Need advice on rattling/loud stabilizers (Pok3r RGB Red)

[exime]

I have new Pok3r RGB Red and while it's beautiful, I'm having a hard time getting on with the stabilizers.  The space bar is actually great but all of the others are either kind of bad or really bad.  The Backspace/Delete & Enter/Return are really loud with rattle.  To the point where the stablizers and non stabilizers sound like a different keyboard and it's pretty annoying and cheap sounding.  The Shift keys are kind of bad but not as bad as the aforementioned.   The reds are obviously silent so it makes it that much easier to notice.

I was wondering if lubing would fix it.  The reason I haven't tried yet is because I'm still within the return period so if I do this, I have to keep it.

I've never soldiered so it would involve me just squeezing a syringe of lube onto the metal bars.  Or just return it?

[exime]

Finally got a response from Vortex. 

"Hi James,

You can remove the keycaps and replug again."

Short and sweet I guess. I'm not sure what that means but I assume they are telling me to de-soldier and re-soldier my keyboard to fix their poor quality control.    

Yea... no. 

[Tactile]

I think they are saying to remove & re-seat the keycap.

[kingpilcrow]

Normal sound - you can always try lube.

[OfTheWild]

I put a blob of dielectric grease in them. Doesn't fix the problem but it definitely cuts way back on the clinky rattle.

[y11971alex]

Isn't that part of the charm of the big keys?

Big keys make big sound. 

[exime]

I think they are saying to remove & re-seat the keycap.

Really?  I mean the first thing I did was remove the keycaps to look at the stabilizer.

I put a blob of dielectric grease in them. Doesn't fix the problem but it definitely cuts way back on the clinky rattle.

I think that's my only option.    How did you apply yours?  Did you use a toothpick or a syringe?

[jcoffin1981]

That rattling sound drives me absolutely bonkers.  It's the worst on a cheap Dell keyboard and it can be more noisy than a mech board.  I have almost no rattle on my Poker keyboards.  IIRC, the only stabilizer that comes lubed by the manufacturer is the spacebar.   Maybe because they think it can introduce resistance?  I lubed them anyway when I reassembled them.  If reseating the keycaps does not solve it you can try lubrication.  Also, with the keycap off press the switch and stabilzer stems and see if you get any vibration or wobble or looseness, etc.

That's the nature of larger keys is that they will make slightly more noise.  It's worse of course if you hit the key on the edge.

Yes I used a wooden applicator to apply it, unless you have the entire stabilzer disassembled in which case you can apply the tube directly to the friction point.  You do not want to add a blob though.  A pea sized amount would be way too much.

[Erikdayo]

I hope there is no more rattling than usual with Cherry stabs. Pok3r coming in later this week. :O

[LogicLoop]

Having just lubed up the stabilisers on my Filco TKL I urge you to lather the lubricant on. I used silicone grease for mine and while the backspace, enter, and right shift keys were much improved - the space bar (by far the worst rattler) was completely unaffected.

I had ended up placing even more grease on all of the contact points between the stabiliser and the plastic, then used a pin to go into the switch (plate mounted, so I couldn't disassemble) while it was pressed down. After applying small amounts to the slider area on either side the switch is more cushioned when it tops out.

The space bar sounds nice and deep now with no rattle. The tactile bump wasn't much to begin with (MX browns) and the grease has reduced it somewhat. It was worth it though.

[clankgy1]

I hope there is no more rattling than usual with Cherry stabs. Pok3r coming in later this week. :O

Mine is also coming later this week.  I ordered a non backlit version, which I am now second guessing.

To OP, the way I read that message is that they want you to reseat the key caps.  If that does not solve the issue, I would return/exchange the board.  If the replacement board does the same thing, then look at mitigation techniques.

[Erikdayo]

I hope there is no more rattling than usual with Cherry stabs. Pok3r coming in later this week. :O

Mine is also coming later this week.  I ordered a non backlit version, which I am now second guessing.

To OP, the way I read that message is that they want you to reseat the key caps.  If that does not solve the issue, I would return/exchange the board.  If the replacement board does the same thing, then look at mitigation techniques.

Yea. I got non-backlit as well. Given some of the reviews I've seen I'm not 100% confident in their quality control, but it seems like one of the best 60% keyboards I can currently get with Cherry MX. I've really only ever had issues with Rattling and squeaking from Costar stabs. Issues with Cherry stabs (outside of slightly more mushy feel) would be new for me.

[OfTheWild]

I think they are saying to remove & re-seat the keycap.

Really?  I mean the first thing I did was remove the keycaps to look at the stabilizer.

I put a blob of dielectric grease in them. Doesn't fix the problem but it definitely cuts way back on the clinky rattle.

I think that's my only option.    How did you apply yours?  Did you use a toothpick or a syringe?

Honestly I was so irritated I just kept packing it on there until it shut up. I nearly filled both on the outside and where the wire goes into the "box". It might just run down and glob up on the board eventually. Good thing its dielectric.

[Angrychair]

I Just ordered one of these, and I have mech lube in my mech keyboard kit, so I'll let you know if I have crazy stabilizer noise, I saw a gif on reddit where the actual stabilizer mount was all loose and wobbly on the plate, and that was what was causing the insane amount of rattle, kind of disappointing coming from Vortex, of such a poor fitment/plate cut.

[Erikdayo]

I got mine in today. While I'm sure it could be quieter it doesn't really seem any worse than I'm used to with Cherry stabs. Seems fine.  Or maybe slight rattling just doesn't bother me much. What bothers me more is when a Costar stab is squeaking.

Regardless, pretty happy with this keyboard. Got Reds non backlit. Ducky Dye Sub PBTs.

[Angrychair]

yeah I lubed the bar under the stem with mech lube and don't feel that they are louder than any other.  The stem mounts do wiggle a little on the plate as I've seen others do, which I believe attributes to most of the rattle sound.  If you bought a mechanical keyboard to type quietly there is something wrong with you anywa.  I went with brown switches though, I already own a poker ii with mx blues, and other keyboards with red, clear, and whites.

[exime]

yeah I lubed the bar under the stem with mech lube and don't feel that they are louder than any other.  The stem mounts do wiggle a little on the plate as I've seen others do, which I believe attributes to most of the rattle sound.  If you bought a mechanical keyboard to type quietly there is something wrong with you anywa.  I went with brown switches though, I already own a poker ii with mx blues, and other keyboards with red, clear, and whites.

It's a piece of junk.  I ended up returning it.   Rattle is not acceptable and they get away with it because of people like you that just accept it as normal.   My Ducky has no rattle.   Happy it's off my hands now.

[Angrychair]

it's no louder than my poker ii, or Code, or hand built sprit 

[exime]

I've purchased some $50 budget brand china clones with cherry stabilizers with no rattle too.   Albeit the switches were mushy and crap.  They did get the stabilizers installed correctly.

[Angrychair]

yeah it's totally either non cherry stabilizer mounts, or the plate cnc template is off for the ones they use on RGB.

[Erikdayo]

Now that I've been using a Pok3r for a bit I can comment on this particular keyboard. On the one I received the stabilizers are loose. It's very noticeable when comparing to my Leopold. On the Leopold the stabilizers don't budge at all when you try to move them. On the Pok3r they're very loose. They're not held into the metal plate tightly at all.

[Adgar]

silicone grease make sence ， But too much of it gonna influence the feeling of  the switch.