Mech keyboard O-rings

[Matsy]

Need to get some O-rings.

However for a pack of 125 its like £10 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=KB-000-TL

Found these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008AGN1J8/ref=ox_sc_imb_mini_detail?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A21IGQH22VPVOS which is a pack of 50 for like 72p, not delivery charge.

There are slight dimention differences, would it make any difference?

 

£10 ones - Outer Diameter: 8,0 mm

Inner Diameter: 4,8 mm
Thickness: 1,6 mm

 

72p ones- 

• Inside Diameter : 4mm/0.16";Outside Diameter : 9mm/0.35"
• Thickness : 2.5mm/0.1";Color : Black

These would be going on a Brown/Red switch keybaord.

[aardappel12]

It depends on what effect you are trying to achieve.

 

A thicker ring will reduce key travel more than a thinner ring.
A softer ring will make a switch quiet more effectively than a harder ring.
source : KeyboardCo blog

If you want to quiet down the keyboard and soften the landing, get soft o-rings, ie in 40A or 50A durometer.
If you want to quiet down the keyboard but keep a hard landing, get hard ones (70 - 90A durometer)... however their noise dampening won't be as good as the soft ones'.

source : DeskThority

 

Generally, the cheaper o-rings are harder because those are cheaper to produce. They will give a harder 'thock' when bottoming out compared to the softer o-rings.

[Matsy]

Thanks for that.

What does 40A/50A mean, is it a specific measurement?

[aardappel12]

To my understanding the 40A/50A type o-rings are softer but won't last as long as the 70A-90A harder rings.

So basically, the numbers stand for a type of rubber used.

Anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

Edit: here is something I found over at geekhack.

I'm new to the mechanical scene and wanted to get a better idea how the O rings will feel and found this interesting reference on a site:

Duro 20A = Rubber Band

Duro 40A = Pencil Eraser

Duro 60A = Car Tire Tread

Duro 70A* = Running Shoe Sole

Duro 80A = Leather Belt

Duro 100A = Shopping Cart Wheel

[Darko_Nerivar]

Thanks for that.

What does 40A/50A mean, is it a specific measurement?

 

That's rubber density. The bigger number - the stiffer rubber. For instance 100A is as hard as soft plastic.

 

 

P.S. I use these (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-accessories/cherry-mx-rubber-o-ring-switch-dampeners-125pcs.html) reds for MX Browns. Those are 40A and bottoming out noise is really low, if you would compare w\o o-rings

[Matsy]

Thanks for the information

Found this:

Same o-rings, they seem good enough.

 

Don't feel like spending £10 on little bits of rubber which cost practically nothing to produce.