Problem:Ducky Dye-Sub PBT Won't Fit My New Keyboard?

[Corsa1r]

Hey everyone, I'm new here, and I joined up to ask you fine people about a problem I am having on my new mech.  I purchased a Ganss GS-87 (Cherry Brown MX) off of Amazon, it's a standard layout TKL with Costar stabilizers.  I also just bought a nice new set of Dye-Sub Ducky PBT's (standard) from here:

Keycaps:  https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1321

Keyboard:  http://www.amazon.com/Mechanical-Keyboard-Cherry-MX-Brown-Switch-Pc/dp/B00T1UHL2A/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452810727&sr=8-1&keywords=ganss+gs87

So the issue I am immediately noticing is that on the Shift(s), Backspace, and probably Enter key (haven't tried it yet), attaching the PBT keycaps to the stabilizer and then pushing down, the inner bottom part of the keycap is getting stuck on part of the plastic black stabilizer mounts on the steel on either side of the bar, right where the spring snaps in on either side..I think it's because the PBT is thicker (and making contact with it) than the extremely thin ABS keycaps the keyboard came with... I'm new to all this and don't understand why I am having this issue.  I notice without the costar stabilizer spring installed, the cap works fine, generally. Is there a different size spring or mount or something I need?

Please help me out.  I will take pictures of what I can, if necessary.  Thanks.

[KnivesM]

I've heard this problem alot, the keycaps are too thick like you thought it might be and cause the stabilizer to catch. The only solution I've heard of is dremeling or sanding down the inside part where it rubs on the stabilized keys

[Melvang]

Yup, this is a common problem with thick PBT caps and Costar stabs.  Sadly removing material from the inside of the cap is the only solution outside of getting a board with cherry stabs.  It really doesn't take much, but it is enough that it can be seen when looking at the bottom side of the cap. 

[Corsa1r]

I was afraid that may be my only option.  Are many aftermarket PBT sets made with Costar stabs in mind?  I ask because I know Ducky boards use Cherry stabs exclusively (I also own a stock Ducky Shine 4 (Horse Ed.) with blues), so it makes sense that these keys may not like that extra room needed for Costar. But, like the ones I just ordered aren't even doubleshot. I imagine real enthusiasts must not even use PBT keycaps on those boards without modifying the keycaps first.

Thanks for the info.

Anyone who may have done this before, is there any particular type of technique or tool that works best for this sorta work?

[Melvang]

i was afraid that may be my only option.  Are many aftermarket PBT sets made with Costar stabs in mind?  I ask because I know Ducky boards use Cherry stabs exclusively (I also own a stock Ducky Shine 4 (Horse Ed.) with blues), so it makes sense that these keys may not like that extra room needed for Costar. But, like the ones I just ordered aren't even doubleshot. I imagine real enthusiasts must not even use PBT keycaps on those boards without modifying the keycaps first.

Thanks for the info.

Anyone who may have done this before, is there any particular type of technique or tool that works best for this sorta work?

I would say the best tool for this job will be a deburring tool.  I personally used the side of a file.

[tigersharkdude]

Op, did you try flippibg the plastic "pegs" that attach to the stabs? I forgot to switch them when flipped my space bar and whenever I pressed it it would depress a few of the bottom row keys. I flipped the stabs and now it doesn't catch X,v, etc

[Corsa1r]

Op, did you try flippibg the plastic "pegs" that attach to the stabs? I forgot to switch them when flipped my space bar and whenever I pressed it it would depress a few of the bottom row keys. I flipped the stabs and now it doesn't catch X,v, etc

I did try flipping the pegs.  I had them on 'right' initially (the offset side facing 'up' or away from me (towards the top of the keyboard), and when I did the opposite, the key wouldn't move almost at all.  I even tried taking out the whole plate-mounted plastic mounts for the spring and flipping them, to similar results.  It looks like filing the 2x PBT keycaps is the only way in that regard, unless I'm doing something completely silly that I'm not realizing.  Using the ABS caps the keyboard came with, I can get the keys to work on the stabilizers right-quick.

[ikonomov]

It is a very well known problem: https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/2l1xqg/guide_fixing_grindingsticking_thick_pbt_keycaps/
I noticed the same problem a while back when I bought Vortex keycaps that are also made with thick PBT for a Filco.  Unfortunately changing to cherry stabilizers on that board will not be an easy task because the plate does not have the proper cutouts for cherry stabilizers.  If you don't like grinding the keycaps your options are to either get Tao Hao keycaps, that have thin PBT or to get a different keyboard with cherry stabilizers.  If you don't like the colors available with the Tao Hao keycaps, there is a set: http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keycap-set/doubleshot-pbt-104-key-cherry-mx-keycap-set-black-slate.html that is also Tao Hao double shot black with white legends.  Ducky Shine 3 TKL or Zero have clipped cherry stabilizers, the same that are used on your Ducky Shine 4.  Max Keyboard Blackbird TKL also uses clipped cherry stabilizers.  If you don't mind a bit of soldering you can get any keyboard with cherry stabilizers and clip the stabilizers yourself, otherwise cherry stabilizers make those keys too mushy when bottoming.  You only need to desolder and solder back the switches that have stabilizers on them.  That is currently what I'm doing, and a relatively cheap option is to get iKBC C87 or G87.  G87 are available on ebay from a respectable seller in the community http://stores.ebay.com/esportsgamingequipments/.  I will write a review shortly, I'm waiting for my package to arrive.  They might also have clipped cherry stabilizers, but I couldn't find information about it.  I also use Ducky dyesubs and I love them.  I would recommend for you to stick with your keycaps, don't mess them up by grinding them, and just get a different keyboard.  I personally think Ducky dyesubs are among the highest quality keycaps available, only rivaled by Imsto.  Those, however, use cherry profile, and if you ever decide to use o-rings the Imsto would have a problem with them, while the Ducky work perfectly with o-rings.

[Corsa1r]

Thanks for all the information guys.

I have yet to see a set of Tai-Hao that aren't doubleshots.  Is there a specific set they make that isn't?  Or are the doubleshots somehow different in profile to the Ducky keycaps I'm using?  Same idea with the WASD DS PBTs?

[saxophone]

30 mins with a boxcutter, dealt with all three of the keycaps for me, goes down at least a bit past acutation point.

[ikonomov]

All the recent Tao Hao that have poped up into the US market are double shots, as far as I know.  People here say they have been making keycaps for a long time, so they might have different ones too.  They have a thin anti-bacterial coating that people seem to hate and have found not too difficult to remove https://m.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/3ik3jz/guide_how_to_remove_taihaos_nano_antibiosis/ .  They are made well, but unlike the Ducky they have thin PBT, which is the reason why they will work with costar stabilizers.  I wouldn't really recommend them, as thick PBT feels pretty nice to type on, definitely different from thin PBT and substantially quieter.  Ducky is OEM profile, Tao Hao is slightly different http://i.imgur.com/kFxqOm8.jpg, but overall similar profile.  Besides the thickness of the PBT and the coating of Tao Hao, they also differ in the way the legends are made, both methods being superb, and also the slightly rougher surface texture of Tao Hao.

[Corsa1r]

Does anyone think a 'non-thick' PBT like this would potentially not have issues with the stabilizers?


http://www.geekkeys.com/grey-blank-pbt-104-keyset/

[Melvang]

Does anyone think a 'non-thick' PBT like this would potentially not have issues with the stabilizers?


http://www.geekkeys.com/grey-blank-pbt-104-keyset/

If they aren't thick, they will be fine.