The plumbers mod is a life saver. My stabs literally came from a rattly mess to sounding like it was handcrafted by the gods. I dunno why this is so underrated and why I just discovered it today lmao.
A FEW CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS!!!! 1. Wrap the tape preferably 3 times around the stabilizer wire (this will vary, feel free to experiment). After looping around once, pull the tape tightly while you continue looping the PTFE tape. ua-cam.com/video/mjduXOxcZFk/v-deo.html 2. Avoid lubing the PTFE as that can increase the rate of degradation of the PTFE tape 3. Avoid what I did at 3:15 and don't try to frequently put/pull out the PTFE-wrapped stabilizers from the stabilizer stems. There's a good chance you will tear the PTFE as a result. Just wrap the PTFE around the wire, put back together the stabilizers, and try it out on your PCB. It is normal if it feels slightly mushy (a bit too much PTFE) BUT it should be better after some use so no need to re-do unless it's really bad. Also, while I only wrapped half the length of the stabilizer wires, you can use your normal width PTFE tape to wrap around the full length of the wire leg - just make sure not to wrap past the corners and make sure to always tighten the tape.
Thanks for the updates! I have one question though. You've said to not lube the tape - i presume that by lube you've meant dielectric grase. But I've got some PTFE grease laying around my home, will it also degrade the tape? I assume not as it's also PTFE
Thank you for this. I was using the holee mod previously to this and while it helped, there was still a tiny bit of ticking on my enter key. This actually seems to have fixed the ticking 100% and I didn't even do that good of a job with it. So thanks again!
I spent like 4 hours last night trying to do this mod. I wrapped it around the entire short legs of the stab wires and a bit around the bend as well where it connects into the housing. Lubed with 205G2. I did this over & over, about 5-6 times in total for every stab. That was my first mistake, should've just done it on two stabs, ideally the spacebar. The problem was the uneven thickness application of the tape. I cut roughly the same length of tape for each leg of the wires, but somehow the keycaps were still ticking. I don't think it's necessarily the keycaps themselves. I will get some normal fabric bandages & do the regular holee mod if I can't get the PTFE thing to work. For now, it's not rattling, but it feels a little bit mushy - I'm hoping this will get resolved in some break-in period. Some piece of advice to others, take your time to try to be as consistent as possible, and only try it on the spacebar stabs first to get an idea of the thickness/number of wraps needed.
I had the same problem. In addition to ticking noises that I could not resolve, even after multiple re-applying of the tape and lube, I had a problem that after some time PTFE tape was tearing apart. To double check I used scotch tape instead, and it performs much better, although I don't recommend it - glue is weak and it is pain to apply well. Get some water proof bandages instead.
@@c0gnus Interesting, I've been using this mod for about 2 months now and I did not notice any PTFE that has been torn yet. I'm assuming the lube helped the PTFE to tear in a shorter time frame which is why I stated that you may want to avoid lubing it as per my pinned comment. Along with this, the added width of PTFE on the wire (depending on how much you used) may have had an effect on it as well. And I agree with you that I would avoid using regular tape. Water proof bandages are better as an alternative if you want to go that route.
Well i did this and used Dielectric Grease... and some chemical reaction happened and the tape became too thin and very transparent after 3 days, and the ticking and rattling came back.
Well if you looked at my pinned comment of corrections/improvements, that is something I predicted and I stated to avoid lubing completely to correct and refine what was otherwise said in my video . Dielectric grease is mainly for rubber and electricals (include metal parts that make electrical connections. Also breaks down silicone-based plastics, rubbers and potentially other materials so that gives an idea of what is already to be expected.
Thanks for the feedback! I use durock pom linears lubed using Krytox 205G0 and I spring-swapped them with kinetic labs 63.5g symmetric Long Springs/two-stage springs. My absolute favorite switches.
Is it alright if the wire is sitting very snug inside the housing/stems? After barely 2 rounds of ptfe tape, my wire doesnt even move inside the housing. Should i reduce the thickness?
Yeah this mod is really great, take less than 5 minutes per stab to do it once you master it. The so called holee mod is really overrated and pain in the ass to do it.
Its no more a pain in the ass than trying to make sure your plumber's tape won't slip and fall off because it has less adhesive strength than a fabric band-aid and is not made to be put on the wire that is constantly moving erratically, compared to a holee mod which is simply lying snug on a flat surface that is inert(so to speak). In any case, the holee or plumbers' tape mod are only for those stabs that refuse to behave even after a generous application of Permatex or Krytox. And if that's the case, budget permitting, I'd rather get a set of better quality stabs.
First time hearing UHMW tape. That should work as well assuming the tape is thin enough. I still probably wouldn't lube them as it's advertised as "low-coefficient of friction" already and the chemicals in your typical switch lube may degrade the tape faster. But of course you can experiment and see if there are any noticeable long-term effects.
The idea is to put some dampening material in the stabilizer. Thick enough to prevent rattle but not so thick that it prevents movement entirely. You put the material either on the bar like this mod or in the housing like the Holee mod. You can use anything you like. How effective it is and how long it lasts depends on the material. I think masking tape won't last that long. Could be wrong though.
Still working really well! Also the quality of your keycaps can affect how much ticking/rattle there is as well. I have clone GMK keycaps so they were always either somewhat loose or somewhat warped b/c of quality control so I couldn't completely eliminate the ticking. The mod did help though. Just make sure to wrap the tape 3-4 times as I found that to work best and do a twisting motion to tighten it afterwards - it may be somewhat mushy at first but that'll slowly disappear with use.
The plumbers mod is a life saver. My stabs literally came from a rattly mess to sounding like it was handcrafted by the gods. I dunno why this is so underrated and why I just discovered it today lmao.
A FEW CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS!!!!
1. Wrap the tape preferably 3 times around the stabilizer wire (this will vary, feel free to experiment). After looping around once, pull the tape tightly while you continue looping the PTFE tape. ua-cam.com/video/mjduXOxcZFk/v-deo.html
2. Avoid lubing the PTFE as that can increase the rate of degradation of the PTFE tape
3. Avoid what I did at 3:15 and don't try to frequently put/pull out the PTFE-wrapped stabilizers from the stabilizer stems. There's a good chance you will tear the PTFE as a result. Just wrap the PTFE around the wire, put back together the stabilizers, and try it out on your PCB. It is normal if it feels slightly mushy (a bit too much PTFE) BUT it should be better after some use so no need to re-do unless it's really bad.
Also, while I only wrapped half the length of the stabilizer wires, you can use your normal width PTFE tape to wrap around the full length of the wire leg - just make sure not to wrap past the corners and make sure to always tighten the tape.
Thanks for the updates! I have one question though. You've said to not lube the tape - i presume that by lube you've meant dielectric grase. But I've got some PTFE grease laying around my home, will it also degrade the tape? I assume not as it's also PTFE
Im just gonna lube the stabs w krytox
Like with the holee mod as otherwise itl get too mushy
Thank you for this. I was using the holee mod previously to this and while it helped, there was still a tiny bit of ticking on my enter key. This actually seems to have fixed the ticking 100% and I didn't even do that good of a job with it. So thanks again!
This was really informative and I am thinking about trying it right now lol
I spent like 4 hours last night trying to do this mod. I wrapped it around the entire short legs of the stab wires and a bit around the bend as well where it connects into the housing. Lubed with 205G2. I did this over & over, about 5-6 times in total for every stab. That was my first mistake, should've just done it on two stabs, ideally the spacebar. The problem was the uneven thickness application of the tape. I cut roughly the same length of tape for each leg of the wires, but somehow the keycaps were still ticking. I don't think it's necessarily the keycaps themselves.
I will get some normal fabric bandages & do the regular holee mod if I can't get the PTFE thing to work. For now, it's not rattling, but it feels a little bit mushy - I'm hoping this will get resolved in some break-in period.
Some piece of advice to others, take your time to try to be as consistent as possible, and only try it on the spacebar stabs first to get an idea of the thickness/number of wraps needed.
I had the same problem. In addition to ticking noises that I could not resolve, even after multiple re-applying of the tape and lube, I had a problem that after some time PTFE tape was tearing apart. To double check I used scotch tape instead, and it performs much better, although I don't recommend it - glue is weak and it is pain to apply well. Get some water proof bandages instead.
@@c0gnus Interesting, I've been using this mod for about 2 months now and I did not notice any PTFE that has been torn yet. I'm assuming the lube helped the PTFE to tear in a shorter time frame which is why I stated that you may want to avoid lubing it as per my pinned comment. Along with this, the added width of PTFE on the wire (depending on how much you used) may have had an effect on it as well.
And I agree with you that I would avoid using regular tape. Water proof bandages are better as an alternative if you want to go that route.
The ticking is from the stab wire hitting the pcb, put some tape on the base of the stabs and on the pcb where the wire rests
Medical tape also works for the stab stems aswell
Well i did this and used Dielectric Grease... and some chemical reaction happened and the tape became too thin and very transparent after 3 days, and the ticking and rattling came back.
Well if you looked at my pinned comment of corrections/improvements, that is something I predicted and I stated to avoid lubing completely to correct and refine what was otherwise said in my video . Dielectric grease is mainly for rubber and electricals (include metal parts that make electrical connections. Also breaks down silicone-based plastics, rubbers and potentially other materials so that gives an idea of what is already to be expected.
nice vid, pretty helpful. what switches do u use?
Thanks for the feedback! I use durock pom linears lubed using Krytox 205G0 and I spring-swapped them with kinetic labs 63.5g symmetric Long Springs/two-stage springs. My absolute favorite switches.
@@bakedapple9801 ive heard good things, keep up the grind ur gonna make it. Trust the process chief.
I just tried this new mod and gonna said that it much more better than holee mod 😆 Anyway nice vid, thanks man
idea: what if u do this mod except put dielectric grease on it
Is it alright if the wire is sitting very snug inside the housing/stems? After barely 2 rounds of ptfe tape, my wire doesnt even move inside the housing. Should i reduce the thickness?
Yeah this mod is really great, take less than 5 minutes per stab to do it once you master it. The so called holee mod is really overrated and pain in the ass to do it.
Its no more a pain in the ass than trying to make sure your plumber's tape won't slip and fall off because it has less adhesive strength than a fabric band-aid and is not made to be put on the wire that is constantly moving erratically, compared to a holee mod which is simply lying snug on a flat surface that is inert(so to speak). In any case, the holee or plumbers' tape mod are only for those stabs that refuse to behave even after a generous application of Permatex or Krytox. And if that's the case, budget permitting, I'd rather get a set of better quality stabs.
That is going to last 20 key presses before the teflon unwraps and falls off…
Nah! I have that and it last for monthers
did you balance the wire on the enter key? maybe thats why its ticking a bit on the left side
Am I right that this mod is like the bar end wrapping mod? But with the use of plumber's tape?
i think i saw someone do this with UHMW tape as well, i heard its designed for not lettinb lube in or smthn
First time hearing UHMW tape. That should work as well assuming the tape is thin enough. I still probably wouldn't lube them as it's advertised as "low-coefficient of friction" already and the chemicals in your typical switch lube may degrade the tape faster. But of course you can experiment and see if there are any noticeable long-term effects.
4:50 its still ticking lmao
What about electric tape
is that a pe foam-like on the pcb?
Yup! It's PCB PE foam that came with my Jelly Epoch
what if u use masking tape instead? Or wire isolation tape?
The idea is to put some dampening material in the stabilizer. Thick enough to prevent rattle but not so thick that it prevents movement entirely. You put the material either on the bar like this mod or in the housing like the Holee mod.
You can use anything you like. How effective it is and how long it lasts depends on the material. I think masking tape won't last that long. Could be wrong though.
I did this with krytox and the tape became too thin after just a day uhh
lmao i saw my old video on there at the start
10 x easier than any other mod
am i gay test 0:33
i used duck tape and it worked
Now i'm confusing
I had stroke reading this
Update?
Still working really well! Also the quality of your keycaps can affect how much ticking/rattle there is as well. I have clone GMK keycaps so they were always either somewhat loose or somewhat warped b/c of quality control so I couldn't completely eliminate the ticking. The mod did help though. Just make sure to wrap the tape 3-4 times as I found that to work best and do a twisting motion to tighten it afterwards - it may be somewhat mushy at first but that'll slowly disappear with use.