[GB] Alps Party 60% - Hannibal at the Gates

[deductivemonkee]

Now I'm going to shower all of the sweat off, because doing that with a fever was pretty dumb in hindsight.

With any luck, we'll get some nice virus buddies in the package with our keyboards!

Maybe this group buy won't be a failure after all. 

****! I don't have an antivirus program!

[phosphoric]

i think the apples would be better than the artisan caps to be honest

Ouch.  Right in the ego.



I packed some boxes tonight.  17/100  They aren't taped up because I am still waiting on things, so they aren't about to send soon.  All the same, I am proud of the accomplishment.  Now I'm going to shower all of the sweat off, because doing that with a fever was pretty dumb in hindsight.

i hope i get some apples in my package.....

[BlueNalgene]

I was feeling a bit better today, so 50/100 orders packed. 

I also took some pictures of the powder coated plates.  The first picture was taken with the plate sitting in a blue TeX Al case with flash, and the second picture was taken in a silver TeX Al case without flash.  This should give you an idea of the color with some searchable references.  The flash/noflash thing was due to some annoying reflection I got while in the silver case that made the color look off.





Edit: Those aren't TeX cases, they are non-branded ones from a recent Massdrop sale.  My mistake.

[swimmingbird]

I was feeling a bit better today, so 50/100 orders packed. 

I also took some pictures of the powder coated plates.  The first picture was taken with the plate sitting in a blue TeX Al case with flash, and the second picture was taken in a silver TeX Al case without flash.  This should give you an idea of the color with some searchable references.  The flash/noflash thing was due to some annoying reflection I got while in the silver case that made the color look off.

Show Image

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Man that looks great

Not sure whether to get the silver or blue tex case now 

[njbair]

I was feeling a bit better today, so 50/100 orders packed. 

I also took some pictures of the powder coated plates.  The first picture was taken with the plate sitting in a blue TeX Al case with flash, and the second picture was taken in a silver TeX Al case without flash.  This should give you an idea of the color with some searchable references.  The flash/noflash thing was due to some annoying reflection I got while in the silver case that made the color look off.

Show Image

Show Image

Man that looks great

Not sure whether to get the silver or blue tex case now 

Yes.

[nathanrosspowell]

Blue plate is blue! Happy I dived in for one.

Glad you are feeling better, blue-brah.

[E3E]

That blue really pops. I can't wait to see some HHKB style builds with these (and what caps people end up using)!.

[njbair]

How is there not a pic of the blue plate next to a blue water bottle?

[BlueNalgene]

I wouldn't recommend getting the blue TeX case for the powder coated plates.  The cases have shine to them and more of a matte look.  It clashes a bit.  That is difficult to see in the photo.  I actually intended to add metal flakes to the clear coat on the plates, but all that was available didn't look good.  The ones I saw looked like they had big chunks of glitter on them rather than the fine powder I had expected.  I'm sure those would look good on a large object, such as a car part at a distance, but something like a keyboard not so much. 

This completely different color swatch I found has the approximate density of glitter they did.

[HoffmanMyster]

I forgot if I got mine powdercoated or not.  Turns out I did.  Good thing, too!  Looks great, BN. 

[Spaceman1200]

Just totaled up what I spent on this...
Probably really inexpensive for a custom, but not for me

Never tell me the price!

Now I'm tempted to!
Still need a nice z-case or something though, cheap abs case will not cut it.

Anyone know the feasibility of milling your own 60% case? I have an x-carve with a 0.8kw spindle on the way and I guess it would be cool if that was possible

I don't know anything about that machine but it's certainly possible in the general sense to mill your own case. I might be trying this to make a couple of simple TEX-style aluminum cases using borrowed time on my former employer's CNC machines. I believe I can source some 1x5x12 6061-T6 bar stock for about $30/ea.

Anything ever come of this? was thinking this or a Z-Case for this build

[njbair]

Just totaled up what I spent on this...
Probably really inexpensive for a custom, but not for me

Never tell me the price!

Now I'm tempted to!
Still need a nice z-case or something though, cheap abs case will not cut it.

Anyone know the feasibility of milling your own 60% case? I have an x-carve with a 0.8kw spindle on the way and I guess it would be cool if that was possible

I don't know anything about that machine but it's certainly possible in the general sense to mill your own case. I might be trying this to make a couple of simple TEX-style aluminum cases using borrowed time on my former employer's CNC machines. I believe I can source some 1x5x12 6061-T6 bar stock for about $30/ea.

Anything ever come of this? was thinking this or a Z-Case for this build

I haven't even pursued it yet. I was thinking about some time in the new year. No promises though. It might be a pipe dream, and I still have no way to get them anodized.

[Spaceman1200]

Just totaled up what I spent on this...
Probably really inexpensive for a custom, but not for me

Never tell me the price!

Now I'm tempted to!
Still need a nice z-case or something though, cheap abs case will not cut it.

Anyone know the feasibility of milling your own 60% case? I have an x-carve with a 0.8kw spindle on the way and I guess it would be cool if that was possible

I don't know anything about that machine but it's certainly possible in the general sense to mill your own case. I might be trying this to make a couple of simple TEX-style aluminum cases using borrowed time on my former employer's CNC machines. I believe I can source some 1x5x12 6061-T6 bar stock for about $30/ea.

Anything ever come of this? was thinking this or a Z-Case for this build

I haven't even pursued it yet. I was thinking about some time in the new year. No promises though. It might be a pipe dream, and I still have no way to get them anodized.

No worries! just making sure i didn't miss anything exciting!

[swimmingbird]

I wouldn't recommend getting the blue TeX case for the powder coated plates.  The cases have shine to them and more of a matte look.  It clashes a bit.  That is difficult to see in the photo.  I actually intended to add metal flakes to the clear coat on the plates, but all that was available didn't look good.  The ones I saw looked like they had big chunks of glitter on them rather than the fine powder I had expected.  I'm sure those would look good on a large object, such as a car part at a distance, but something like a keyboard not so much. 

This completely different color swatch I found has the approximate density of glitter they did.

Show Image

Thanks man!

[deductivemonkee]

I was feeling a bit better today, so 50/100 orders packed. 

I also took some pictures of the powder coated plates.  The first picture was taken with the plate sitting in a blue TeX Al case with flash, and the second picture was taken in a silver TeX Al case without flash.  This should give you an idea of the color with some searchable references.  The flash/noflash thing was due to some annoying reflection I got while in the silver case that made the color look off.

Show Image

Show Image

Edit: Those aren't TeX cases, they are non-branded ones from a recent Massdrop sale.  My mistake.

+1 for fast gb speed

[CommonCurt]

I was feeling a bit better today, so 50/100 orders packed. 

I also took some pictures of the powder coated plates.  The first picture was taken with the plate sitting in a blue TeX Al case with flash, and the second picture was taken in a silver TeX Al case without flash.  This should give you an idea of the color with some searchable references.  The flash/noflash thing was due to some annoying reflection I got while in the silver case that made the color look off.

Show Image

Show Image

Edit: Those aren't TeX cases, they are non-branded ones from a recent Massdrop sale.  My mistake.

Damn these turned out nice.  I'm so kickin myself in the ass right now for not getting a powder coated plate.

[SJHL]

Holy crap, I can't wait to get mine. Please tell me that I'm included under that 50 orders!   

[BlueNalgene]

There seems to be a miscommunication.  Packed =! ready to ship.  I am still waiting on the 3D printed part.  Shipment date is still undetermined.  I expect somewhere around the 20th, because I'm a masochist who thinks the post office right before Christmas sounds like fun.

[SJHL]

There seems to be a miscommunication.  Packed =! ready to ship.  I am still waiting on the 3D printed part.  Shipment date is still undetermined.  I expect somewhere around the 20th, because I'm a masochist who thinks the post office right before Christmas sounds like fun.

Thats my fault then. I got too excited, hah.

[ika]

There seems to be a miscommunication.  Packed =! ready to ship.  I am still waiting on the 3D printed part.  Shipment date is still undetermined.  I expect somewhere around the 20th, because I'm a masochist who thinks the post office right before Christmas sounds like fun.

Hopefully you'll be buying and printing your own labels online and just dropping them off at the post office. I can't imagine the postal worker's pain (and the annoyed death stares of the people in the growing line) if you wanted to ship them all at the PO...

[axtran]

Dang it, I'm too late! Any leftover plates for those who didn't know that there was an ALPS customs world brewing out there?

[geniekid]

There seems to be a miscommunication.  Packed =! ready to ship.  I am still waiting on the 3D printed part.  Shipment date is still undetermined.  I expect somewhere around the 20th, because I'm a masochist who thinks the post office right before Christmas sounds like fun.

Hopefully you'll be buying and printing your own labels online and just dropping them off at the post office. I can't imagine the postal worker's pain (and the annoyed death stares of the people in the growing line) if you wanted to ship them all at the PO...

Please try to keep the blood on my caps to a minimum.

[jdcarpe]

Dang it, I'm too late! Any leftover plates for those who didn't know that there was an ALPS customs world brewing out there?

There is a plate buy coming up from LeandreN, if you like a pseudo-HHKB layout. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77342.0

[HoffmanMyster]

There seems to be a miscommunication.  Packed =! ready to ship.  I am still waiting on the 3D printed part.  Shipment date is still undetermined.  I expect somewhere around the 20th, because I'm a masochist who thinks the post office right before Christmas sounds like fun.

Hopefully you'll be buying and printing your own labels online and just dropping them off at the post office. I can't imagine the postal worker's pain (and the annoyed death stares of the people in the growing line) if you wanted to ship them all at the PO...

Please try to keep the blood on my caps to a minimum.

I, on the other hand, could use some fresh blood samples. 

[BlueNalgene]

All blood samples included in the packages were extracted from me by my assistant when my ankle went past his hiding spot under the packing paper.  No government worker is going to take my precious bodily fluids.

[axtran]

Dang it, I'm too late! Any leftover plates for those who didn't know that there was an ALPS customs world brewing out there?

There is a plate buy coming up from LeandreN, if you like a pseudo-HHKB layout. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77342.0

Thanks JD. I'd prefer to just get an AEKII since I'm essentially farming one for all of my build parts, hopefully the LeandreN plates are also compatible (I hear the spacebar is "funky" though).

[E3E]

Dang it, I'm too late! Any leftover plates for those who didn't know that there was an ALPS customs world brewing out there?

There is a plate buy coming up from LeandreN, if you like a pseudo-HHKB layout. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77342.0

Thanks JD. I'd prefer to just get an AEKII since I'm essentially farming one for all of my build parts, hopefully the LeandreN plates are also compatible (I hear the spacebar is "funky" though).

I don't think the LeandreN Alps plate will be compatible, as it's 6.25 ANSI. However, all you'd need are some Tai Hao Alps caps and you'd be good to go.

[sean]

Dang it, I'm too late! Any leftover plates for those who didn't know that there was an ALPS customs world brewing out there?

There is a plate buy coming up from LeandreN, if you like a pseudo-HHKB layout. https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=77342.0

Thanks JD. I'd prefer to just get an AEKII since I'm essentially farming one for all of my build parts, hopefully the LeandreN plates are also compatible (I hear the spacebar is "funky" though).

I don't think the LeandreN Alps plate will be compatible, as it's 6.25 ANSI. However, all you'd need are some Tai Hao Alps caps and you'd be good to go.

The Tai Hao caps have 6.25u spacebars?

[jdcarpe]

The Tai Hao caps have 6.25u spacebars?

Of course. What else would they have?

[sean]

The Tai Hao caps have 6.25u spacebars?

Of course. What else would they have?

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[sean]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

[jdcarpe]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

AFAIK, there are only 3 or 4 types of Alps switches in current manufacture. Fukka/Fuhua, XM, Tai Hao, and Matias, right? Why stress about finding vintage switches, which may or may not be nicer or worse than brand new switches? Put those Matias in there and away you go!

[cheddarbek]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

AFAIK, there are only 3 or 4 types of Alps switches in current manufacture. Fukka/Fuhua, XM, Tai Hao, and Matias, right? Why stress about finding vintage switches, which may or may not be nicer or worse than brand new switches? Put those Matias in there and away you go!

Why stress about vintage? Because DEM FEELS.

Obviously it's all personal preference, but I love the feel of vintage switches far more than the modern variants (mind you, the only moderns I've used were Matias).

[itzmeluigi]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

No clicky or linear? What about SKCM Orange?

[E3E]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

No clicky or linear? What about SKCM Orange?

Yeah, if you're a topre fan, maybe look into an IBM 5140 for its brown tactile alps that are supposedly like topre. I'm honestly not sure about that claim though, but I do hear they are nice.

[MAR82]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

No clicky or linear? What about SKCM Orange?

Yeah, if you're a topre fan, maybe look into an IBM 5140 for its brown tactile alps that are supposedly like topre. I'm honestly not sure about that claim though, but I do hear they are nice.

For one of my two builds I'm planning on using some SKCM Browns, pulling them from an old Xerox board that I can't really do much else with

[E3E]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

No clicky or linear? What about SKCM Orange?

Yeah, if you're a topre fan, maybe look into an IBM 5140 for its brown tactile alps that are supposedly like topre. I'm honestly not sure about that claim though, but I do hear they are nice.

For one of my two builds I'm planning on using some SKCM Browns, pulling them from an old Xerox board that I can't really do much else with

Thank gawd for the IBM 5140, because otherwise, the SKCM browns would be pretty much as hard to find as SKCL browns and SKCM greens. I thought I recalled old full-size boards having tactile browns, too--looks like you found one.

What do you plan on putting in the other build, MAR?

[MAR82]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

No clicky or linear? What about SKCM Orange?

Yeah, if you're a topre fan, maybe look into an IBM 5140 for its brown tactile alps that are supposedly like topre. I'm honestly not sure about that claim though, but I do hear they are nice.

For one of my two builds I'm planning on using some SKCM Browns, pulling them from an old Xerox board that I can't really do much else with

Thank gawd for the IBM 5140, because otherwise, the SKCM browns would be pretty much as hard to find as SKCL browns and SKCM greens. I thought I recalled old full-size boards having tactile browns, too--looks like you found one.

What do you plan on putting in the other build, MAR?

On the 2nd build I'm going to use some Matias Quiet Clicks

I'm getting the Browns from a board that's almost identical to the board that Nubbinator has
http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/xerox-with-tactile-green-alps-t8461.html

I better start desoldering, cleaning and lubing them up


The board also has these funky half sized switches too

[sean]

So since I'm a keyboard hipster I am going to keep an eye out for tactile green alps keyboards. Wish me luck...

[stoic-lemon]

Would you say $80 is too much to pay if one were to find such a board?

[sean]

Would you say $80 is too much to pay if one were to find such a board?

Are you talking about a Green SKCM board? I'm actually not sure how much they go for.

Edit: The few that have bought an SKCM green board (AHEM, nubbinator), I'm also interested in knowing the general price range I should be looking at.

[MAR82]

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

[E3E]

Would you say $80 is too much to pay if one were to find such a board?

Unless you're getting your board from a recycler or eBay.de (I might be generalizing here, but I keep seeing boards go for less than 10 Euros there), then $80 is a perfectly reasonable price for something if the demand is high enough. If you managed to find a Green SKCM board and really really wanted it, then I think the price could be rationalized.

There was that guy who really wanted to buy an NTC 6151ER with blue alps for $153 + at least $20 shipping, despite having two missing keys and one destroyed switch. Demand can sometimes be VERY localized.

Would you say $80 is too much to pay if one were to find such a board?

Are you talking about a Green SKCM board? I'm actually not sure how much they go for.

Edit: The few that have bought an SKCM green board (AHEM, nubbinator), I'm also interested in knowing the general price range I should be looking at.

I just got an IBM 5140 for around $27 on eBay. I was lucky, because it went mostly under the radar and only one person bid on it. The SKCM browns will  blend in well with my SKCL browns haha. 

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

Did you get yours locally or online?

I agree, and this extends to ANY switch variety, including SKCM blues, but unless you can find a deal at an e-cycler or manage to find someone throwing it away locally who isn't privy to the keyboard community... You're always going to pay more, especially online.

[MAR82]

I'm not saying everyone will get one for 5€. But as I said, I think $80 is too much if you're just going to harvest. I think the most I would spend on a harvest board would be $50.

Did you get yours locally or online?

I got mine online and locally. Found the guy, online (ebay) and saw he lived 5min from where I work. So I went over and got 5 different boards for 30€ (so I guess I paid 6€ and not 5€ for each).
- Xerox
- Model M (rubber dome)
- Silicon Graphics E02737052 (foam and foil http://imgur.com/a/vTNsE#0)
- Apple EKII
- Sun-2

The guy collects old computers and was selling some keyboards he didn't have the computers that went with them.


I'm also thinking of making an IC on PMKB, that would be based off the keyset from the Xerox
here's a unfinished rough idea (WIP) of what the TKL part would look like

[stoic-lemon]

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

Yeah $80 is a lot, but that is also a currency conversion from Japanese Yen. Still it is a lot. I'm just not sure where else I would find another board like that. I suppose patience is key with these things. I'll keep waiting.

[E3E]

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

Yeah $80 is a lot, but that is also a currency conversion from Japanese Yen. Still it is a lot. I'm just not sure where else I would find another board like that. I suppose patience is key with these things. I'll keep waiting.

Yep, you're right. If it's beyond what you want to pay, patience is definitely the key. I've seen people pay insane amounts for blue alps boards while seeing other similar, sometimes even rarer examples in better condition go for a lot less. Patience is key. Sometimes you might also find a generous (or oblivious?) seller like MAR82 has.

[ShadeDream]

I feel like I killed the thread so now I feel responsible for getting the ball rolling again. Anything new to report? Is there anything exceptionally interesting some of you are doing with your GB items? I think my Alps HHKB can be considered interesting, although I have no idea what switches to put in it :\
I don't want clicky, I don't want linear, and I've had a bad experience with salmon Alps so far, but I feel like using matias switches are the easy way out.

I really like orange Alps... but I cant bring myself to harvest from my Apple M0116... I like it too much and use it with old machines... so I've settled on the Matias quiet switches...

[swimmingbird]

I'm not saying everyone will get one for 5€. But as I said, I think $80 is too much if you're just going to harvest. I think the most I would spend on a harvest board would be $50.

Did you get yours locally or online?

I got mine online and locally. Found the guy, online (ebay) and saw he lived 5min from where I work. So I went over and got 5 different boards for 30€ (so I guess I paid 6€ and not 5€ for each).
- Xerox
- Model M (rubber dome)
- Silicon Graphics E02737052 (foam and foil http://imgur.com/a/vTNsE#0)
- Apple EKII
- Sun-2

The guy collects old computers and was selling some keyboards he didn't have the computers that went with them.


I'm also thinking of making an IC on PMKB, that would be based off the keyset from the Xerox
here's a unfinished rough idea (WIP) of what the TKL part would look like

Show Image

I like the colours

what legends would you go with?

[nubbinator]

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

Yeah $80 is a lot, but that is also a currency conversion from Japanese Yen. Still it is a lot. I'm just not sure where else I would find another board like that. I suppose patience is key with these things. I'll keep waiting.

You do have to keep in mind that tactile green Alps are more rare than Taxi Yellow, Blues, Browns, Salmons, and pretty much any other Alps switch out there.  $100 is considered a good price for Brown Alps, so $80 would be a great price.  I know some might disagree with me, but I was lucky when I stumbled into them and jacobulus is the only other person I know who has a board with them.

[stoic-lemon]

I got my board with the Browns for about 5€. So yeah I would say $80 is way tooooo much if you're just going to harvest the switches

Yeah $80 is a lot, but that is also a currency conversion from Japanese Yen. Still it is a lot. I'm just not sure where else I would find another board like that. I suppose patience is key with these things. I'll keep waiting.

You do have to keep in mind that tactile green Alps are more rare than Taxi Yellow, Blues, Browns, Salmons, and pretty much any other Alps switch out there.  $100 is considered a good price for Brown Alps, so $80 would be a great price.  I know some might disagree with me, but I was lucky when I stumbled into them and jacobulus is the only other person I know who has a board with them.

The board I was eyeing, a Sharp X68000, has linear greens, so I guess that makes it less desirable. It is also super super fugly.