I'm transferring this post from
a different thread since this wiki here should be the source for o-ring information:
I have yet to see whether the O-rings from sordna's mod feel any different as McMaster Carr wont ship to Canada and oringsusa costs too much to ship here even if I knew the part#.
sordna uses silicone duro 50 but WASD hasnt specified anything except industrial nitrile rubber and although the duro isnt mentioned, I can tell you from pinching them that they aint soft at all.
The wasdkeyboards o-rings are
the same as the mcmaster ones (part number 2418T114) I was recommending. They are 50-durometer hardness.
They are considered soft actually, noticeably softer than the standard 70-90 durometer o-rings.
The red silicon ones that can be seen in some
photos I posted came from oringsusa.com and are 40 durometer (slightly softer than the mcmaster/wasdkeyboards ones) but still firmer than the firm (gray) landing pads.
I've tried all of the following, here's how I rank them:
#1: 40-durometer red silicon o-rings, feel great and are easier to find when they fall on a black keyboard. They are the easiest to install too.
#2: 50-durometer black rubber o-rings from wasdkeyboards/mcMaster Carr: they feel almost the same as #1, but are a bit harder
#3: Firm (gray) landing pads (slightly mushy, I estimate their Shore A durometer as 30)
#4: Dental bands (feel ok but hard to find the right size, they are not very uniform, and don't last very long)
#5: 70-durometer black rubber o-rings (too hard for my taste, and the least sound-dampening)
#6: Black soft landing pads (too soft/mushy for my taste, I estimate their durometer as 20)
I usually recommend #2 because they are easier to order, and available in 2 different places. For #1 you have to call oringsusa.com to order over the phone (although they seem to have switched to an online ticketing system now), and order enough to cover the minimum order amount: 250 o-rings / $25 before shipping. Hmm, I should mention this to
wasdkeyboards, they can get a good deal if they order a big quantity to resell.
Here is the source for #1, oringsusa.com part number: -008 S40
O-RINGS, INC.3311 PEPPER AVENUE
LOS ANGELES, CA 90065
PHONE (323) 343-9500
FAX (323) 343-9505
sales@oringsUSA.com
Here's some photos I took of #1 in their package, along with other stuff:
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