Well I fell down the custom keyboard world.

I've got my five switch samples now, but still waiting for the keycaps I ordered to arrive, been stuck at a DHL 'pickup point' (AKA distribution centre) for a few days. Starting to get a bit impatient, really want to see the keycaps in the flesh, so I can make a decision on what colour keyboard will look best with it.

I ordered a 'KTT Mint' as it was a cheap-ish linear switch and it just reaffirmed that I am definitely a member of tactile gang. So that one was very quickly removed from the contenders!

'Aflion Shadow' feels a bit heavy for my liking and I wonder if it might be too aggressive compared to the Cherry Browns I am used to - so have removed that from the list of contenders as well.

That leaves me with 'Durock Sunflower', 'DK Creamery - Cookies n Cream' and 'Durock T1'. I think I am leaning towards them in that order of preference at the moment?
 
Ah, I suspected Ocuk might have a thread somewhere for clackticians like us.

I don't dislike linears, but I'm a clumsy typist so prefer tactiles. I fell in love with the Epomaker Budgerigar tactiles when I bought a TH80 equipped with them. Not expensive and seem freely available. I've bunged them in most of my boards. They do have a heavy actuation, and alovely bump, way heavier than Browns, which hardly feel tactile to me. Super satisfying though, and seem nicely and consistently lubed so I use them out of the box.

Another alternative is the Ajazz Diced Fruit Kiwi (who makes these names up?!). Next to the Budgerigar they have a lighter initial bump, still heavier than a Brown, but a slightly heavier bottom-out spring than the Budgerigars, not that it's hugely noticeable.

Got a bunch of fake (MMD) Holy Pandas and some Outva Yangs arriving sometime from China, will update when they arrive.
 
CGrieves said:
Ah, I suspected Ocuk might have a thread somewhere for clackticians like us.

I don't dislike linears, but I'm a clumsy typist so prefer tactiles. I fell in love with the Epomaker Budgerigar tactiles when I bought a TH80 equipped with them. Not expensive and seem freely available. I've bunged them in most of my boards. They do have a heavy actuation, and alovely bump, way heavier than Browns, which hardly feel tactile to me. Super satisfying though, and seem nicely and consistently lubed so I use them out of the box.

Another alternative is the Ajazz Diced Fruit Kiwi (who makes these names up?!). Next to the Budgerigar they have a lighter initial bump, still heavier than a Brown, but a slightly heavier bottom-out spring than the Budgerigars, not that it's hugely noticeable.

Got a bunch of fake (MMD) Holy Pandas and some Outva Yangs arriving sometime from China, will update when they arrive.
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I have a TH80 too but with the linears as I didn't think i wanted tactiles. Having said that I also just bought a Keychron Q1 and have some Boba U4TX coming today as I wanted to try some tactiles and see what's what. It's a very deep rabbit hole that I am discovering :-) :-)
 
Jay85 said:
A Canadian vendor still has 2 in stock but its only in packs of 10...
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If it's the one I think you mean, they have been showing as in stock but if you go to your basket they're then out of stock. Been like that since just after they dropped more or less :-)
I looked at them and I think i could have got some as I was waiting as they appeared but tbh I wasn't sure I could be bothered with the importing thing. Also, I only just started looking at keyboards so any subtleties are probably lost on me anyway....
 
I decided to do an ultra-budget build- a 27 quid ANSI Tester68 board, 22 quid of XDA profile keycaps, and a stack of Gateron Browns I had lying around from my Keychron Q6.

The board arrived yesterday and is insanely good for the cash- case and PCB foam, hefty keyplate, proper hotswap sockets, as opposed to the cheap millmax sockets I got in my other budget board- the Newmen GM610 (double the price- avoid!). With a bit of judicious foam placement, I've even emulated a bit of gasket-like squish. The only downsides are no RGB (don't care), and it's BT/2.4Ghz only, with a 125Hz polling rate which might bother some for gaming. It takes 2xAAAs, which could be seen as an advantage, but I might mod it to charge over USB.

I'm loving it- great to type on with a nice soft clack, I just need to adjust my brain for ANSI.

£49 vs £300....
t68vsq6.jpg
 
CGrieves said:
I decided to do an ultra-budget build- a 27 quid ANSI Tester68 board

It takes 2xAAAs, which could be seen as an advantage, but I might mod it to charge over USB.
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I've been using mine daily since the 5th of March and haven't had to change the batteries yet, so impressed so far. The missus doesn't like typing on it though :D
 
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Capitano said:
do you think metal keycaps are worth it? Ive heard some people it feels great, but others say the double shot pbt's are the way forward.

Guess it might depend on the quality of it?
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Metal keycaps are more for artisans. Full metal keycaps just aren't worth it imo, not to mention they're extremely expensive.

I prefer the sound signature of ABS caps but i love the durability of PBT.
 
Jay85 said:
Metal keycaps are more for artisans. Full metal keycaps just aren't worth it imo, not to mention they're extremely expensive.

I prefer the sound signature of ABS caps but i love the durability of PBT.
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Thanks!! thats what I was mainly debating, the price just seemed too much for a good metal set.

I have pbt's now, but might swap it for a nice abs set if i see one
 
TangoEchoAlpha said:
I was going to buy a Bakeneko 65 this evening, until I found out it was going to cost $52 to have it shipped :eek:
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I've got a Bakenek60 and can 100% say it justifies the shipping cost. It's frustrating but I have significantly more expensive boards and I always end up coming back to the Bakeneko60, typing experience for me is ideal.

Haven't used a 65 but if it's anything like the 60 it'll be worth it.
 
Did anyone else get in on the QK80 preorder? I couldn't resist as it seems like great value. I'm slightly regretting my choice of green though after seeing a brown version with Espresso keycaps....
 
CGrieves said:
Did anyone else get in on the QK80 preorder? I couldn't resist as it seems like great value. I'm slightly regretting my choice of green though after seeing a brown version with Espresso keycaps....
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I've had my share of QK boards, it's a really good great value board but it sounds too samey to me. Hency why the RE65 is such a hype for me, no foam but sounds full with copper internal and external weight options.
 
CGrieves said:
Did anyone else get in on the QK80 preorder? I couldn't resist as it seems like great value. I'm slightly regretting my choice of green though after seeing a brown version with Espresso keycaps....
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For what it is the board is lovely and looks great, I probably would have jumped on it previously but am trying to be a little more selective now with purchases.

I have specific boards in mind now to round out my little collection.

The coffee colour was super nice for that QK80 but I am sure the green will be a banger of a colour as well. A deep green if I remember a bit like British Racing Green?
 
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