My first mech KB, I hate the stabilizers.

[Jaggar]

So I just picked up a Ducky Shine III utilizing the cherry mx red key switches. When I first hooked it up I was pretty excited and rushed into notepad to experience my new keyboard. The first keystrokes were awesome until... i hit the bloody space bar. I must not be a fan of the cherry stabilizers because to me they feel real mushy. I prefer rubber domes to the feel of the space bar on this keyboard. Just when I thought the space bar was going to be the bane of my existence, I made a typo and hit the backspace. HNNNG omg the worst key ever. It's like if sand got mixed into molasses and cherry used it as a lubricant. At least its good incentive not to make typos. It does feel better or worse depending on where I press each key. I like to hit the backspace on the far left with my pinky and it just feels gross. If I press it in the middle, its not as bad but still not as smooth as a key with no stabilizer at all.

I did come across this thread below which shows how to mod cherry stabilizers to feel more like costar stabilizers. I have never tried costar stabilizers on a mechanical keyboard and don't know how I feel about cutting up a brand new keyboard on a chance it might feel more like a stabilizer I've never even tried before. Any ideas?
http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=34759.0

[kmiller8]

Are you sure the cap is on the stabilizer properly? I've had that problem where a new keyboard will have caps that aren't seated properly, try removing the spacebar and pushing it back on.

[IvanIvanovich]

First, is the space switch red too? I love reds, but they are TERRIBLE on spacebar. It is far too light of a switch for such large key. It should be a black switch really.
Two, what kmiller8 said
Three, it will get better with some break in also.
Four, if you still hate it, do the mod.

[HPE1000]

Yes, cherry stabilizers are pretty bad on mx red spacebars imo, but they feel great on mx blacks.

[dante]

I just got a couple Cherry brand keyboards in the mail.  The stabilizers feel AWESOME compared to any Leopold or Ducky I've ever typed on.

I suspect it might be worth replacing the stock stabilizers with the real deal - and lubing them at the same time.

[Jaggar]

First off, wow! Many replies in just 10 minutes. This forum is great!

Are you sure the cap is on the stabilizer properly? I've had that problem where a new keyboard will have caps that aren't seated properly, try removing the spacebar and pushing it back on.

I just tried it, does really feel any better. All the keys with stabilizers feel like the have extra resistance and I can actually hear the the sound friction as I depress the key. All the normal keys without stabilizers don't feel like this. Perhaps I should try lube?

First, is the space switch red too? I love reds, but they are TERRIBLE on spacebar. It is far too light of a switch for such large key. It should be a black switch really.
Two, what kmiller8 said
Three, it will get better with some break in also.
Four, if you still hate it, do the mod.

The place bar key is in fact red. I will give it some time before trying anything but it hasn't eased up in the past few days
.

Yes, cherry stabilizers are pretty bad on mx red spacebars imo, but they feel great on mx blacks.

I guess I could always solder in a black switch if necessary.

I just got a couple Cherry brand keyboards in the mail.  The stabilizers feel AWESOME compared to any Leopold or Ducky I've ever typed on.

I suspect it might be worth replacing the stock stabilizers with the real deal - and lubing them at the same time.

I presume one can obtain cherry stabilizers from their website?

[rowdy]

Also if you have a replacement space bar or backspace keycap, you could try those.  With Cherry stabs if the stems under the keycaps are slightly, very slightly out of alignment then the keys will stick as you press down and as they are coming back up.  Trying a different keycap might allow you to discard that possibility.

[fourzeropooh]

I presume one can obtain cherry stabilizers from their website?

Most things from cherry require you to buy a large amount to hit their MOQ. The only other way to get stabs are from imsto or gon, and you can probably find something in classifieds. Also I think its possible to buy costar stabs from WASD keyboards and use those if you hate cherry stabs.

[Photekq]

I just got a couple Cherry brand keyboards in the mail.  The stabilizers feel AWESOME compared to any Leopold or Ducky I've ever typed on.

I suspect it might be worth replacing the stock stabilizers with the real deal - and lubing them at the same time.

which cherry boards did you get dante?

and yes, that mod makes a huge difference. do it.
the mod mentioned earlier makes no difference to a ducky, as duckies use the old type stabiliser inserts that feel like they're already clipped. you can't really improve on ducky plate mount cherry stabilisers aside from lubing them.

[SpAmRaY]

I just got a couple Cherry brand keyboards in the mail.  The stabilizers feel AWESOME compared to any Leopold or Ducky I've ever typed on.

I suspect it might be worth replacing the stock stabilizers with the real deal - and lubing them at the same time.

So Ducky doesn't use cherry stabilizers??

And is your cherry board PCB mounted?

This ducky would have plate mounted stabilizers.

[dante]

The Cherry boards I got are the MY8000+MX8113 (for the doubleshots - PS MY switches are f'n horrible)

I will also have a G80-1865 inbound in the next two weeks.

[SpAmRaY]

I just don't understand your comment about how ducky stabilizers are not cherry stabilizers.

[dante]

I just don't understand your comment about how ducky stabilizers are not cherry stabilizers.

Someone mentioned a while back that the Cherry style stabilizers in the Leopold FC200R are clones and not made by Cherry themselves.  However on the FC700R Leopold themselves acknowledged that they are in fact now using stabilizers purchased from Cherry.  It's very possible the FC660M also use official Cherry stabilizers.

For Ducky chances they are using clones also as everything beginning with the Shine 3 and Zero products uses clipped stabilizers.  It would make more sense to clip their own than those from Cherry.

[Belfong]

Also if you have a replacement space bar or backspace keycap, you could try those.  With Cherry stabs if the stems under the keycaps are slightly, very slightly out of alignment then the keys will stick as you press down and as they are coming back up.  Trying a different keycap might allow you to discard that possibility.

You are onto something there, rowdy. I have a new set if keycaps - Round 4 SPH and I bought a cheap KBTalking ONI with Brown switch for it. Every key works fine except the space bar and I thought that perhaps Browns are too light to support the taller and heavier space bar. I asked someone to mod all the modifier keys to Clears for me but still the space bar is not as bouncy as I like. Now that I read what you said it's probably the alignment then. Stupid Cherry stab!

[SpAmRaY]

I just don't understand your comment about how ducky stabilizers are not cherry stabilizers.

Someone mentioned a while back that the Cherry style stabilizers in the Leopold FC200R are clones and not made by Cherry themselves.  However on the FC700R Leopold themselves acknowledged that they are in fact now using stabilizers purchased from Cherry.  It's very possible the FC660M also use official Cherry stabilizers.

For Ducky chances they are using clones also as everything beginning with the Shine 3 and Zero products uses clipped stabilizers.  It would make more sense to clip their own than those from Cherry.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49458.msg1169437.msg#1169437

Post confirming cherry direct stabilizers