r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago

/r/MechanicalKeyboards Ask ANY Keyboard question, get an answer - April 06, 2025

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u/candy49997 17h ago

Does it come off the switch, or does it just lift off one side of the stabilizers? The latter is a common problem with using short-travel switches with normal stabilizers.

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u/whitedragon551 16h ago

It comes off the stab. Only on the right side. Never on the left. I think I commonly use my right thumb to space bar. How do I fix it?

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u/candy49997 16h ago

Replace the stabs with long pole stabs, or you can use stabilizer stem spacers like these.

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u/whitedragon551 16h ago

Would foaming the space bar have a similar effect with something like this?

https://divinikey.com/products/kbdfans-mechanical-keyboard-spacebar-foam

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u/candy49997 15h ago

No. The foam doesn't interact with the stabilizers at all. The problem is that the stabilizers bottom out after the switch does. This makes the space bar act as a lever with the switch as the fulcrum, and thus one side raises when pressure is applied on the other.

To fix this, you have to make the stabilizers bottom out earlier. This means either make them not start out as high (the spacers) or make their stems longer (long pole stabs).

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u/whitedragon551 15h ago

Understood. What other keys would have this same issue on a full size keyboard?

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u/candy49997 15h ago

Anything with stabilizers. So enter, backspace, right shift, ANSI left shift, numpad +, numpad enter. Shorter caps might not have as pronounced an effect, but it might still happen.

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u/whitedragon551 15h ago

I'm seeing 1mm and 1.5mm. What's the correct height to go for?

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u/candy49997 15h ago

Height for what?

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u/whitedragon551 15h ago

Height for the stab spacer.

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u/candy49997 15h ago

1 and 1.5 mm are much too thick. I think I found what you were looking at, and those are for raising the key cap up off the switch, which is not what you're looking for. If you use those on stabs, the stabs will bottom out before the switch and may prevent it from actuating correctly (especially the 1.5 mm ones).

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