I read the reason RF uses ABS spacebars is that PBT shrinks. But I also read elsewhere that the shrinkage is finished very soon after coming out of the mold. Has me curious. Why would RF ship to EK with ABS spacabars if that wasn't an issue? And if it is an issue, how good is it to use a PBT spacebar?
It's not an issue. As far as I know, IBM Model M spacebars are made of PBT and many of those keyboards have been around for 35+ years. Realforce probably doesn't mass produce them because larger keys (a la spacebars) made of PBT are simply more difficult to manufacture than ABS.
I also read recently that the reason Topre uses ABS spacebars is that PBT "warps" over time. I can't imagine any third-party PBT spacebars being better made than what Topre could make and decided they can't make good enough to put on their product.
And I'm very curious about how much of the three considerations are affected by it being PBT vs ABS: shine doesn't bother me (I can replace it with another Topre ABS spacebar); feel doesn't seem like a major issue (I've been hitting ABS spacebars on my Browns boards for years with no issues); and the only remaining issue for me -- which DOES matter to me -- is whether a PBT spacebar on a "Silenced" RF 104U is going to be "quieter" than an ABS spacebar.
Anyone have any experience with that latter question?
I have the four Topre PBT spacebars that came with the 104U Silent from Massdrop last time around and they're quieter than the ABS spacebar due to reduced rattle, but the standard ABS spacebar that comes with the Realforce isn't loud, in my opinion. That said, having heard the Ducky over the phone for yourself you should have some frame of reference as to how loud the PBT variety is.
That's
very interesting to me. Since my whole reason for compromising on my unequivocal preference for Browns over all other switches I've tried to date (which have been a lot) is for the sound reduction, since the spacebar is usually the loudest key on mechanical keyboards, and since I hit the spacebar pretty hard when I'm typing fast, any additional sound reduction achieved by going to a PBT spacebar is worth my pursuing.
So, if I buy the RF 104U Silenced boards from EK (missed the current Massdrop drop, and will want to get more right away once I see how I like the feel of it and if I can use the black-on-black), how can I get PBT spacebars for them elsewhere? (Looks like it's not possible to get PBT spacebars to match the colors of either the black or white RF 104U Silenced boards -- I'll just have to live with that.)
If there's no other choice, I might even be willing to Matias boards just for the PBT spacebars, to put them on the RF boards, if it turns out it reduces the sound enough to matter to people I'm on the phone with so they don't notice that I'm typing as we talk.
I think I at least need to get my hands on one PBT spacebar to try it and do a comparison test with callers on the phone giving me their feedback.
Anyone with an extra one, perhaps, from a Massdrop bundle, please PM me if you're willing to sell me one. Either way, though, assuming I determine it's desirable to go with PBT, I'm going to need a place to get more of them.
Thanks so much!
So, what are my options here?
