Yep, it's what I'm doing with the boards I'm modifying w/ JTK sliders, just mimicking the Novatouch stabilizer cut-outs. Bit tedious.
But now KBDFans has silencing rings for cheap, so I can silence these boards at the same time
Could you provide a link to those cheap silencing rings? Thanks!
https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/products/kbdfans-mod-topre-keyboard-silence-o-ring-hhkb-keyboard-realforce-87-104
Actually was thinking of these: https://kbdfans.myshopify.com/products/topre-keyboard-silence-x-120pcs
The one you linked are just o-rings, these are clones/copies of the original Topre silencing ring. Might look on Taobao or something and see if I can find it cheaper. He usually marks it up a little bit on the shopify page.
I bought both JTK Topre to MX sliders and these KBDfans Topre to MX sliders.
1. JTK Topre to MX sliders has no silence rings. I found it's noisy to use them on HHKB, especially using low profile keycaps, like DSA. And they don't have padding inside the key stems. So the keycaps would be uneven sitting on the stems. But they have 2.25u stabilizer stems, which could be use on the left shift and right enter position of my HHKB. You may need to sand them to fit these 2.25u positions.
2. KBDFans Topre to MX sliders have silence rings. It's much quieter use them on HHKB. They feel a little bit scratchy, not as smooth as JTK ones or the stock sliders. Padding inside the key stems so the keycaps are even. But the QC is not good enough, so the keycap is rotated in about 1~2 degree anti-clockwise. Only 1u stems but no 2.25u stem.
I lubricate and use KBDFans Topre to MX sliders on all the 1u positions on my HHKB. For the 2.25u left shift and right enter, I remove the silence rings from extra KBDFans sliders and put them on JTK sliders, and then install them on my HHKB. Holes are drilled using a common scissor for these stabilizers keycaps.
The most tricky part is the spacebar. I remove the stock housings, install a 1u JTK sliders(with KBDFans silence ring) and a set of costar stabilizer on the housing holes. Since the KBDFans sliders are rotated, they are not good to be used in a long keycap like spacebar.
Both KBDFans/JTK sliders have flaws. They're good enough to use but not perfect. I want to try the Novatouch sliders if I have the chance later.
At the end of all these work/twisting, now I have a HHKB with SA keycaps installed.
There are 1u super, 1.25u alt and 6.25u spacebar in the bottom row. There are holes between 1.25u alt and 6.25u spacebar. It's not perfect but it's fine for daily usage.
Now I'm free to switch different keycaps (including spacebar) on my HHKB. I'm really fond of SA profile and use Jukebox on it now. Looking forward to getting Godspeed or Dasher/Dancer and put them on.