Well I fell down the custom keyboard world.

$anch3z · 27 Apr 2025 at 12:40

Raymond Lin said:
Lubed the stalisers in my Q1, with the new Lemon switches and OMG, I think i found the sound I have been looking for. It does come at a hefty cost though from all the experimenting with switches lol

The keyboard rabbit hole can be a bit pricey, I have managed to stop with custom 75%, 80% or tkl and a 98% oh and another keychron tkl I keep in work.

As for switches, I got lucky with finding gateron yellows in my first keyboard, I have different switches in every board but settled on the weight and linear type.

Keycaps have been one of more expensive outlays, down to my poor taste and indecision

Raymond Lin · 27 Apr 2025 at 12:46

$anch3z said:
The keyboard rabbit hole can be a bit pricey, I have managed to stop with custom 75%, 80% or tkl and a 98% oh and another keychron tkl I keep in work.

As for switches, I got lucky with finding gateron yellows in my first keyboard, I have different switches in every board but settled on the weight and linear type.

Keycaps have been one of more expensive outlays, down to my poor taste and indecision

I think the most "waste of money" switches have been the Oil Kings, they come with a good reputation but I don't think they are really all that....for one thing, it blocks the RGB. I mean it is fine if your board don't have RGB or don't like RGB but it blocks it in a way that I can still see a hint of it so a bit in between. Also, the difference between it and the Milky Yellow were small (to me), vs the price difference and the milky yellow allow RGB to come through.

For tactiles, I have tried the Holy Pandas and I even tried a set of silent switches. I think these Lemon Yellows are going to be my go to now, it isn't THAT tactile, the force required isn't much, only a little. It feels almost like linear hence I was a bit surprised when they turned up because when i tried it in the store I didn't think they were tactile. But the weight of them (55g) is perfect and together with my board and keycaps, this home board is DONE.

I now move onto a work one.

Raymond Lin · 28 Apr 2025 at 22:19

Just ordered this PBT keycap set, now I need to pick a keyboard. I think I will get 65%, but part of me just want to get ANSI so I can use that SNES Enter key !!!

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2025 at 12:41

Looked around long and hard....ended up ordering a Keychron Q2 Pro in the end. I wanted the following and the options are rather slim.

1 - ISO
2 - 65%
3 - Knob
4 - Aluminium
5 - White (or like SNES Grey) to go with the keycaps
6 - Mac compatible, physical win/mac switch preferable over fn+key, I will forget that in 2mins.

Going to put in the Oil Kings for now, might as well use them since they cost a small fortune.

Jenz · 30 Apr 2025 at 13:01

Raymond Lin said:
Looked around long and hard....ended up ordering a Keychron Q2 Pro in the end. I wanted the following and the options are rather slim.

1 - ISO
2 - 65%
3 - Knob
4 - Aluminium
5 - White (or like SNES Grey) to go with the keycaps
6 - Mac compatible, win/mac switch preferable

Going to put in the Oil Kings for now, might as well use them since they cost a small fortune.

Do you not miss the £ key?

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2025 at 13:25

Jenz said:
Do you not miss the £ key?

I can live without the symbol, it know its shift+3. I touch type anyway.

CGrieves · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:05

The functionality of the knobs on Keychrons is great thanks to VIA. I use mine to twist Zoom and click to return to 100%. For productivity I find it a killer feature.

t2na · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:22

Raymond Lin said:
Going to put in the Oil Kings for now, might as well use them since they cost a small fortune.

Where did you get your oil kings from that they cost so much? I've got them in my current CU75 build and I wouldn't have said they were particularly expensive compared to anything else. I'm pretty sure my inky black v2s cost more when I bought those.

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:25

t2na said:
Where did you get your oil kings from that they cost so much? I've got them in my current CU75 build and I wouldn't have said they were particularly expensive compared to anything else. I'm pretty sure my inky black v2s cost more when I bought those.

I got them with the other keycaps back in 2022...It was the shipping I guess lol But the Nuphy Lemon cost me half that at £35 delivered.

t2na · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:29

Raymond Lin said:
I got them with the other keycaps back in 2022...It was the shipping I guess lol But the Nuphy Lemon cost me half that at £35 delivered.

How many switches is that for $70? Assuming that's from KBDFans right so yeah, shipping is a real pain. I still do really like ordering from KBDFans (and it looks like they're giving better pricing now for the UK and EU because of the US tarriff malarky).

Not sure if you're UK based but MechMods sells switches and 10 oil kings will cost you about 6 quid - so for a 75/80% board you're looking at under 45/50 quid.

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:33

t2na said:
How many switches is that for $70? Assuming that's from KBDFans right so yeah, shipping is a real pain. I still do really like ordering from KBDFans (and it looks like they're giving better pricing now for the UK and EU because of the US tarriff malarky).

Not sure if you're UK based but MechMods sells switches and 10 oil kings will cost you about 6 quid - so for a 75/80% board you're looking at under 45/50 quid.

That was Novelkeys, I think it is US based?

The SFC caps this time is from KBDfans and I did have to pay $21 in shipping, DHL I think. Taking a $35 keycaps to $56. I found the same set on Aliexpress for like £47 so essentially the same price.

The Oil Kings, it was 3 pieces, I got it for my 75% Q1, so I think it was 90 total, 30 each piece.

t2na · 30 Apr 2025 at 15:43

Raymond Lin said:
That was Novelkeys, I think it is US based?

The SFC caps this time is from KBDfans and I did have to pay $21 in shipping, DHL I think. Taking a $35 keycaps to $56. I found the same set on Aliexpress for like £47 so essentially the same price.

The Oil Kings, it was 3 pieces, I got it for my 75% Q1, so I think it was 90 total, 30 each piece.

Yeah, US based. They make a few nice things, their Novelkey Cream switches were insanely popular during 2020.

Raymond Lin · 30 Apr 2025 at 16:29

CGrieves said:
The functionality of the knobs on Keychrons is great thanks to VIA. I use mine to twist Zoom and click to return to 100%. For productivity I find it a killer feature.

As much I as didn't want to spend like £200 on a barebone board, and I know there are as good or better boards out there for the same or less money, I do like Keychron boards and have one so I know the quality. Re the knob, I like the tolerance of them, they are good quality, a solid notch when turn. I don't know what the other cheaper ones are like and at least I know what I am getting with the Keychron.

I was going to get the Yunzii but unknown quantity of the knob feel

and only ANSI layout with no physical Win/Mac switches knocks 2 of the 6 requirements. 3 if you count it only comes in silver or black for the 65%.

Raymond Lin · 1 May 2025 at 13:41

My finger slipped and orderd a Magi65 Pro this morning too

Raymond Lin · 2 May 2025 at 19:18

Keycaps arrived before KB.

RedMogg · 4 May 2025 at 20:47

Been eyeing up a new keyboard to replace my ageing Fnatic MiniStreak. Bought Dad the Aula F75 for Xmas and really liked the less clacky, linear feel.

Had some AliX credit to use up, so I've ordered:
Weikav Stars75 (saw a few reviews comparing/preferring it over the WOB Rainy75), plus
Leobog Reaper & Akko Creamy Yellow switches, and several sets of side print keycaps I liked the look of.

First time doing any sort of self-build/mod, so looking forward to having a play.

Raymond Lin · 5 May 2025 at 09:37

It seems too I have fallen back into keyboards again...In the past I have always wanted an Alice 65 (other sizes are WAY too big), but a split one and just came across the QK Alice Duo. Price is a little high, but it will still work out not too dissimilar to my Keychon Q1.

I want to take advantage of the $20 discount that is in place for the next 3 days, but I can't seem to pick a colour.

Black, Silver or Red.

Black is spray coated with a "star' effect so not plain black.

Silver and Red is anodised.

My heart says Red and my head says black. Red doesn't really go with anything but it is a striking look, especially the underside, but then I am thinking, I never look at the underside and all I will see is from the top and that is a lot of red. Silver is too mid, black is winning at the moment....does OCUK agree?

There are others too but not really sure I want the pastel colours.

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$anch3z · 5 May 2025 at 10:10

Raymond Lin said:
It seems too I have fallen back into keyboards again...In the past I have always wanted an Alice 65 (other sizes are WAY too big), but a split one and just came across the QK Alice Duo. Price is a little high, but it will still work out not too dissimilar to my Keychon Q1.

I want to take advantage of the $20 discount that is in place for the next 3 days, but I can't seem to pick a colour.

Black, Silver or Red.

Black is spray coated with a "star' effect so not plain black.

Silver and Red is anodised.

My heart says Red and my head says black. Red doesn't really go with anything but it is a striking look, especially the underside, but then I am thinking, I never look at the underside and all I will see is from the top and that is a lot of red. Silver is too mid, black is winning at the moment....does OCUK agree?

There are others too but not really sure I want the pastel colours.

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qwertykeys.notion.site

I have a 75% from qwerty, the coating's are not that great but I imagine ano could be better

Raymond Lin · 5 May 2025 at 10:16

$anch3z said:
I have a 75% from qwerty, the coating's are not that great but I imagine ano could be better

In what aspect of the coating you don't like? uneven? easily chipped and worn?

The biggest problem with the red, although most striking, is getting a good set of keycaps that matches. I guess Silver matches my Mac mini and monitor set up.

$anch3z · 5 May 2025 at 17:40

Raymond Lin said:
In what aspect of the coating you don't like? uneven? easily chipped and worn?

The biggest problem with the red, although most striking, is getting a good set of keycaps that matches. I guess Silver matches my Mac mini and monitor set up.

It wears very easily, despite being really careful my 75% is showing some signs of wear. No problems with meletrix, keychron etc