New colors for Topre PBT spacebars

[Wodan]

According to other user's reports, the surface got grainier than in the first round.

[matt3o]

I requested some samples from MD and I got them today. The texture is fine, comparable to other PBT spacebars and by no means "smooth". The texture was slightly too rough in the first batch and it captured dirt and grease.

The samples I've got are indeed slightly warped, honestly not to the point of "we are all gonna die" but surely worse than the first batch. 2 minutes under an hairdrier would actually fix them.

Honestly I don't know why the second batch is more warped than the first, but I stopped asking questions when MD is involved long time ago. What I can tell you is that MD is investigating the situation with the manufacturer.

[Wodan]

Thanks for the update matt3o. Got any tips on how to straighten a space bar with a hair dryer? Never done that before ...

[Khers]

I agree with matt3o on the surface roughness. They are about as rough as the first batch, perhaps a tiny bit smoother.

I could have lived with them being a little warped as that would have been a fairly easy fix. Unfortunately, that's not the only issue mine had. Apart from a slight warp, the walls were all wavy with quite a noticeable indent between every rigidity enhancing beam.

As for customs charges, you should be able to get reimbursed for any fees if you've got a refund for the goods. At least that's the way it works in Sweden and I can't think Germany would be wildly different. Given the amount I had to pay to bail out my parcel from the post office, I'll file for reimbursement when I've received the money from MD.

[Wodan]

Gladly customs isn't quite as bad here as it is in Sweden. I mean it's just a bureacratic, but there is no fixed fee associated with it, just the 19% import/sales tax. Unless the shipping company charges you for THEIR handling, which DHL never does. And DHL delivers 9/10 international orders here.

[matt3o]

Thanks for the update matt3o. Got any tips on how to straighten a space bar with a hair dryer? Never done that before ...

put a couples washers (or something) around the central stem so the spacebar lays slightly elevated. warm the surface with the hairdryer until the plastic slightly softens. Put a (straight) weight over the spacebar. wait until cold. repeat 2-3 times until satisfied.

[adhoc]

Well, this is really putting me in a dilemma. On the one hand, I now feel sad I missed out on the sale because I was told the space bars will be much smoother, but on the other hand I'm glad I did because of your reports about the warps.

Oddly enough, I've been using space bars from the first batch since they were sold and never had problems with them picking up too much dirt or dust.

[DanielT]

I am disappointed by them too, mine are not warped, but the texture is uneven and they don't snap in like the original spacebar does It felt flanky on the keyboard, after 20min of usage I swapped the original spacebar back in.

[matt3o]

I am disappointed by them too, mine are not warped, but the texture is uneven and they don't snap in like the original spacebar does It felt flanky on the keyboard, after 20min of usage I swapped the original spacebar back in.

totally contact MD

[Khers]

This is what (the worst of) mine looked like:

[matt3o]

they really rushed production, that is the only explanation.

I want to stress on the fact that this time they didn't let me do QC on production.

[Khers]

I don't think anyone is blaming you matt3o! I certainly am not. This is on the manufacturer and MD. Rushing things seem like the logical explanation as they turned out so much better last time.

[002]

They didn't let me do QC on production.

A shame because you did a great job of keeping them honest. I have an early (rejected) prototype and the final product and the different is night and day in terms of how much straighter the final was. I think my early one is possibly even worse than Khers'. Will take a comparison pic this afternoon if I remember.