Alps Appreciation Thread

[Mattr567]

Dug up this photo the Taobao proxy service took. More graphic than the pictures I took even. The dirt is glued onto the slider!

[menuhin]

Dug up this photo the Taobao proxy service took. More graphic than the pictures I took even. The dirt is glued onto the slider!

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You got it from a TaoBao proxy?!?  :eek:
I may be getting something in a similar condition then.  :-X

[alienman82]

removed.

[Mattr567]

Dug up this photo the Taobao proxy service took. More graphic than the pictures I took even. The dirt is glued onto the slider!

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You got it from a TaoBao proxy?!?  :eek:
I may be getting something in a similar condition then.  :-X

Well it was only $7. I knew it was in bad condition. He had other SKCM Blue boards but they were more money. Now there in great condition thanks to Ultrasonic.

It's hit or miss.  I've actually had my alps boards in good shape, and my cherry boards in bad shape.  Just don't buy anything that's too expensive can be risky

Dug up this photo the Taobao proxy service took. More graphic than the pictures I took even. The dirt is glued onto the slider!

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That's a model M clone right?  I want to get one eventually it's just too strange not to have

Yea, what's left of one. They're interesting boards for sure, the caps are rather thin though. Either pad printed or dyesubbed. I still have the caps from that board. Mine are dyesubbed,

[mike52787]

Just pulled  the wang back out today, forgot how much I loved this thing. With the clicker all the way up it feels like you're typing on a oldschool typewriter. Have to switch up boards sometimes, or one will get stale.

[mike52787]

Dug up this photo the Taobao proxy service took. More graphic than the pictures I took even. The dirt is glued onto the slider!

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That's a model M clone right?  I want to get one eventually it's just too strange not to have

Yea, what's left of one. They're interesting boards for sure, the caps are rather thin though. Either pad printed or dyesubbed. I still have the caps from that board. Mine are dyesubbed,

The Model M clone I got from the same taobao seller looked quite different from yours and didn't quite fit in an normal model M case. However. it had the same strange keycaps. Mine were definitely pad printed ABS and showed it, as  many of them were super shiny and had some legends worn off.

[PollandAkuma]

Now if I could get more SKCM Amber's to complete the board )

Also put together all the SKCL Yellow's today. Will start the SKCM Blue's soon. SKCL Green's after of course

What do you plan on using the SKCL Greens for?

Selling all of it. Need the money for SKCM Amber's and other stuff. I'm thinking about swapping the V60 with SKCM Blue though. Would need to take picture's of my hand wiring setup, and be careful. Then I would sell off it's SKCL Green's.

May or may not happen though.

Can't wait for your sale, I might get something if shipping allows

[Mattr567]

Now if I could get more SKCM Amber's to complete the board )

Also put together all the SKCL Yellow's today. Will start the SKCM Blue's soon. SKCL Green's after of course

What do you plan on using the SKCL Greens for?

Selling all of it. Need the money for SKCM Amber's and other stuff. I'm thinking about swapping the V60 with SKCM Blue though. Would need to take picture's of my hand wiring setup, and be careful. Then I would sell off it's SKCL Green's.

May or may not happen though.

Can't wait for your sale, I might get something if shipping allows

Well it's going to be 100+ each of SKCL Green, Yellow and SKCM Blue among some other things like some MX Blue's I have laying around from a former G80-11800 swap.

[duynguyenle]

Now if I could get more SKCM Amber's to complete the board )

Also put together all the SKCL Yellow's today. Will start the SKCM Blue's soon. SKCL Green's after of course

What do you plan on using the SKCL Greens for?

Selling all of it. Need the money for SKCM Amber's and other stuff. I'm thinking about swapping the V60 with SKCM Blue though. Would need to take picture's of my hand wiring setup, and be careful. Then I would sell off it's SKCL Green's.

May or may not happen though.

Can't wait for your sale, I might get something if shipping allows

Well it's going to be 100+ each of SKCL Green, Yellow and SKCM Blue among some other things like some MX Blue's I have laying around from a former G80-11800 swap.

Ooh exciting! I'd love to get some more blue switches for my next build! 

[MandrewDavis]

I forgot I needed those SKCL Yellows :0

[happylacquer]

Just a quick question. Which is the most affordable way to get an alps board in this day and age? I would put a new controller in an old ADB board which seems like it would be too expensive.

[duynguyenle]

Just a quick question. Which is the most affordable way to get an alps board in this day and age? I would put a new controller in an old ADB board which seems like it would be too expensive.

AEKs go for $30-50, adding in a Pro Micro (they're dirt cheap) and that's as affordable as you get really. You could also try scrouging the fleabay or local recycling centres for Dell AT101Ws, they tend to be pretty common too.

[mike52787]

Just a quick question. Which is the most affordable way to get an alps board in this day and age? I would put a new controller in an old ADB board which seems like it would be too expensive.

Focus 2001, dell at101w and the apple AEK/AEKII are great places to start. all can be had for under 50$.

[alh84001]

AEK I is somewhat rare in Europe, so it might be a bit more, especially if it has orange switches.

[dante]

For AEK's I suggest looking up Computer Clubs / Vintage Retro fairs.  One year someone was selling AEK 2's for a buck a piece.

[OfTheWild]

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

[mike52787]

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

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If theyre already clean dont bother. As for swapping with quiet clicks, the salmons are far superior switches IMO, stick with them if theyre reasonably clean. The main determining factor in whether alps switches are good or not is the condition that they are in.

Also, good taste in wrist rests. I have the same one, however it is the TKL sized version.

[MandrewDavis]

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

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If theyre already clean dont bother. As for swapping with quiet clicks, the salmons are far superior switches IMO, stick with them if theyre reasonably clean. The main determining factor in whether alps switches are good or not is the condition that they are in.

Also, good taste in wrist rests. I have the same one, however it is the TKL sized version.

I disassembled them and cleaned them to the best of my abilities. DataVac-ed (its actually a blower, not a vacuum) the tops and bases first then used distilled water and denture tabs with tops and sliders. I think i need an ultrasonic cleaner at this rate.

[OfTheWild]

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

Show Image

If theyre already clean dont bother. As for swapping with quiet clicks, the salmons are far superior switches IMO, stick with them if theyre reasonably clean. The main determining factor in whether alps switches are good or not is the condition that they are in.

Also, good taste in wrist rests. I have the same one, however it is the TKL sized version.

Yeah i meant more like if i should take something from the quiet clicks and swap it into the salmons... Its not that the matias switches arent good, i just like these salmon/brown/amber ones better.

Yeah i have the 60% and the 100% pads. I do love them but i tend to catch my watch band on the corner of them and its wearing chunks out of the one at work. I considered a nice home-made wood one but I think these are perfect and i'll just keep replacing them as they wear out.

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

Show Image

If theyre already clean dont bother. As for swapping with quiet clicks, the salmons are far superior switches IMO, stick with them if theyre reasonably clean. The main determining factor in whether alps switches are good or not is the condition that they are in.

Also, good taste in wrist rests. I have the same one, however it is the TKL sized version.

I disassembled them and cleaned them to the best of my abilities. DataVac-ed (its actually a blower, not a vacuum) the tops and bases first then used distilled water and denture tabs with tops and sliders. I think i need an ultrasonic cleaner at this rate.

Yeah they all seem to be in great condition - I decided that I was going to just use the best of the bunch and do this minivan instead of the V80. Regardless, thanks for these switches - they're awesome!

[Dokyun]

Just a quick question. Which is the most affordable way to get an alps board in this day and age? I would put a new controller in an old ADB board which seems like it would be too expensive.

https://www.elecshopper.com/dell-at101w-keyboard.html

$25 from a trusted vendor, infinitely moddable and no need to buy a microcontroller.

[OfTheWild]

well i've already managed to rip a cap post off.. first time fitting a cap and apparently they're not meant to be pushed down till flush? And now i'm sitting here picking it apart to try and get the stem bit out of the cap. this is dumb. 

[MandrewDavis]

I was toying with my lightcycle caps too and the stem is really tight on my orange alps. Need to be careful with these.

[mike52787]

DSA alps caps are notoriously really tight on the stems, and IMO really low quality.

[alienman82]

removed.

[OfTheWild]

you should be able to pop that out and epoxy it

I was toying with my lightcycle caps too and the stem is really tight on my orange alps. Need to be careful with these.

i had to go at it with a pair of pliers and awl  to get it out of the switch... really really soft plastic on these. I also see that the grey "shot" did not adhere to the teal "shot" so its a VERY weak stem. I think these are a press on and leave kinda set unfortunately. 
Luckily i didnt use an alpha to test so i'll be ok. I'm definitely adding some lube to these caps though.

[ander]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

[Mattr567]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

Membrane or Capacitive? Membrane is pretty equal to Alps in general.

[mike52787]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

Membrane or Capacitive? Membrane is pretty equal to Alps in general.

membrane bs < cream alps = ergo clears  < capacitive BS

[alienman82]

removed.

[mike52787]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

Membrane or Capacitive? Membrane is pretty equal to Alps in general.

membrane bs < cream alps = ergo clears  < capacitive BS

topre > your ****ty ass board

we both know that is a big fat lie

[alienman82]

removed.

[mike52787]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

Membrane or Capacitive? Membrane is pretty equal to Alps in general.

membrane bs < cream alps = ergo clears  < capacitive BS

topre > your ****ty ass board

we both know that is a big fat lie

no

k

[chyros]

Ah, the innocence of youth... I, too, fondly remember the days before I realized buckling springs made all other switches unnecessary. (They don't have all the pretty colors, though, I'll give you that.)

Membrane or Capacitive? Membrane is pretty equal to Alps in general.

membrane bs < cream alps = ergo clears  < capacitive BS

topre > your ****ty ass board

wut r a ass board

[alienman82]

removed.

[mike52787]

[alienman82]

removed.

[katushkin]

I tried Salmon Alps at the UK meet... I need to get me a Salmon Alps board...

[mike52787]

I tried Salmon Alps at the UK meet... I need to get me a Salmon Alps board...

Yeah, salmons are really nice switches, if you dont mind the occasional upstroke click. Easily the nicest production board that comes with salmons would be the wang 725 series.

[alienman82]

removed.

[PollandAkuma]

About to build my first alps board... MiniVan w/ Salmon alps. Anything i should do before starting? Clean/lube/swap with the matias quiet clicks?

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Jesus christ I need the van

[PollandAkuma]

I tried Salmon Alps at the UK meet... I need to get me a Salmon Alps board...

This is me with blues... Also, I can't seem to remember the salmon board, hmm...

[klennkellon]

Does anyone know what switches these are specifically? How are they if anyone has tried them?

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1004

My guess is they are the TaiHai APC series but I have no idea to be certain. If this is true then they are quite similar to the type OA2 clones?

[OfTheWild]

Finally finished the van... It came out pretty good i think. Only 5 switch swaps to get a perfect board so thats not too bad for vintage switches. Still trying to figure all the layers on this thing.

[MandrewDavis]

Finally finished the van... It came out pretty good i think. Only 5 switch swaps to get a perfect board so thats not too bad for vintage switches. Still trying to figure all the layers on this thing.

More

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Lookin good! Did lubing the keycap stems help?

[MandrewDavis]

Oops, double post

[alienman82]

removed.

[OfTheWild]

Finally finished the van... It came out pretty good i think. Only 5 switch swaps to get a perfect board so thats not too bad for vintage switches. Still trying to figure all the layers on this thing.

More

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Lookin good! Did lubing the keycap stems help?

Yeah it seems to prevent them from sticking. I did have to pull off a bunch of caps to take the board back apart and swap a couple more switches after realizing they were missing strokes intermittently. The GPL205 seems to do the trick. The switches are fantastic and stiffer than I expected. I am thinking after some good use they'll start to smooth out a bit. I'm thinking now that I should have probably added a dab of lube on them as well just for good measure.
As for the board, its really great. I am still working on tweaking my layers to work for what i'm used to. I really like the "arrow" setup.

[Mattr567]

Swapped my Zenith's spacebar (which had a SKCL Striped Amber) with a SKCM Cream Damp spring to make it a bit heavier. The result is good It was a bit to light at 55g, but 70g is nice. Also used an extra Amber slider I had that had it's marking removed so it looks appropriate

Opened two identical SKCM Cream Dampended's (same switchplate, same top) and found they use completely different springs. Weird One is normally the one I find and the other is much shorter with more coils. Both feel the same to me.

[alh84001]

Interesting. How is there no difference in travel when using the same slider?

And does that mean you actually have parts to convert another linear switch to striped amber? I'd be interested in that

[alienman82]

removed.