Mechanical keyboards have exploded in popularity in recent years. Their high-quality switches provide responsive, satisfying keystrokes for typing and gaming.
But the signature “click-clack” sound of mechanical keys isn’t for everyone.
This is where a simple but transformative accessory comes in – the O-ring.
O-rings have become a must-have mod for mechanical keyboard users looking to customize feel and dampen noise.
But what exactly are O-rings, and what do they do?
This comprehensive guide will cover everything you need to know about O-rings for keyboards.
So whether you’re a mechanical newbie or a seasoned enthusiast, read on to learn all about customizing your keyboard with O-rings!
What Are O-Rings?
O-rings are simple rubber grommets or seals, similar to what you’d find protecting the base of a water faucet. But on keyboards, they serve an entirely different purpose.
O-rings fit on the stem of keycaps, surrounding the cross-shaped prongs most common on Cherry MX style switches. When installed properly, the O-ring makes contact with the inside of the switch housing when you press down on a keycap.
This provides a cushioning effect that changes both the sound profile and tactile sensation when typing.
But O-rings aren’t one-size-fits all. The materials and sizing impact their dampening capabilities and overall feel.
Learn More: Mechanical vs Membrane Keyboard: Which One to Choose
What Are O-Rings Made Of?
O-rings can be made of various rubber or silicone polymers. But they are typically made of soft, flexible silicone for durability and performance.
Silicone offers:
- Shock-absorbing qualities to cushion keypresses.
- Resistance to weathering and aging over thousands of strokes.
- Maintains elasticity needed to absorb impact.
- Cost-effectiveness.
More budget-friendly O-rings may use basic rubber instead, but this doesn’t last as long.
You also want pliable, stretchy material. Hard plastic O-rings won’t have the same dampening effect and may increase noise.
O-Ring Sizes and Specs
O-rings come in a range of sizes, with the dimensions impacting how they feel and perform:
- Thickness – Common sizes are 1.5mm and 2.5mm. Thicker O-rings have a more dramatic impact on sound, travel distance, and feel. Thinner rings maintain more key travel.
- Inner diameter – The inner size needs to fit snugly around the keycap stem. Most are 4-5mm to fit Cherry MX style stems.
- Durometer rating – This measures the material hardness on a scale from 0A (very soft) to 100A (very hard). Softer O-rings (30A-50A) provide more dampening than firm (70A-90A). Softness impacts the perceived cushioning.
- Color – O-rings come in translucent, black, red, or blue. Clear rings don’t interfere with RGB lighting.
With so many factors at play, there is no definitive “best” O-ring spec. You’ll need to test different setups to find the combination that suits your keyboard and preferences.
How Do O-Rings Change Keyboard Feel?
Now let’s look at the main reasons keyboard enthusiasts use O-rings – altering the sound profile and typing sensation.
Sound Dampening Properties
The primary benefit of O-rings is reducing noise. By cushioning the downstroke, O-rings dampen the clacking of keys bottoming out.
O-rings can reduce noise by 5-15 decibels depending on materials used. Thicker, softer O-rings, made of silicone dampen noise most effectively.
But O-rings mainly target the noise made when keys bottom out, not on the upstroke. For true silent operation, you may need switches designed for quietness, like Cherry MX Silent Reds.
Overall, O-rings can take your keyboard from distractingly loud to pleasantly muted. This allows use in public settings or at night without disturbing others.
How O-Rings Change Typing Feel
Beyond just sound, O-rings also transform the tactile experience – how the keys physically feel under your fingers.
Keys feel softer and cushioned due to the impact being absorbed before the cap reaches the bottom. There is also a perceivable reduction in travel distance to activation.
However, the exact change in feel depends on the thickness and durometer:
- Thin (1.5mm) soft O-rings reduce travel subtly while maintaining responsiveness. Keystrokes feel muted but crisp.
- Thick (2.5mm) firm O-rings shorten travel more noticeably, almost giving a mushy feel. The tactile bump or click sensation is diminished.
Finding your ideal balance between responsiveness and softness comes down to personal preference. Luckily O-rings are an inexpensive and non-permanent mod, easy to tweak or remove.
Why Do People Use O-Rings?
Now that you know how O-rings transform the typing experience, you may be wondering why people bother installing them. There are a few key reasons O-rings have become a popular keyboard mod:
To Reduce Noise
This is the most common motivation for using O-rings. Mechanical keyboards can be too noisy for some work or home environments. O-rings allow you to keep using comfortable and durable mechanical switches while cutting down on distracting clatter.
Customize Tactile Feeling
Beyond just being quieter, some may prefer the cushioned, muted sensation of O-rings over the harsh bottoming out of keys. O-rings let you tailor the feel to your preferences.
Ergonomics and Reduced Fatigue
Bottoming out puts more strain on your fingers than shorter key travels. O-rings reduce travel distance, which could help reduce hand and finger fatigue for heavy typists. The cushioning effect also creates a more comfortable and ergonomic typing feel.
An Easy, Cheap Mod
Installing O-rings is simple and they cost just $5-15 for a whole keyboard’s worth. Compare this to more complex mods like switch or stem swaps requiring soldering and desoldering. O-rings offer an accessible way to customize mechanical keyboards.
Experiment and Have Fun!
For keyboard enthusiasts, part of the appeal is taking a hands-on approach to modding and customization. O-rings let you tinker and find the typing sensation that suits you best.
How to Install O-Rings
Ready to start customizing your keyboard with O-rings? Here is a step-by-step installation guide.
What You’ll Need
- O-ring kit (110-150 rings for full-size keyboard)
- Keycap puller – required to remove keycaps safely
- Tweezers – helpful for handling small O-rings
Only remove keycaps using a puller to avoid damaging your keyboard. Don’t try to force them off with your fingers.
Step-By-Step O-Ring Installation
- Remove all keycaps from keyboard using keycap puller. Take a photo first as a guide for reassembly.
- Thoroughly clean keyboard plate of any dirt, dust or debris around switches.
- Place individual O-ring around the cross-shaped keycap stem, taking care not to twist or deform rings.
- Press O-ring down firmly so it sits flush against the bottom of keycap.
- Reinstall all keycaps gently, ensuring O-rings stay in place.
Don’t rush the process – take your time handling O-rings and keycaps to get proper placement and avoid damage.
Removing O-Rings
To remove O-rings, follow the same steps but pull the rings off keycap stems using tweezers or fingernails rather than reinstalling caps.
That’s all it takes to install O-rings! But choosing the right O-ring type makes a difference.
Choosing the Best O-Rings for You
With so many O-ring sizes and materials available, how do you narrow it down to find the best fit for your keyboard and typing style?
Here are some tips for choosing O-rings:
- Keyboard switch type – Clicky, tactile, linear? Keys with more resistance can handle firmer O-rings better. Clicky blues may overpower thin rings.
- Noise reduction needs – Thicker silicone rings minimize noise most noticeably. But this also shortens travel a lot.
- Key feel preference – Do you want more cushioning or travel reduction? Thickness and softness impact this.
- Ergonomics – Firm O-rings can provide support and reduce fatigue for heavy typists.
- RGB lighting – Translucent O-rings don’t interfere with under-key LEDs.
Still not sure where to start? Here are two popular, well-reviewed O-ring models that serve as a good jumping off point:
- Cherry MX Rubber O-Ring Dampeners (40A-R) – 1.5mm thick, soft silicone rings offer noticeable noise reduction while maintaining key travel. Great starter O-rings.
- Redragon Rubber O-Rings Switch Dampeners (70A) – At 2mm thick, these firm rings will significantly reduce travel and provide tactile feedback. Prevents bottoming out well.
The best approach is to buy an assorted set of thicknesses/softness and experiment. Or ask other keyboard enthusiasts what they recommend for your specific model.
While O-rings are inexpensive, take your time testing combinations to avoid continually reinstalling. Once you find your ideal O-ring, it can take your keyboard feel and acoustics to a new level.
Conclusion
O-rings have cemented themselves as one of the most popular “must-have” accessories for mechanical keyboard users. The simple silicone grommets provide an easy and affordable way to fine-tune the sound, feel, and comfort of your typing experience.
Here are some key takeaways:
- O-rings cushion keypresses to reduce noise and transform typing sensation.
- Softer, thicker o-rings dampen noise most effectively.
- O-rings allow customization of sound and feel to suit personal preferences.
- Installation is quick and easy using just a keycap puller.
- Experiment with different O-ring sizes and materials to find your perfect fit.
So grab a variety pack of these clever little rings for your mechanical keyboard. With some trial and error, you’ll find an O-ring setup that makes your typing experience perfect. Just take it slow and handle the delicate rings with care during installation.
In the world of mechanical keyboard mods, O-rings offer one of the simplest but most impactful changes. The right O-rings can make any mechanical keyboard quieter, cushier, and customized exactly how you like it.
FAQ’s
What keyboard is not noisy?
Membrane keyboards are generally much quieter than mechanical keyboards. Membrane keyboards use a rubber dome and membrane sheet for key presses rather than individual switches. This absorbs sound and provides a silent typing experience. Other quiet options are mechanical keyboards with silent/linear switches or those modified with O-rings or damping pads.
What is the quietest keyboard type?
The quietest keyboard types are membrane keyboards, mechanical keyboards with silent switches (like Cherry MX Silent Reds), and mechanical keyboards modified with sound dampening O-rings or pads. These options reduce noise generated during both the downstroke and upstroke of key presses through use of rubber, padding, and optimized switch/stabilizer design.
How do I reduce keyboard noise?
To reduce keyboard noise, you can use O-rings to cushion the downstroke on mechanical keyboards, replace loud clicky switches with linear/silent ones, add damping pads inside the keyboard case, or lubricate stabilizers to reduce rattle. Proper typing technique without bottoming out can also reduce noise. Ultimately, membrane and specialized silent mechanical keyboards will be the quietest options.
How long will an O-ring last?
With proper installation and gentle use, silicone O-rings should last 1-2 years or more before needing replacement. Softer O-rings may wear out sooner with heavy use. Ensure O-rings are seated properly and replace immediately if they become deformed or damaged.
Are O-rings plastic or rubber?
O-rings are most commonly made of soft, flexible silicone rubber rather than rigid plastic. Silicone provides good durability and shock absorption needed for keyboard O-rings to reduce noise effectively. Low-quality O-rings may use generic rubber which breaks down over time.
Why is rubber used for O-rings?
Rubber materials like silicone are used to make O-rings because they offer high flexibility and elasticity. This allows the o-ring to compress when a key is pressed, absorbing some of the impact. The rubber cushioning reduces noise, feels softer, and protects the keyboard from bottoming out damage. Hard plastics cannot compress in the same way.
