o-Rings on MX Cherry Black

[Fragil1ty]

Hey guys,

I've currently got a MX Cherry Black keyboard (Keycool 84, if you're interested to know) and I hate how blacks feel.

I've found some o-Rings available  on WASDkeyboards that I'm interested in. To my knowledge o-Rings make the typing experience, less noisey, make touch typing easier (i'm a  touch typist) and less bottoming out.

So my question is, would buying and installing o-Rings make my typing experience on Blacks worse or better? because as  of now? I kind of hate as I have come from Red to Black switches.

[Grim Fandango]

I am not sure whether o-rings really do that.

They do not make it less likely that you bottom out, or teach you not to bottom out. It is just that when you do bottom out, the sound is a little dampened that is all. I do not think it makes touch typing any easier really, or at least I did not think so. If you are the kind of person who bottoms out on every keystroke, you might find yourself enjoying the slightly smaller travel of the keys and the softer landing though, and that might be beneficial for your typing.

It is such a subjective thing, that I think no one can really tell you whether it would make your typing experience any better. I happen to like them, both because of the shorter travel and because I actually enjoy the softer landing (which to me, is not mushy, as some describe it). But I get the sense that a lot of people just put up with them for the slight reduction in noise. I think that you will find that most people find it has a negative effect on the overall typing experience, but that does not mean that you will feel the same way.

[Fragil1ty]

I am not sure whether o-rings really do that.

They do not make it less likely that you bottom out, or teach you not to bottom out. It is just that when you do bottom out, the sound is a little dampened that is all. I do not think it makes touch typing any easier really, or at least I did not think so. If you are the kind of person who bottoms out on every keystroke, you might find yourself enjoying the slightly smaller travel of the keys and the softer landing though, and that might be beneficial for your typing.

It is such a subjective thing, that I think no one can really tell you whether it would make your typing experience any better. I happen to like them, both because of the shorter travel and because I actually enjoy the softer landing (which to me, is not mushy, as some describe it). But I get the sense that a lot of people just put up with them for the slight reduction in noise. I think that you will find that most people find it has a negative effect on the overall typing experience, but that does not mean that you will feel the same way.

Oh okay, I see. I tend to bottom out on most key presses to be honest as I'm somewhat of a heavy typist, but  I just find typing on blacks to be annoying at times, so I was thinking that if I bought these  then maybe that would help aid that experience as it's like you said, less traveling for each key press so that may make it  better. I don't know, I mean they're only like $17.99, so it's  not too bad.

[Grim Fandango]

What is it you find so annoying about typing on blacks? For me personally, I think blacks are really very, very heavy. Some people like that, but I found them almost painful when using them for long sessions. If this is the issue you have with them, then I doubt o-rings will have much of an effect. Though they might have some effect. Looking at the force diagram, the switch might be easier on the fingers if you reduce that traveling time to bottoming out a little

[Polymer]

Can you describe what you dislike about Blacks?  Is it they're too heavy?  O-rings isn't really going to change that...although potentially the less it travels, you may not have to use that last bit of force need to push all the way down to the bottom..but will it really matter?  probably not...

If you don't like the sound it makes, then your problem isn't exclusive to blacks...

[TimIsABat]

It can potentially lessen the travel of the key, but it does cushion the bottoming out. I have them on reds and it made them better to type on. I don't have to worry about hurting my fingers bottoming out so much cause it is softer.

[PointyFox]

It can potentially lessen the travel of the key, but it does cushion the bottoming out. I have them on reds and it made them better to type on. I don't have to worry about hurting my fingers bottoming out so much cause it is softer.

This actually works in the opposite way for mx black.  Bottoming out is more common and more forceful with mx reds, since there is not much spring resistance and less force gradient as an indicator of when to stop pushing.  Halting the travel of blacks will just increase probability of bottoming out and make them feel a lot less cushiony, especially vintage blacks.  Also I don't like the squishy feeling bottoming out that orings provide.

[rowdy]

There is also the sound when the key returns to the upper position to take into account.  O-rings will not reduce that.