Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[enchong]

Not really sure tbh, probably the BKE tactile because I want it to be more tactile than the stock hhkb. I used to have a realforce ang I love how that feels. But I also like the hhkb layout.

[_rubik]

Not really sure tbh, probably the BKE tactile because I want it to be more tactile than the stock hhkb. I used to have a realforce ang I love how that feels. But I also like the hhkb layout.

I personally put the 56g bke tactile domes on my 87u (iirc). They feel ever so slightly heavier than the original 55g domes mostly because of the increased tactility. If I had to do it over again, I would have gone to the next lowest weight -- somewhere in the mid to high 40gs. It's all subjective, but the added tactility adds just enough resistance to the top of the force curve to make my brain think I'm typing on a heavier switch. Hope that helps

[erretter]

I F'd up the top housing of a soldered in switch (complicated to explain; please just take that info, as it is). The switch is still functioning, but wonky.

Q: Can I swap out the top housing of a switch from the top-side without desoldering it?

[_rubik]

I F'd up the top housing of a soldered in switch (complicated to explain; please just take that info, as it is). The switch is still functioning, but wonky.

Q: Can I swap out the top housing of a switch from the top-side without desoldering it?

Some plates have notches cut out on either side of the switch to allow the top housing clips bend outward. I haven't seen those in quite a few years though. If the plate is contacting the switch on all four sides, you're going to have to desolder. That said, it's a pretty simple operation and a great excuse to learn to solder. You got this! 

[erretter]

I F'd up the top housing of a soldered in switch (complicated to explain; please just take that info, as it is). The switch is still functioning, but wonky.

Q: Can I swap out the top housing of a switch from the top-side without desoldering it?

Some plates have notches cut out on either side of the switch to allow the top housing clips bend outward. I haven't seen those in quite a few years though. If the plate is contacting the switch on all four sides, you're going to have to desolder. That said, it's a pretty simple operation and a great excuse to learn to solder. You got this! 

Thank you! Didn't know about the plate specifics. But I have to say, I soldered the switches in by myself, with led free solder and desoldering this is a 50/50 chance damaging the PCB because it's almost impossible to get all the solder out.

[_rubik]

I F'd up the top housing of a soldered in switch (complicated to explain; please just take that info, as it is). The switch is still functioning, but wonky.

Q: Can I swap out the top housing of a switch from the top-side without desoldering it?

Some plates have notches cut out on either side of the switch to allow the top housing clips bend outward. I haven't seen those in quite a few years though. If the plate is contacting the switch on all four sides, you're going to have to desolder. That said, it's a pretty simple operation and a great excuse to learn to solder. You got this! 

Thank you! Didn't know about the plate specifics. But I have to say, I soldered the switches in by myself, with led free solder and desoldering this is a 50/50 chance damaging the PCB because it's almost impossible to get all the solder out.

It's amazing how much of a difference quality solder makes. I usually go with a 63/37 flux core solder which has the advantage of being eutectic -- a single, lower melting point that avoid that "gooey, semi-fluid" solder state you find on some cheaper solders.

For desoldering, I'd recommend getting a good solder pump with a soft tip (hard plastic tips on solder pumps never seal well around the component, IMO). I went through so many cheap suckers before finding the "Engineer Solder Sucker" on Amazon. I always add an extra dab of leaded solder before sucking just to make sure everything's good and melted. It's also more mass for the sucker to grab onto, in my experience.

[erretter]

I F'd up the top housing of a soldered in switch (complicated to explain; please just take that info, as it is). The switch is still functioning, but wonky.

Q: Can I swap out the top housing of a switch from the top-side without desoldering it?

Some plates have notches cut out on either side of the switch to allow the top housing clips bend outward. I haven't seen those in quite a few years though. If the plate is contacting the switch on all four sides, you're going to have to desolder. That said, it's a pretty simple operation and a great excuse to learn to solder. You got this! 

Thank you! Didn't know about the plate specifics. But I have to say, I soldered the switches in by myself, with led free solder and desoldering this is a 50/50 chance damaging the PCB because it's almost impossible to get all the solder out.

It's amazing how much of a difference quality solder makes. I usually go with a 63/37 flux core solder which has the advantage of being eutectic -- a single, lower melting point that avoid that "gooey, semi-fluid" solder state you find on some cheaper solders.

For desoldering, I'd recommend getting a good solder pump with a soft tip (hard plastic tips on solder pumps never seal well around the component, IMO). I went through so many cheap suckers before finding the "Engineer Solder Sucker" on Amazon. I always add an extra dab of leaded solder before sucking just to make sure everything's good and melted. It's also more mass for the sucker to grab onto, in my experience.

TY! I found that pump. Might give it a try or.... I use this wobbly switch to build the next board

[jeffs]

What are good search terms for relatively recent information and opinions on ortholinear layouts keyboards, especially reduced size options?

The following did not seem to be very fruitful:

• ortholinear
• Planck
• OLKB
• 4x12

Edit: Other resources are also welcome.

[5443]

where can I buy keyboard O rings in Toronto, Canada?

something thin and soft, like 40A thin, for cherry MX brown switches

shipping from the US is outrageous! I was shocked at the prices, so there must be something cheaper locally, or at least shipped from Canada? (or perhaps shipped from China?)

[fohat.digs]

shipping from the US is outrageous!

shipped from China?

Outbound international shipping from the US is notoriously expensive. It was always high, but in the last decade or 2 it has skyrocketed, even to our nearest friends.

Shipping from China is nearly free. If you can wait 3+ weeks you can get merchandise at a fraction of the price.

[5443]

shipping from the US is outrageous!

shipped from China?

Outbound international shipping from the US is notoriously expensive. It was always high, but in the last decade or 2 it has skyrocketed, even to our nearest friends.

Shipping from China is nearly free. If you can wait 3+ weeks you can get merchandise at a fraction of the price.

i am fine with waiting when it comes to shipping from China. do you have any sites that i can go to so i can buy some 40A o rings?

[5443]

I was thinking of buying these o rings, a set for $1 for the entire keyboard: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006997613276.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.3.5ddf7ddcPoPURO&algo_pvid=dfcc0b17-e606-48cd-95c2-27fbd9d26110&algo_exp_id=dfcc0b17-e606-48cd-95c2-27fbd9d26110-1&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21CAD%215.33%211.38%21%21%2127.90%217.21%21%402101dee017203579294185543ed0f6%2112000038992504211%21sea%21CA%210%21AB&curPageLogUid=kdUJqt51waAF&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch%7Cquery_from%3A

they work for cherry mx browns right?

does anyone know what hardness they are? i can't seem to find it on the page?

[fohat.digs]

I am not really a Cherry guy. It has been at least a decade since I bought O-rings for my son's Filco, but those look pretty fat ....

But those are a start and it would not be a big loss if you don't like them. Thickness seems more important to me than hardness, but what do I know?

[5443]

An unrelated question, but this forum does seem pretty slow? then where do all the mechanical keyboard people hang out now? I remember back in the old days, when elitekeyboards.com was around (like 10 years ago?), that geekhack was the place to find all things about mech keyboards

[5443]

ok, so i just ordered 130 1.5mm thick rings, no idea on the hardness (or softness) but i will see how they are when they get here.

I paid $2.56 cad for the set, much better than the rip off prices that the US sites are selling for

[5443]

Well I got the O rings today, 9 days shipping, pretty fast from across the ocean I must say, and you can't beat $2.56, sellers on this side of the planet were charging 6 x that amount of the same thing, I couldn't go through with that.

I tried them out on my Filco, I added them to the Home/End island cluster of 6 keys, from my initial tests those keys were like 20 % quieter and had like 20 % less key travel. I don't know if it is worth it, maybe I should try it on the letter keys before jumping to conclusions. What are you guy's opinions when it comes to O rings on Cherry switches?



And why the hell is this forum so dead? Back in the day it used to be the place to go for all things mechanical keyboards. Nowadays I have to go to Mechanical Keyboard reddit if I don't want to talk to a brick wall here.

[Rhienfo]

Well I got the O rings today, 9 days shipping, pretty fast from across the ocean I must say, and you can't beat $2.56, sellers on this side of the planet were charging 6 x that amount of the same thing, I couldn't go through with that.

I tried them out on my Filco, I added them to the Home/End island cluster of 6 keys, from my initial tests those keys were like 20 % quieter and had like 20 % less key travel. I don't know if it is worth it, maybe I should try it on the letter keys before jumping to conclusions. What are you guy's opinions when it comes to O rings on Cherry switches?

Show Image

And why the hell is this forum so dead? Back in the day it used to be the place to go for all things mechanical keyboards. Nowadays I have to go to Mechanical Keyboard reddit if I don't want to talk to a brick wall here.

Sorry missed your earlier comment. When it comes to o rings, it's mainly just a preference thing, I personally don't like it though. I just really like full travel when it comes to my switches. But it's pretty easy to add and remove so it's not a big commitment.

Also the hobby has become way less centralized, a lot of the community is now on the many MANY discords, would like to see more people here but discord is definitely a lot more of a convenient place when it comes to the hobby, so it's understandable why people don't move over to this old forum.