Alps Appreciation Thread

[mrbishop]

the vintage switches i cleaned by using hot dish soapy water mixing them careful several times during the several hour soak. rinsing then adding water again and some denture cleaning tabs (the ones that bubble) letting that soak over night then ricing the next day (about 24hrs later) they came out really clean and minty 

switches were completely disassembled i took the metal parts out before the water bath.

Yeah, that is the right way to clean them, But the discussion were on is lubing the first gen switches, which came pre-lubed from the factory. I cleaned my skcm blues the same way, but I let them air dry.

i'm so sorry, kinda jumped in with my experiences in cleaning with out reading the entire ongoing at the moment. however i'll be interested in the lubing aspects as well.

haha dont be sorry, you provided excellent advice as to how to clean switches. That way is perfect, and all you need to do for 2nd gen. Im not sure if lubing would affect the feel of later switches as much as the early ones.

idk the ones i have are vintage alps clones i got from wingpad. the switches were dirty and felt scratchy. after cleaning they felt crisp and really really nice (daddy like) it was a salvage project from the start that went deeper by me deciding to clean the switches. super duper happy with the end result. now to build new things with them xD

[DALExSNAIL]

Hope this is a good place to ask, didnt wanna start another thread.

Grabbed an Apple 658-4081 IIgs to test the switches out and see if Id want to salvage for a build at some point. But I was wondering if with a converter if id even be able to test it out on a windows machine? Even if just the alphas work it'd be fine to test.

[CPTBadAss]

Hope this is a good place to ask, didnt wanna start another thread.

Grabbed an Apple 658-4081 IIgs to test the switches out and see if Id want to salvage for a build at some point. But I was wondering if with a converter if id even be able to test it out on a windows machine? Even if just the alphas work it'd be fine to test.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0

[DALExSNAIL]

Hope this is a good place to ask, didnt wanna start another thread.

Grabbed an Apple 658-4081 IIgs to test the switches out and see if Id want to salvage for a build at some point. But I was wondering if with a converter if id even be able to test it out on a windows machine? Even if just the alphas work it'd be fine to test.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0

Thank you, saw this earlier but assumed it was for mac. I'm a dumbass, carry on! 

[Aran.E99]

Hope this is a good place to ask, didnt wanna start another thread.

Grabbed an Apple 658-4081 IIgs to test the switches out and see if Id want to salvage for a build at some point. But I was wondering if with a converter if id even be able to test it out on a windows machine? Even if just the alphas work it'd be fine to test.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=14290.0

i can confirm it works as i did it with a IIgs. nice thing is that there is a hole in one of the rear feet where you can cut the teensy cable and feed it through then solder to the back of the ADB port on the pcb then you have a fully internal build without ruining the case etc. also, mine didn't have KRO so i sold it xD

Thank you, saw this earlier but assumed it was for mac. I'm a dumbass, carry on! 

[Mattr567]

Got the dupont lube in. Lubed a couple of SKCM Blues. They are better but still don't feel as clean and snappy as the couple perfect condition ones I have. I'll let them sit for a bit and see how they do. It had less of an effect on the SKCL Greens. There is something up with the top housing causing friction. Lubed the slider wells.

You might also want to lube the contact and slider leaves, some keyboard companies were known to specifically lube those.

Based on my experience, here's what I can recommend:

• Soak the top housings and sliders in soapy water -or- use an ultrasonic cleaner to clean them
• Using a toothpick, clean the slots for the slider in the top housing. There is usually a lot of dust built up in them, even after soaking them. You'll want to scrape it away until they are smooth
• Using a brush, lightly brush lube on the tabs of the slider and the slots for the slider in the top housing
• Reassemble the switch, ensuring that the cutout on the slider is facing the switch plate and the two ridges on the top housing, exercising the usual caution when working on SKCM switches.

The switches are a bit mushy until you use them and/or they sit for a while, they begin to feel "regular" afterwards.

Thanks, ill follow your advice. I already soaked the SKCM Blue shells originally since they were so bad. After few hours they are feeling good. A couple have too much lube and need to be redone. I'll take apart my best result one and see where I lubed it so I have a method. I was experimenting where to put the lube for best results.

I didn't do that for the SKCL Greens so i'll soak them. I noticed with them there seems to be some white stuff on the slider well in the top housing, its rough. Not coming off with alcohol and lube just barely masks it.

[Mattr567]

So the SKCM Blues are coming out really well, but the SKCL Greens are still have a good amt of friction! I know its the top housings since if I swap a top housing from a SKCL Green from my Zenith they become perfect. I soaked them in warm soapy water for 3-4 hours and then rinsed them off. Then used a tooth pick to try to smooth out the slider well. Its almost as if they were used while dusty and the dust acted as sandpaper on the slider wells. I noticed some white ruff looking stuff in the slider well but after the toothpick they felt reasonably smooth. I'm not sure where to go for the Greens.

Thoughts? Maybe the denture tabs will do the trick, an active solvent to remove what ever is in the slider well. Damn China dirt The sliders themselves are perfect and require no lube.

[alh84001]

I don't know if it will help, but you can try cleaning the slider well walls with q-tips dipped in isopropanol as well.

[fohat.digs]

I built my "quiet" Alps version AT101W today to minimize disturbance to other people. It came out really well, I think.

Matias Quiet Click switches (I had about 65 new on hand) for the primary, most used keys, with non-dampened (pine) cream Alps for the rest, with white (pine) complicateds for the half-dozen where I want to be notified by sound (Caps Lock, Num Lock, Escape, etc).

But - Damn You, Tai Ho!

Why can't you give us a space bar and Caps lock?

[emdude]

Ohh, yeah, I think it's weird Tai-Hao (and Matias) elected to use Costar-style stabilizers solely for the space bar.  I am assuming it's so that they don't have to bother with those extra cylinder/peg stab inserts (without which the space bar really wobbles, I've found).

Also, are there any currently-produced Alps key sets that DO have a stepped caps lock?  AFAIK, neither Tai-Hao nor Matias make them.

[alienman82]

removed.

[Mattr567]

Thats a cool board!

So I got my method down for lubing my SKCM Blues. Lube slider and switch plate with dupont lube using a q tip. Lubing the click leaf or top housing dampens the click. After a couple of hours sitting they feel snappy and nice. Not quite as perfect as my couple perfect condicton Blues but plenty better than SKCM White. It is a bit slow going though. Still dunno what to do with the SKCL Greens. Anyone have a ton of linear top housings laying around? Lol.

I don't know if it will help, but you can try cleaning the slider well walls with q-tips dipped in isopropanol as well.

Been doing that. There's something up with those damn top housings. Maybe I can send a couple to Windpad for help lol.

[mike52787]

Thats a cool board!

So I got my method down for lubing my SKCM Blues. Lube slider and switch plate with dupont lube using a q tip. Lubing the click leaf or top housing dampens the click. After a couple of hours sitting they feel snappy and nice. Not quite as perfect as my couple perfect condicton Blues but plenty better than SKCM White. It is a bit slow going though. Still dunno what to do with the SKCL Greens. Anyone have a ton of linear top housings laying around? Lol.

I don't know if it will help, but you can try cleaning the slider well walls with q-tips dipped in isopropanol as well.

Been doing that. There's something up with those damn top housings. Maybe I can send a couple to Windpad for help lol.

I can send you a few good condition top housings from my click modded greens, I have the original housings lying around. The greens I used were immaculate to begon with. 

[digi]

Found this beauty today, amber alert!

[chyros]

Dayum son, I'm jealous, been wanting to give Ambers a go .

[digi]

Dayum son, I'm jealous, been wanting to give Ambers a go .

Thanks! I'm not sure what to do yet, only enough switches for a 60% but I don't have a 60% pcb atm.. I need another one of these things for a full board, lol.

[klennkellon]

This next pay check I'm going to try to pick up another board with SKCM Whites. I kind of miss the ones I had even though they were in ****ty condition

I'd like to take a Focus and put a set of Olivetti doubleshots on it, keep the retro look with a splash of color.

[E3E]

Dayum son, I'm jealous, been wanting to give Ambers a go .

Thanks! I'm not sure what to do yet, only enough switches for a 60% but I don't have a 60% pcb atm.. I need another one of these things for a full board, lol.

I regret trading my Ambers for more SKCM Blue if only because I want to give them one more try after letting myself get into SKCM Brown, which I disliked initially too. One thing I didn't like about the Ambers that probably won't change is the sound of their clicks.

Digi, do you remember that one guy on reddit who had like three of these things and put his ambers in an AEK? Were you thinking of putting them into a custom or a vintage board?

[digi]

Digi, do you remember that one guy on reddit who had like three of these things and put his ambers in an AEK? Were you thinking of putting them into a custom or a vintage board?

What is this "Reddit" you speak of?! I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet. I kind of what to do a TKL but I need another 20+ switches or so...hmm.

[E3E]

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil! 

[alienman82]

removed.

[chyros]

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil!

no cherry?

We don't mention that word in this thread.

[digi]

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil!

no cherry?

We don't mention that word in this thread.

Can we add the word "cherry" to the foul language filter so every time someone types, it enters @(#&*! instead? =D

[mrbishop]

Got this beauty in the mail today. Just need to get a cable for it.

sent from my chess board

[alienman82]

removed.

[klennkellon]

Cherry are more better and smoother and superior tactility for gaming than ALPS which are old and not designed for gaming!1

[digi]

(*@&#! is so good

=D

[mike52787]

Got this beauty in the mail today. Just need to get a cable for it.

Show Image

sent from my chess board

You have to tell me what that is, I want one!

[alienman82]

removed.

[mike52787]

$&@"# are more better and smoother and superior tactility for gaming than ALPS which are old and not designed for gaming!1

NO RAZER IS BEST !!!1!11

[mrbishop]

Got this beauty in the mail today. Just need to get a cable for it.

Show Image

sent from my chess board

You have to tell me what that is, I want one!

IDOL Japan Corp Model KB-SMK-97

mac white alps vintage.

so heavy. so good. got to find a cable quick i'm dieing to try it out for realz

[mike52787]

Got this beauty in the mail today. Just need to get a cable for it.

Show Image

sent from my chess board

You have to tell me what that is, I want one!

IDOL Japan Corp Model KB-SMK-97

mac white alps vintage.

so heavy. so good. got to find a cable quick i'm dieing to try it out for realz

Where did you get it? are there more?

[mrbishop]

$&@"# are more better and smoother and superior tactility for gaming than ALPS which are old and not designed for gaming!1

NO RAZER IS BEST !!!1!11

razer is the best at marketing to gamers. i'll give them that. not a huge fan of their thin ABS caps or cherry clones.

[mrbishop]

Got this beauty in the mail today. Just need to get a cable for it.

Show Image

sent from my chess board

You have to tell me what that is, I want one!

IDOL Japan Corp Model KB-SMK-97

mac white alps vintage.

so heavy. so good. got to find a cable quick i'm dieing to try it out for realz

Where did you get it? are there more?

i bought it from Blaze
and i dont think so.

[mike52787]

$&@"# are more better and smoother and superior tactility for gaming than ALPS which are old and not designed for gaming!1

NO RAZER IS BEST !!!1!11

razer is the best at marketing to gamers. i'll give them that. not a huge fan of their thin ABS caps or cherry clones.

Im not a fan of their anything

[digi]

Guys, let's stay on topic please, no more (*&#$ talk =D

[mrbishop]

alps are the sh*t! 

on topic?  )

[mike52787]

alps are the sh*t! 

on topic?  )

hell yeah

[klennkellon]

Do you see what happens? Cherry is tearing us apart and turning this into a ****posting thread!

ALPS is love and happiness.

[mrbishop]

are alps the hippy switches that sing koombi-ya and smoke weed? 

[digi]

are alps the hippy switches that sing koombi-ya and smoke weed? 

No, thats Topre ;o

[mrbishop]

are alps the hippy switches that sing koombi-ya and smoke weed? 

No, thats Topre ;o

oh ok. good info there. clarification is key.

all and all i have to say as much as i use cherry/clones i really do like alps. just wish i had a pile of alps caps i wasn't using like i do Cherry.

[njbair]

are alps the hippy switches that sing koombi-ya and smoke weed? 

Alps are the curmudgeonly Comp. Sci. professor who always complains about how "they don't build them like they used to."

[digi]

hell yeah

Just want to say that you have the manliest avatar on GH period...what to do what all that CPU power!?

[mrbishop]

are alps the hippy switches that sing koombi-ya and smoke weed? 

Alps are the curmudgeonly Comp. Sci. professor who always complains about how "they don't build them like they used to."

no wonder i like them so much. that guy was always cool as hell.

[mrbishop]

ignore this post

[mike52787]

hell yeah

Just want to say that you have the manliest avatar on GH period...what to do what all that CPU power!?

folding @ home to cure cancer obviously

[digi]

hell yeah

Just want to say that you have the manliest avatar on GH period...what to do what all that CPU power!?

folding @ home to cure cancer obviously

That was my 2nd guess!!

[fohat.digs]

Cherry are more better and smoother and superior tactility for gaming than ALPS which are old and not designed for gaming!

[klennkellon]

ALPS is like the embodyment of the phrase "they don't build them like they used to"