If you’ve been shopping for mechanical keyboards, you’ve probably heard the term thock used to describe a good-sounding keyboard. Did you know that you don’t actually have to buy a new keyboard to enjoy all the thock you want? With a few simple mods, you can make your current keyboard thock.
What Does Thock Mean?
If you clicked on this article just to find out what thock means, I don’t blame you. The term gets thrown around a lot in the world of mechanical keyboards, sometimes even being used synonymously with “good.”
Essentially, thock refers to the deep, muted sound a mechanical keyboard makes when you type. It’s the opposite of clacky and marbly keyboards, which produce more of a high-pitched, sharp sound, kind of like blue switches.
You can think of it as a scale, with thocky on one end and clacky on the other. Most keyboards tend to fall somewhere in between. However, there are many nuances and additional terms that can describe a keyboard’s sound profile, such as creamy, hollow, poppy, pingy, and so on.
The reason we have so many terms is that the sound a keyboard makes when you type is one of its most important aspects. Since we can’t easily convey how a keyboard feels over the web beyond a basic description, sound becomes the next best way to describe the typing experience.
A thocky keyboard isn’t inherently better than a clacky one, but many enthusiasts tend to prefer it. Personally, I find that thocky keyboards have a much more satisfying sound, which inspired me to share a few mods that can make your current keyboard more thocky.
Not all keyboards are designed to be taken apart or modified. Your results may vary with these mods, and there is always a risk of damaging or breaking the keyboard. Proceed with caution.
Foam, Foam, and More Foam
One of the cheapest yet most effective ways to make any keyboard thock is to add damping materials to your keyboard. There are several types of foam you can use, each with its own densities and sound-absorbing properties. For instance, poron foam mutes more than PE and EVA, and each material affects different sound frequencies. Thickness also plays a role, as thicker foam can fill more of the keyboard and absorb more sound.
Where you install the foam also matters. You can place it at the bottom of the keyboard case, on the back or top of the PCB, or, in the case of switch pads, between the PCB and each individual switch (for hot-swappable models). Polyfill at the bottom of the case is also a good option, as it’s easy to add or remove as needed. You can obtain polyfill by tearing open a teddy bear that you no longer love.
I know foam mods can quickly get overwhelming, but you don’t need to dive deep into research or watch hundreds of keyboard mod videos to determine the absolute best foam mod. Remember, the main goal is simply to add some cushioning to make your keyboard thocky.
Just keep in mind that adding too much material will make it harder to close the keyboard, so avoid overdoing it with foam, and never try to force it shut.
Lubed Switches Are a Must
Switch lubing is one of the most important upgrades you can do to instantly improve both the feel and thockiness of any mechanical keyboard. While you can lube switches manually using Krytox 205G0 and a switch opener, it’s a tedious process and hardly an option if your switches aren’t hot-swappable.
The lazy way to lube switches is to put a tiny amount of 205G0 on a fine-tip brush and push it along the inside sides of the stem (the square plastic bit). However, this method ignores the other parts that need lubing. It’s still better than nothing, though.
The solution? Pre-lubed switches. Enthusiast-grade keyboards like the Keychron Q5 QMK come with pre-lubed switches, but you can easily upgrade the switches on any hot-swappable board to a factory-lubed variant, such as the GATERON Milky Yellow Pro. There are lots of great pre-lubed switches on the market, so have fun exploring!
Lubing your keyboard stabilizers can also improve the sound and feel of the larger keys.
Add Some Painter’s Tape
The Tempest tape mod, aka painter’s tape mod, has garnered a ton of popularity among keyboard enthusiasts for three key reasons: it’s cheap, easy, and effective. All you really need to do is add (usually blue) painter’s tape to the back of your PCB. This simple mod enhances the sound of your keyboard, making it lower in pitch (thocky) and poppy. You can try different types of tape and experiment with multiple layers to fine-tune the sound of your keyboard.
Painter’s tape is flammable, so there is a small risk it could catch fire, especially if you have a wireless keyboard with a battery.
Get Some Tall, Thick Keycaps
Keycaps are the plastic keys that you press on. Keycaps on mechanical keyboards are largely universal, so if you have a keyboard with a standard layout and bottom row key lengths (the row of keys with the Space bar), you can swap them out for a different set. Even if your bottom row is non-standard, such as on my Corsair K70 keyboard, you can still get a new set of keycaps as long as it’s compatible.
To achieve maximum thock, you should look for taller, thicker keycaps. Thick keycaps have more mass, meaning they can produce a deeper sound when you bottom out the key.
Try the Press ‘N Seal Mod
The Press ‘N Seal mod was invented by YouTuber Hipyo Tech. The mod involves sandwiching your PCB between two layers of Press ‘N Seal, so it’s only really viable for certain hot-swappable keyboards. It adds some thockiness and pop to your keyboard while potentially improving the feel slightly, as the switches will be locked in place by the Press ‘N Seal.
Although the mod is dirt cheap, it requires a lot of care and patience to execute properly. If you don’t make holes in the Press ‘N Seal before installing the switches, you can easily end up with lots of bent pins and potentially a damaged PCB, especially when trying removing the switches after installation.
Keyboard mods are a wonderful thing. By simply using a few materials you might have around your house, you can transform even the cheapest mechanical keyboard to give it a deep, thocky sound. Have fun modding!