Introduction to Keyboard Modding

So you’ve got a mechanical keyboard, and now you’re hearing about “mods” that can make it sound better, feel smoother, or look more unique. The good news? Many keyboard modifications are surprisingly simple and don’t require any special skills or expensive tools.

This guide will walk you through the most beginner-friendly mods and help you understand what they do, how to do them, and whether they’re right for you.

What Is Keyboard Modding?

Keyboard modding is the practice of making modifications to improve your keyboard beyond its stock configuration. Think of it like customizing a car, but for your keyboard.

Why Do People Mod Keyboards?

Sound Improvement Most stock keyboards have a hollow, plasticky sound. Mods can make them sound deeper, quieter, or more “thocky” (the satisfying deep sound enthusiasts love).

Better Feel Stock switches can feel scratchy or inconsistent. Lubing and other mods create a smoother, more refined typing experience.

Personalization Your keyboard should reflect your preferences. Mods let you fine-tune exactly how your board sounds and feels.

Learning Experience Modding teaches you how keyboards work. You’ll understand what makes a good keyboard tick, which helps when shopping for your next one.

Types of Mods

• Sound mods: Change how your keyboard sounds (foam, tape mod)
• Feel mods: Improve typing smoothness (lubing switches and stabilizers)
• Aesthetic mods: Visual customization (keycaps, case modifications)

This guide focuses on sound and feel improvements that beginners can safely tackle.

Mod Difficulty Reference

Here’s how we rate each mod’s difficulty:

Mod Type	Difficulty	Time Required	Reversible?	Tools Needed
Case Foam	Easy	15-30 min	Yes	Scissors
Plate Foam	Easy	30-45 min	Yes	Screwdriver, scissors
Tape Mod	Very Easy	10-20 min	Yes	Painter’s tape
Switch Lubing	Moderate	2-4 hours	Mostly	Lube, brush, switch opener
Stabilizer Mod	Moderate	30-60 min	Yes	Screwdriver, lube

Beginner-Friendly Mods

1. Foam Mods

Foam modifications are the easiest way to improve keyboard sound. They fill empty space inside your keyboard, reducing hollow echo and creating a deeper sound profile.

Case Foam

What It Does: Fills the empty space between your PCB (circuit board) and the bottom of your keyboard case. This dampens the hollow sound and creates a fuller, more muted acoustic profile.

Case foam being placed in the bottom case cavity between the PCB and case bottom, showing proper clearance around screw posts

How to Do It:

1. Disassemble your keyboard: Remove keycaps (use a keycap puller) and unscrew the case
2. Measure the case cavity: Note the dimensions of the empty space below your PCB
3. Cut foam to size: Use craft foam, EVA foam, or specialized keyboard foam. Cut to fit the cavity without interfering with screw holes
4. Place foam: Lay it flat in the bottom case cavity
5. Reassemble: Put everything back together and test

Expected Results:

• Deeper, less hollow sound
• Reduced ping and spring noise
• 20-30% reduction in overall keyboard volume

Tips:

• Start with 2-4mm thick foam
• Don’t compress the foam too much or it won’t dampen effectively
• Leave clearance around screw posts

Plate Foam

What It Does: Sits between your switches and the mounting plate, dampening the sound at the point where keys are pressed. Creates a softer, more muted typing experience.

Thin plate foam with precise switch and stabilizer cutouts positioned between the mounting plate and PCB

How to Do It:

1. Remove keycaps and switches: You’ll need to fully disassemble your keyboard
2. Trace or measure your plate: Note where switches sit and any stabilizer cutouts
3. Cut foam: Use thin foam (1-2mm) and cut holes for switches and stabilizers
4. Install between plate and PCB: The foam sandwich goes plate → foam → switches → PCB
5. Reassemble carefully: Make sure switches click into the plate properly

Expected Results:

• Softer bottom-out sound
• Reduced high-pitched clack
• More uniform sound across all keys

Tips:

• Thinner is better for plate foam (1-2mm maximum)
• Pre-cut plate foam is available for popular keyboards
• Make sure switch pins can still reach PCB holes

2. Tape Mod

The tape mod is the simplest sound modification you can do. It takes 10 minutes and costs almost nothing, yet it’s become one of the most popular mods in the community.

What It Is

You apply layers of painter’s tape to the back of your keyboard’s PCB. The tape acts as a dampening layer that changes the sound signature, typically creating a “poppier” or “marble-like” sound.

Step-by-Step Process

What You Need:

• Painter’s tape (blue or green masking tape)
• Screwdriver
• Scissors (optional)

Steps:

1. Open your keyboard: Remove keycaps and unscrew the case to access the PCB
2. Clean the PCB back: Wipe away any dust from the underside of the PCB
3. Apply tape layers: Cover the back of the PCB with 2-3 layers of painter’s tape
   • Avoid covering screw holes
   • Overlap strips slightly to avoid gaps
   • Press firmly to eliminate air bubbles
4. Reassemble: Put everything back together
5. Test and adjust: Try typing. Add or remove layers until you like the sound

Multiple layers of painter’s tape applied to the PCB back with overlapping strips and clearance around screw holes

Expected Results

• “Poppier” sound signature
• Enhanced key definition (each keystroke sounds more distinct)
• Reduced case resonance
• Slight increase in pitch

Important Notes:

• More layers = more dampening (2-3 is typical, 4+ can sound muted)
• This mod divides the community, some love it, some hate it
• It’s completely reversible, so experiment freely
• Use painter’s tape, not duct tape or electrical tape

3. Switch Lubing Basics

Lubing switches is the single most impactful mod for improving typing feel. It transforms scratchy, inconsistent switches into smooth, buttery keypresses.

Why Lube Switches?

Stock switches have metal and plastic components rubbing together. Even high-quality switches benefit from lubrication because:

• Reduces scratchiness and friction
• Eliminates spring ping
• Creates consistent feel across all keys
• Makes switches quieter

What You Need

Essential Tools:

• Keyboard lubricant (Krytox 205g0 is the gold standard for linear switches, Tribosys 3203 for tactile)
• Small brush (size 00 or 000)
• Switch opener tool
• Tweezers
• Small container for disassembled parts

Optional:

• Switch films (thin plastic sheets that reduce wobble)
• Stem holder for easier application
• Work mat to keep parts organized

Well-organized lubing workspace showing disassembled switches, lube container, brush, switch opener, and containers for components

Basic Process Overview

Time Investment: 2-4 hours for a full keyboard (60-100 switches)

1. Disassemble switches: Use switch opener to separate top and bottom housing
2. Lube the bottom housing: Apply thin layer to the inside walls where the stem travels
3. Lube the stem: Apply to the stem rails (sides that touch the housing)
4. Lube the spring: Either bag lube (coat multiple springs in a bag) or brush each one
5. Reassemble: Snap the housing back together carefully
6. Repeat: Do this for every switch

Which Switches to Lube?

Definitely Lube:

• Budget linear switches (Gateron Yellow, Akko switches)
• Tactile switches (tactile bump benefits from lubing)
• Any switch with spring ping or scratchiness

Consider Carefully:

• Clicky switches (lubing removes or reduces the click mechanism)
• Pre-lubed factory switches (may not need additional lube)

Lubing Tips for Beginners:

• Start with 10-20 switches to practice before doing your whole board
• Less is more, thin even layers work better than thick application
• Don’t lube the tactile legs on tactile switches (reduces tactility)
• Avoid getting lube on electrical contact points
• Work in a clean, well-lit area

Expected Results:

• Significantly smoother keypresses
• Quieter operation
• Eliminated spring ping
• More consistent feel across all switches

Visual comparison showing a lubed switch with smooth coating on housing and stem next to an unlubed stock switch

4. Stabilizer Modding

Stabilizers keep larger keys (spacebar, shift, enter, backspace) level when pressed. Stock stabilizers are often the weakest part of a keyboard, causing rattling, ticking, and mushy feel.

Common Stabilizer Problems

• Rattle: Loose stabilizer wire bouncing in the housing
• Tick: Wire hitting the housing inconsistently
• Stickiness: Unlubed stabilizers resist smooth movement
• Mushy feel: Over-lubed or poorly balanced stabilizers

The Holee Mod

What It Does: Prevents stabilizer rattle by using small pieces of fabric bandaid or tape to cushion where the stabilizer wire contacts the housing.

How to Do It:

1. Remove stabilizers: Take out the wire and separate the housings
2. Cut small pieces: Use fabric bandaid or medical tape, cut to fit the wire contact points
3. Apply to housing: Place where the wire enters the housing (the holes)
4. Reassemble: Insert wire and snap back together

Fabric band-aid pieces being applied to stabilizer housing wire entry points, showing the cushioning material placement

Expected Results:

• Eliminates most rattle
• Slightly softer bottom-out on stabilized keys
• More consistent sound across all keys

Lube and Clip

Lubing Stabilizers:

1. Disassemble: Remove wire and housings
2. Lube housing: Apply thick lube (Krytox 205g0 or dielectric grease) to all moving parts
3. Lube wire: Apply thin layer to the entire wire, especially where it contacts housing
4. Don’t over-lube: Too much creates mushy, sluggish keys
5. Reassemble: Make sure wire moves smoothly

Clipping (For Plate-Mount Stabilizers):

Some plate-mount stabilizers have extra plastic feet that can cause interference. Carefully clip these off with flush cutters for better performance.

Expected Results:

• Smooth, quiet stabilized keys
• Eliminated rattle and tick
• Consistent feel with regular keys

Safety Considerations

Before you start modding, keep these safety guidelines in mind:

Electrical Safety

• Unplug your keyboard before disassembling
• Don’t use conductive lubricants near electrical contacts
• Be careful not to short circuit components with metal tools

Physical Safety

• Use proper tools to avoid stripping screws
• Be gentle with PCB and connectors (they’re fragile)
• Work in a clean area to prevent losing small parts
• Don’t force anything, if it doesn’t fit, stop and reassess

Component Protection

• Ground yourself before touching the PCB (static electricity can damage components)
• Keep liquids away from your work area
• Don’t over-tighten screws (can crack PCB or strip threads)
• Take photos before disassembly so you remember how things go back together

When NOT to Mod

Modding isn’t always the right choice. Here’s when you should reconsider:

Your Keyboard Is Under Warranty

Opening your keyboard typically voids the warranty. If something breaks and you need manufacturer support, wait until the warranty expires.

You’re Happy with Stock Performance

If your keyboard sounds and feels great to you, there’s no pressure to modify it. Stock keyboards from quality manufacturers can be excellent.

You’re Not Comfortable with Disassembly

Some people prefer not to tinker with their equipment. That’s perfectly fine. You can enjoy mechanical keyboards without ever opening the case.

The Keyboard Isn’t Designed for Modding

Some keyboards (especially laptops and low-profile boards) aren’t built to be disassembled. Forcing mods on incompatible hardware can cause permanent damage.

You Haven’t Researched Your Specific Board

Every keyboard is different. Before modding, search for guides specific to your model. Some boards have hidden screws, fragile ribbon cables, or non-standard layouts.

Getting Started with Your First Mod

If you’re new to modding, here’s a recommended progression:

Week 1: Tape Mod Start here. It’s reversible, takes 15 minutes, and gives you practice opening your keyboard safely.

Week 2: Case Foam Once you’re comfortable with disassembly, add case foam. It’s low-risk and makes a noticeable difference.

Week 3-4: Stabilizer Modding Learn to properly lube and tune your stabilizers. This fixes the most common complaint about keyboards.

Month 2+: Switch Lubing Once you’ve built confidence and understand your keyboard, tackle switch lubing. Start with 20 switches to practice technique.

Final Thoughts

Keyboard modding is a journey, not a destination. Every modification teaches you something about what you like and how keyboards work.

Start simple, be patient with yourself, and remember that every enthusiast started exactly where you are now. There’s no “perfect” keyboard, only the keyboard that’s perfect for you.

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Most mods are reversible, and the worst-case scenario is usually just removing the mod and trying something different.

Welcome to the modding community. Your keyboard is about to sound and feel better than ever.