Modding HHKB with 30/35g domes

[nmur]

Has anyone done this before? It would probably require an expensive donor board, right?

I've had my HHKB for a couple of weeks now, and I'm liking the feel, but I'm a very light typer (I don't bottom out with MX Browns) and feel like I'd prefer a lighter topre dome.

[byker]

I did set my hhkb up briefly with 35g domes. It does require an expensive donor board, which is why I only tried it for a week or so before selling the donor board with its 35g back in, to a friend.


Honestly, I found the 35g domes were extremely light. They were much too light for me, however you might find them to your appeal. Maybe before buying a whole donor board, you could find someone with a variable board who is willing to trade you one of your domes for one of their 35g domes?

[demik]

sneeze typing?

[nmur]

I did set my hhkb up briefly with 35g domes. It does require an expensive donor board, which is why I only tried it for a week or so before selling the donor board with its 35g back in, to a friend.


Honestly, I found the 35g domes were extremely light. They were much too light for me, however you might find them to your appeal. Maybe before buying a whole donor board, you could find someone with a variable board who is willing to trade you one of your domes for one of their 35g domes?

That would be nice, I might try and look for someone who is willing.

Yeah I can imagine how light they must be. However I've found that the HHKB topre switches especially (I tried a few other boards in store when I was purchasing it) have a slightly higher initial resistance than others. As such, sometimes I may not actuate the space bar, or keys I press with my pinkie fingers.

Can I ask what your Cherry MX switch/weight of choice is?

[byker]

Personally, I found the 35g changed the feel of the switch quite a lot (a tiny bump at the top then very squishy).


I am personally a big topre fan, so my hhkb right now is set up with 45g alphas and 55g modifiers. My favourite mx switch that I have owned is my ergodox with ergoclears (62g lubed mx clears)

[nmur]

Personally, I found the 35g changed the feel of the switch quite a lot (a tiny bump at the top then very squishy).

Hmm that doesn't sound too good. In that case, I would definitely be opting to trial one or two 35g domes before committing then. I'll see if the opportunity comes up.

Thanks for your help.

[GL1TCH3D]

I had a 30g board and it was meh... I tried it again at the montreal meet and I still feel the same about it. I don't think the 45g is going to be too heavy

[yomammary]

How about 55g? Any opinions?

[SpAmRaY]

How about 55g? Any opinions?

There are many people who have posted of their love of 55g domes in the HHKB.

[btctopre]

I'm on my second go-around with a 35g HHKB currently. Like byker said, there's not much of a bump and then a squishy feeling (feels kind of like reds but replace scratchy with squishy). I like it, but I think 45g is a more well-rounded overall typing experience. For 55g- it's nice and snappy, but it's just too heavy for me as it hurts my hands and tanks my WPM by 20-30. I know a lot of people that use 55g HHKBs also own buckling spring keyboards, which is probably why the weight feels perfect for them (I'm not a fan of BS boards).

[Macsmasher]

I am also a light typist and a Topre fanboy. I currently use a Realforce 87U variable silent, an 87U 55g and an HHKB. The variable is my favorite board in terms of feel. With that said, I think the HHKB is perfect as a 45g uni. I'd leave the HHKB just as it is.


Regarding the lighter Topre switches, heavier typists won't feel the tactility. But as a light typist, I find them quite tactile. The analogy I would offer is to set a grape on the kitchen counter. If you lightly smash it with the palm of your hand, you'll feel the grape give way as it crushes. However, if you slam your hand on it, all you feel is the countertop. With any tactile keyboard switch, the tactile feel is directly related to key strike force. The higher the strike force relative to key resistance, the less perceived tactility.

[nmur]

I'm on my second go-around with a 35g HHKB currently. Like byker said, there's not much of a bump and then a squishy feeling (feels kind of like reds but replace scratchy with squishy). I like it, but I think 45g is a more well-rounded overall typing experience. For 55g- it's nice and snappy, but it's just too heavy for me as it hurts my hands and tanks my WPM by 20-30. I know a lot of people that use 55g HHKBs also own buckling spring keyboards, which is probably why the weight feels perfect for them (I'm not a fan of BS boards).

Interesting. I've been doing some typing tests with my HHKB and I'm reaching about 10wpm less than my usual. The mistakes I make along the way are often caused by the fact that I'm not applying enough pressure to get past the initial bump.

Did you have a 35g topre board on hand before you decided to switch in the domes from it? Or did you buy it as an actual donor board? (and if so, what was it?)

[btctopre]

I'm on my second go-around with a 35g HHKB currently. Like byker said, there's not much of a bump and then a squishy feeling (feels kind of like reds but replace scratchy with squishy). I like it, but I think 45g is a more well-rounded overall typing experience. For 55g- it's nice and snappy, but it's just too heavy for me as it hurts my hands and tanks my WPM by 20-30. I know a lot of people that use 55g HHKBs also own buckling spring keyboards, which is probably why the weight feels perfect for them (I'm not a fan of BS boards).

Interesting. I've been doing some typing tests with my HHKB and I'm reaching about 10wpm less than my usual. The mistakes I make along the way are often caused by the fact that I'm not applying enough pressure to get past the initial bump.

Did you have a 35g topre board on hand before you decided to switch in the domes from it? Or did you buy it as an actual donor board? (and if so, what was it?)

I had one on hand, a JIS 10th Anniversary Realforce (wiki lists it as 30g, but I think it's more like 35g). The domesheet was entirely attached together, and it's done a little funkily, so had to some some chopping to get the domes to fit the HHKB.

Switched back to 45g last night, different feeling for sure. I kind of like the squishy-niss of the 35g, but it's just too light. I might try doubling up the springs with 35g at some point to see what affect that has on things.

[nmur]

I'm on my second go-around with a 35g HHKB currently. Like byker said, there's not much of a bump and then a squishy feeling (feels kind of like reds but replace scratchy with squishy). I like it, but I think 45g is a more well-rounded overall typing experience. For 55g- it's nice and snappy, but it's just too heavy for me as it hurts my hands and tanks my WPM by 20-30. I know a lot of people that use 55g HHKBs also own buckling spring keyboards, which is probably why the weight feels perfect for them (I'm not a fan of BS boards).

Interesting. I've been doing some typing tests with my HHKB and I'm reaching about 10wpm less than my usual. The mistakes I make along the way are often caused by the fact that I'm not applying enough pressure to get past the initial bump.

Did you have a 35g topre board on hand before you decided to switch in the domes from it? Or did you buy it as an actual donor board? (and if so, what was it?)

I had one on hand, a JIS 10th Anniversary Realforce (wiki lists it as 30g, but I think it's more like 35g). The domesheet was entirely attached together, and it's done a little funkily, so had to some some chopping to get the domes to fit the HHKB.

Switched back to 45g last night, different feeling for sure. I kind of like the squishy-niss of the 35g, but it's just too light. I might try doubling up the springs with 35g at some point to see what affect that has on things.

how would you feel about using the domes from a cheaper topre copy, like in a Noppoo or a Royal Kludge or something? Would it even be compatible?

[btctopre]

how would you feel about using the domes from a cheaper topre copy, like in a Noppoo or a Royal Kludge or something? Would it even be compatible?

They are, but they aren't. The height and width of the dome seemed fine (I swapped Topre springs into a Kludge and it worked), but they're all attached together and the key spacing is slightly different, so it'd take a lot of cutting to make it work. I didn't really look at it, but I'm also pretty sure you'd have to create the little tabs on the sides of the domes that exist to hold them in place. Would not recommend.

[nmur]

how would you feel about using the domes from a cheaper topre copy, like in a Noppoo or a Royal Kludge or something? Would it even be compatible?

They are, but they aren't. The height and width of the dome seemed fine (I swapped Topre springs into a Kludge and it worked), but they're all attached together and the key spacing is slightly different, so it'd take a lot of cutting to make it work. I didn't really look at it, but I'm also pretty sure you'd have to create the little tabs on the sides of the domes that exist to hold them in place. Would not recommend.

Ah okay, thanks, good to know.