Realforce

[IKSLM]

Today i opened up a Topre Realforce 105UB... i was told that this board has never been opened before, but the space stabs are lubed (thick white lube). So, do the space stabs get lubed in the factory?

[Stabilized]

The number of Topre keyboards that I have opened up came with lube on the stabilisers. Why, are you concerned that the seller lied to you and included a free stabiliser lubing?

[captain]

Pre-lubed for your passion!

[IKSLM]

Hehe... ok, i was not completely honest in the first post (legitimate reasons)...

I bought this keyboard NEW from a reputable seller, after the disassembly, i noticed the lube on the space stabs.

So, now there are 2 possibilities:
- the keyboard comes with space stabs lubed from the factory (only space stabs, other stabilized keys are lube-less)
- the keyboard is actually an used item sold as new

Now you can probably see why the second option would bother me...

[lancre]

I just replaced my Realforce space bar today (I've had the board a week or 2) with one of those nice red PBT ones from Massdrop's 104U drop. I didn't notice any lube on the stabilisers, but then again I was replacing the space bar in a rush since I had something in the microwave

But mine is a 104UW model number XF01T0 sooo... it might be completely legit that they lube some and not others!

[Stabilized]

I just replaced my Realforce space bar today (I've had the board a week or 2) with one of those nice red PBT ones from Massdrop's 104U drop. I didn't notice any lube on the stabilisers, but then again I was replacing the space bar in a rush since I had something in the microwave

But mine is a 104UW model number XF01T0 sooo... it might be completely legit that they lube some and not others!

The lube OP is talking about is the one on the inside of the keyboard. What you saw was the plastic mounting components that are not lubed, to access the wire assembly you need to dissemble your keyboard.

[lancre]

Oh right, hmm! I'm not familiar with Topre's stabiliser construction, I was thinking like a cherry board where sometimes you have grease on the metal stabiliser bars. Thanks for the info!

[IKSLM]

Yes, you have to open it up, it's an ellegant design but makes for a harder lube job

[cookie]

I am very sure they are pre-lubed.

It's quite hard to tell on a Realforce if it were used before.
A good indicator is the ABS spacebar and the usual suspects like scratches, shine on case, dust/crumbs/hair under the caps.

If the caps ain't shiny you are good to go, enjoy your nice keyboard and don't agonize if it was used or not

[Wodan]

LOL that made my day:

a free stabiliser lubing?

No one says no to a free stabilizer lubing.

[IKSLM]

There is no shine on the caps and the case is scratch free, so it seem to be true that they give you a free-space-stab-lube-job. Well, they could lube other stabs too, but i'm happy with this "partial" lube job.