream LP, IBM SSK (Buckling spring), Goldtouch GTU-0077 keyboard

Offline N8N

  • Posts: 795
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #10 on: Wed, 14 September 2011, 09:59:25 »
Quote from: sordna;415977
It's impossible to NOT bottom out at all, especially during quick-typing bursts, or when you are tired at the end of the day and control of your fingers is waning. It's like an airbag that has no point when you're not crashing the car, but you appreciate it when you do :-)

 
If I'm bottoming out at all on the board that I'm typing this on (clears) it's so light that it's really not noticeable - I don't really notice any finger stress at the end of the day (which was the main reason that I started looking for alternatives to rubber domes in the first place,) and the loudest sound from the board is the switches springing back to the top, not hitting bottom.  I also used a grey switch for the space bar because I to tend to give that one a good thwack; after a short adjustment period, I'm not dropping any spaces but neither am I bottoming out.

I won't say that O-rings or soft landing pads won't work for some people and their goals, but I've tried both and the shorter travel annoys me, I must be using most of the travel of my key switches because with the O-rings I definitely could tell the difference.  Then again, I am using Cherry Corp. keycaps not the stock Filco ones, which may make the shortening of travel more noticeable due to the shorter height of the keycaps (but that is a big reason why I use them, they feel much less wobbly due to being shorter, which makes for a much more solid feeling keyboard.)
Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry Corp. doubleshot keys - Leopold Tenkeyless Tactile Force with Wyse doubleshots - Silicon Graphics 9500900 - WASD V1 - IBM Model M 52G9658 - Noppoo Choc Pro with Cherry lasered PBT keycaps - Wyse 900866-01 - Cherry G80-8200LPBUS/07 - Dell AT101W - several Cherry G81s (future doubleshot donors) (order of current preference) (dang I have too many keyboards, I really only need two)

Offline kohtachi

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  • Posts: 30
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #11 on: Wed, 14 September 2011, 13:33:00 »
In search of a replacement keyboard to replace my old zeos keyboard...I had long ago, I bought filco brown, leopod red, and 55g topre. And out of the three the 55g topre feels the best. Dam i loved that zeos keyboard but it made too much noise and not to mention I lost it during the move. Maybe i'll just man up and ignore the people around me *****ing about the clack and get another mx blue. I think the zeos keyboard was blue or were they white?
« Last Edit: Wed, 14 September 2011, 13:36:56 by kohtachi »
FC500RC modded with mod-m switches, PBT Double Shot Keycap Set - Gray/Dark Gray (Tai-Hao), and 008 Buna-N O-Ring, 50A Durometer mod  | REALFORCE R2 PFU Limited Edition  R2TLSABK 45g

Offline c0rbin

  • Posts: 37
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #12 on: Thu, 27 October 2011, 18:50:04 »
Half the time I fail to see what the point of trying not to bottom out at all is. I type faster when I don't go through all the effort of being careful and just pound the keys. That's one of the things that I'm a bit disappointed about when it comes to my browns. I actually type faster on my laptop's scissorswitch keyboard because there is less key travel. I'm not sure what people are talking about with the "shock" from bottoming out... its just a keypress... nothing shocking about it.

If anything, I'm toying with the idea of getting really thick o-rings to purposely reduce key travel and, as such, have a keyboard that would excel at typing that bottoms out.
Filco Majestouch-2 Tenkeyless Cherry MX Brown w/ PBT caps and O-ring mod

Offline wompwomp

  • Posts: 101
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #13 on: Fri, 28 October 2011, 10:30:52 »
What you're supposed to do is remove the metal plate mount and coat it with rubberized paint. I believe they sell this in spray paint form.

And BAM, you've got yourself a sound reducing, as well as vibration absorbing mount. =D

Offline noodles256

  • Posts: 1980
  • le legendary
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #14 on: Fri, 28 October 2011, 12:52:55 »
could do the foam mod redpill did
AF | Ducky YOTD |

Offline pitashen

  • Posts: 1200
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #15 on: Fri, 28 October 2011, 14:57:57 »
i simply make peace with the "noise" makes by my keyboard. Otherwise why buy the mechanical keyboard.
\\\\ DSI Mac Modular Keyboard (Brown) w/ Leo  Blank Keycaps //
\\\\ Leopold 87keys Keyboard (Brown) w/ Black CherryCorp + SP DoubleShots //
\\\\ Filco Majestouch 2 NINJA (Black) w/ White CherryCorp + SP DoublsShots //

Offline HWI

  • Posts: 122
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #16 on: Fri, 28 October 2011, 16:17:11 »
I recently added o-rings to my Quick Fire and didn't really notice a difference in travel, but it definitely quieted it down some which was nice.
Bottom Out Like A Boss
Razer BWU | Ducky DK-1087 | Noppoo Choc Mini | CM Storm QFR | KBT Race

Offline dorkvader

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  • Location: Boston area
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o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #17 on: Fri, 28 October 2011, 22:55:59 »
Quote from: c0rbin;440779
Half the time I fail to see what the point of trying not to bottom out at all is. I type faster when I don't go through all the effort of being careful and just pound the keys. That's one of the things that I'm a bit disappointed about when it comes to my browns. I actually type faster on my laptop's scissorswitch keyboard because there is less key travel. I'm not sure what people are talking about with the "shock" from bottoming out... its just a keypress... nothing shocking about it.

If anything, I'm toying with the idea of getting really thick o-rings to purposely reduce key travel and, as such, have a keyboard that would excel at typing that bottoms out.
I'm not saying I disagree with you, but if you're doing typing constantly, apparantly, the extra shock (and it is a shock, albeit a small one) of bottoming out will add up and complicate RSI issues, and finger fatigue.

I notice that by the end of my paper, I sometimes take a break from my unicomp, which helps.

Also, if you're not pushing the key all the way down, then you move your fingers less. Less movement means faster movement (potentially) which equates to better typing speed. It makes some sense, though typing on a red, I still "brush" the keys too much, and have mistakes. I anticipate precision and accuracy to come in time.


Edit: Oh, and it's often a lot quieter.

Offline Tony

  • Posts: 1189
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #18 on: Fri, 09 December 2011, 03:38:36 »
I have just applied this mod to my Filco brown and it feel quieter whenever you type.

Of course your fingers feel less room to roam.
Keyboard: Filco MJ1 104 brown, Filco MJ2 87 brown, Compaq MX11800, Noppoo Choc Brown/Blue/Red, IBM Model M 1996, CMStorm Quickfire Rapid Black
Layout: Colemak experience, speed of 67wpm

Offline CeeSA

  • Posts: 341
  • Location: Germany
o-ring mod leopod red switch disappointed
« Reply #19 on: Fri, 09 December 2011, 05:47:43 »