Fitting O-Rings to Mechanical Keyboards (howto?)

[Millennium]

Please be aware that this post contains links to items from China or the Far East. You will unlikely have to pay any customs, as they are very cheap items, however you may be waiting up to 6 weeks or even more. If you would rather not wait, please find equivalent items from UK suppliers.

I just fitted some O-Rings to my Corsair K-90 mechanical keyboard, on the recommendation of some people on Hexus Discord quite a while ago. It's been fun and has certainly made an improvement -- though I will need some time to get used to it.

Improvements:
-Softer bottom out of keys
-Much reduced noise
-Plush feeling
-Possibly less strain due to damping effect.

Possible bad points:
-Keys have less travel (or bottom out earlier). Keypresses still well detected.

So if you are interested in a cheap and effective upgrade for your mechanical keyboard here's how! Please note my keyboard is Cherry MX and I am unsure if this will work on other keyboards, however it should as the rings go in the keycaps rather than anything to do with the switches.

You will need:

Keyboard Silicon O-Rings (120 pack) (Aliexpress link)
Key Cap Puller Tool (Gearbest 1 - Gearbest 2) -- I got #2.







Now the process is simple if a little long winded, though you only need do it once. You simply pull up each key in turn and press an o-ring onto (around) the stem of each key (inside the actual key) where the switch meets the key, so that as the key is depressed the o-ring can dampen against the switch/keyboard.

I assume there are lots of YouTube videos out there anyway This is a heads up that this cheap and cheerful upgrade has really improved my old K-90.

Hope you like it!

Millennium.

[Biscuit]

How would I annoy everyone if my keyboard doesn't make loads of noise?

[Hoonigan]

How would I annoy everyone if my keyboard doesn't make loads of noise?

#DesktopTapDancer

[outwar6010]

How would I annoy everyone if my keyboard doesn't make loads of noise?

#SledgehammerFingers

[DanceswithUnix]

Interesting idea. I could probably 3D print some o-rings, I have flexi plastic.

[Hoonigan]

Interesting idea. I could probably 3D print some o-rings, I have flexi plastic.

For the sake of £2 on Amazon, I'd just buy some and spend the time making something else

[Millennium]

You could try a few DancesWithUnix, but for the sake of $1.22 I would buy the silicon ones for best effect

[aidanjt]

Pretty much the first thing I did with my K65 when I bought it years ago (other than plug it in and type on it, of course). Although the red switches in the K65 aren't loud, it was still louder than I wanted, so I ordered a bag of 0.4mm O-rings. It really did improve things markedly.

[Spreadie]

O rings - most mech board owners try them, and nearly all grow to hate them.

They are all you'll ever need to make your lovely mechanical keyboard feel like a £5 rubber dome piece of junk.

[Millennium]

O rings - most mech board owners try them, and nearly all grow to hate them.

They are all you'll ever need to make your lovely mechanical keyboard feel like a £5 rubber dome piece of junk.

OK thanks for the advice I may remove them in future

[Hoonigan]

O rings - most mech board owners try them, and nearly all grow to hate them.

They are all you'll ever need to make your lovely mechanical keyboard feel like a £5 rubber dome piece of junk.

But, when used correctly, a mechanical keyboard doesn't need to be bottomed out anyway. The actuation of the key doesn't change at all.

I don't agree with what you said at all.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

#SledgehammerFingers

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

I have a Coolermaster Crossfire TK with MX Red switches,and I don't see the need to install any rubber rings on the bottom since it is not that noisy and it seems to be just about perfect for me for typing,and also gaming on even a decent dome keyboard is like depressing the keys in some Play-Doh.

Edit!!

The MX Red keys need low actuation force so you don't need to hit the keys hard like some other mechanical switches. It might be different with other switch types though,so they might benefit from the rings to damp them a bit and cut down on noise.

[virtuo]

The space bar on my Shine 5 was very dumpy when i hit it, so I put o-rings on that (worked a treat), the rest are loud clicky beauties. As they should be.

[GoNz0]

My logitech g710 came with them as standard, keeps the noise down so I am happy.

[Spreadie]

But, when used correctly, a mechanical keyboard doesn't need to be bottomed out anyway. The actuation of the key doesn't change at all.

If you type and never bottom out the keys, you don't need o rings!

Besides, they do nothing to dampen the return clack from releasing a key

I don't agree with what you said at all.

Well, my life is in tatters now.