2018: What are your keyboard plans?

[_haru]

I have several boards in-progress that I need to complete:

-DFK101 with Salmon Alps
-XD64-based board for my laptop with 55g Greelios (Stealio/Gateron Tactile Clear stem in Greetech housing)
-GH60 Satan with 35g Gatistotles and GMK 3Run
-GNAP! #1 with modded Gateron Yellows (Cherry housing, aristotle spring)
-GNAP! #2 with Kailh Speed Pink
-HHKB JP-layout Uchu70 with Kailh Box Pale Blue
-Heavily modded Chicony fullsize with SMK White and PETG case

So TL;DR a whole bunch of stuff I started this year and will have to finish next year.

It's amazing how much the list has grown since last year. I guess that's what a year of being into keyboards does to you :^)

[OfTheWild]

I have several boards in-progress that I need to complete:

-DFK101 with Salmon Alps
-XD64-based board for my laptop with 55g Greelios (Stealio/Gateron Tactile Clear stem in Greetech housing)
-GH60 Satan with 35g Gatistotles and GMK 3Run
-GNAP! #1 with modded Gateron Yellows (Cherry housing, aristotle spring)
-GNAP! #2 with Kailh Speed Pink
-HHKB JP-layout Uchu70 with Kailh Box Pale Blue
-Heavily modded Chicony fullsize with SMK White and PETG case

So TL;DR a whole bunch of stuff I started this year and will have to finish next year.

It's amazing how much the list has grown since last year. I guess that's what a year of being into keyboards does to you :^)

Wait till like year 5. You wont even remember you had something when you go dig out a desk drawer.  )

[_haru]

I have several boards in-progress that I need to complete:

-DFK101 with Salmon Alps
-XD64-based board for my laptop with 55g Greelios (Stealio/Gateron Tactile Clear stem in Greetech housing)
-GH60 Satan with 35g Gatistotles and GMK 3Run
-GNAP! #1 with modded Gateron Yellows (Cherry housing, aristotle spring)
-GNAP! #2 with Kailh Speed Pink
-HHKB JP-layout Uchu70 with Kailh Box Pale Blue
-Heavily modded Chicony fullsize with SMK White and PETG case

So TL;DR a whole bunch of stuff I started this year and will have to finish next year.

It's amazing how much the list has grown since last year. I guess that's what a year of being into keyboards does to you :^)

Wait till like year 5. You wont even remember you had something when you go dig out a desk drawer.  )

It's already happening, recently I found a second MX Lock I forgot I bought....

[Findecanor]

Get my thumb out of my ass.

[katushkin]

Hopefully sell all of my ****.

[fohat.digs]

Really, the only thing on my keyboard "bucket list" is for the M/F project to come back to life.

[Puddsy]

MIRA

SKELDON

WEAVEN

one aquired

i'm building it in the new year, so technically counts

[luminor]

Norbaforce
BKE domes

RIP wallet...

[davkol]

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[trotXid]

KLP Iris

[EscapeVelocity]

I plan to get some gaming keyboards and to mod my Chicony KB-5181 with some hefty dampening material, like modeling clay.

Also hoping to score some Blue Alps and Salmon/Orange Alps vintage boards in good shape.

[tommyonsn]

MATRIX or SKOG or MIRA 80% keyboard.

[Birchall]

I'm actually going to see if I can design a new Alps keycap so Dvorak and Colemak typists can have another profile to use.

Initially thinking DSA X SA (third row) combo with a slightly shallower dish.

Need to draw them first.

[SBJ]

Build a TKL board with the Zealios I just got.

[LevelSteam]

Put Maxkey Calm Depths on my Magicforce 68.

Build the KBDfans 75% that the group buy just wrapped up on and put Laser on that.

Fix the ****ty PCB mounted stabs on the board I just built.

[Sissy]

Hope to get a TGR910, already got switches and everything for it ready.
buy more brocaps and key sets.
Finally get my hands on the toxic set, its been such a damn long wait

This was my post from the 2017 thread.
I got in on the 910CE buy, I got into a couple Brocap raffles and Toxic is just Toxic.

For 2018?
Finally get my hands on Mira and 910CE and build them
Spend less money going forward ( I got way too many keysets now)
More keyboard photography

I feel these goals are all super easy compared to last year.

[gorauskas]

For 2018 I want a nice set of SA fully-sculpted double-shot keycaps.   Any pointers are appreciated.

[mogo]

For 2018 I want a nice set of SA fully-sculpted double-shot keycaps.   Any pointers are appreciated.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/keycaps/maxkey
https://kono.store/collections/keycap-sets
https://1upkeyboards.com/products/keycaps.html
https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=407

There's some options to help you get started. As always, watch for other SA groupbuys that happen in various places, like zfrontier.

[Venatorious]

I need to:

Complete my Unsaver
Make my SSK in to an FSSK
Order the diodes and crap so I can use my Orion v2 with blue alps
Thats all I can think of off the top of my head 

[Hyde]

Waiting on BKE Extra Light to come out (apparently even Light is still too heavy, too tactile, and fatiguing from what I read).

If the above doesn't works out.  Then wait for Realforce R2 45g Silent.

[nguyenhimself]

1. Build a Modern M011A with this split-spacebar-plus-arrow-keys layout. Probably using either Zealio R9 or that new Aliaz switch if reviews turn out to be positive. If not the M0110A, than a Tina-C case.

2. Finally type on an Alps board. Short of buying a Matias, Alps switches are almost non-existent where I live.

3. Get one of those new Leopold boards with Dolch/Skydolch double-shot PBT keycaps. I plan to just buy it solely for the keycaps first (still cheaper than a GMK set) than worry about what to do with the boards later.

4. Keep wondering if I should get an HHKB JP. That ****ing 2U spacebar, ugh.

5. Shooting for the sky: Hi-Pro keycaps for my beloved Realforce 87U.

[Rumblehotep]

-norbaforce
-refurb my two filco tkls with switchswap and alu cases
-zandas or tealios planck
-do something with hakos and bke domes
-not go crazy with artisans again

[Leslieann]

Get around to (re-)building my 75% Chinese custom.

Get started on my own custom keyboard (Magicforce 68 layout with fkeys, all aluminum case, RGB lighting...)
   Odd layout? It's just a compressed TKL (minus 2 keys), so you can use standard key caps but still smaller in width than a TKL. We just got a CNC mill at my company, so this is now doable.

[nguyenhimself]

Get around to (re-)building my 75% Chinese custom.

Get started on my own custom keyboard (Magicforce 68 layout with fkeys, all aluminum case, RGB lighting...)
   Odd layout? It's just a compressed TKL (minus 2 keys), so you can use standard key caps but still smaller in width than a TKL. We just got a CNC mill at my company, so this is now doable.

Is the Varmilo VA68 not good enough? It checks all your boxes.

[letze]

2018
- receive ZOMO Cat Claw artisan
- receive /dev/tty MT3
- receive MiTo GMK Laser
- receive norbaforce

to do list
- tiny minimum lube to RF 55g
- soft landing pads installation to RF 55g
- topre to mx slider (maybe?)

[chyros]

MORE OF EVERYTHING

[LeoShi]

I wish my wallet wouldn't be empty!

[clappingcactus]

1. Finish building my VE.A; currently it's waiting for some MOD-H's to ship, but I already have my hotlites, keycaps, stickers, rubber dampeners, stabilizers (shipped), MX locks (shipped) and cable (thinking of replacing).

2. Start working on an HHKB portable endgame. This is going to be more of a longer term thing, but with RAMA working on a case, I'm planning on getting an HHKB, a hasu controller, 55g domes, MX compatible stems. I don't even know what caps I would want on it. I'm a little burnt out on caring for keycap sets.

3. Start designing my own entirely custom keyboard. I have so many grand ideas for how I want my first two custom boards to work but I haven't followed up on them at all in 2016. I think by this time next year I would want to have already designed at least the weight distribution of all the switches.

4. Keep searching for a Model M from my birthdate (1991).

Going off last year's list;

1. Ended up finishing that VE.A. I even ended up rebuilding it a couple of times. It was nice. Ended up selling it because I didn't love it.
2. Decided against a portable keyboard. I'll just buy a keyboard carrying case this year. But I did buy a RF, and it's my single keyboard right now that I love.
3. Nope, not started, not done. OH well.
4. Searched and searched, no luck yet. Found keyboards literally the day before and both days after I was born, but not the day of. Here's to trying for another year.

My plans for this year:
1. Receive Norbaforce
2. Brass-ify Norbaforce (backplate + switchplate)
3. If it's really nice, buy a VE.A 2.

[sncbraxsc2]

Build a board with my vintage clears. I want to try ergo (thoughts on 65g?) for the first time as I got into building things around the time zealios dropped and have been very content with my 65g zeals (as far as mx goes) for almost two years now I also have everything but the switches for a full size ALPS build I want to do. I really want to try linear ALPS this go around and am looking for some SKCLs but may linear mod my pine cream damped in lieu of that to also have the dampening effect since ALPS are pretty loud. Hoping to use that in my office

[mpaarating]

I have a Let's Split that I need to finish (zealiostotles in it, I broke both of the damn pro micro usb's off with a bad usb cable  ), drop some alps in the Contra once that arrives, and find a TKL that has an aluminum body, brass weight, and acrylic middle for all of the Laser stuff I have coming.
Oh man, I have an M6-A coming too. RIP my wallet.

[rowdy]

Actually finish the bolt/ANSI mod on my M122.

[RominRonin]

build a Katana60 or two, now that PCBs are available from CandyKeys

I fully support this goal

* kbdfans announced a couple of compelling products at the end of 2017; I ordered the Aliaz silent tactile switches to test. They use the same approach as the silent cherry reds (double shot sliders) which I was impressed with. If they feel nearly as good as Cherry silent reds, I'll get enough for a Katana60 build.
* I'd like to build an ALPS Katana60 with AEKii caps too.
* Consolidate my sprawling collection and sell off the stuff I don't need.

Aside from that, I'd like to search for an in-production, high quality trackpoint module that I can begin testing with.

Clacky New Year folks a

[futurecrime]

Build my LZ-St, TGR 910 and LSv3, probably in that order. Try to get hold of a Jane and Tris.

Try my hand at designing a keyset.

I'm also thinking of ditching Colemak and trying to learn to touch type Qwerty properly. I hate my frantic hunt n pecking on the work membranes. Also there's bugger all colemak GMK kits about.

Maybe go to a UK meet up. Maybe.

Maybe even build a Phantom so I stop feeling guilty every time I see the PCB in my box of stuff.

[Blackhawk]

Build my TGR910

Build my LZ-CLS

Rebuild my KMAC, hopefully with a partial PC plate.

Clean my m0116 and get it working when my pro micro controller arrives.

Get hold of a Keycult No. 1.

And maybe sell some stuff.

[Tactile]

Replace the Type S I sold 9 months ago. I can't believe how much I miss that keyboard.

[Leslieann]

Get around to (re-)building my 75% Chinese custom.

Get started on my own custom keyboard (Magicforce 68 layout with fkeys, all aluminum case, RGB lighting...)
   Odd layout? It's just a compressed TKL (minus 2 keys), so you can use standard key caps but still smaller in width than a TKL. We just got a CNC mill at my company, so this is now doable.

Is the Varmilo VA68 not good enough? It checks all your boxes.

Close, but it lacks a physical F-key row.

[pr0ximity]

Figure out what switches to use in my partial plate, then retire until a TGR 910 polycarbonate edition buy happens.

[Puddsy]

Figure out what switches to use in my partial plate, then retire until a TGR 910 polycarbonate edition buy happens.

i recommend vintage browns

[gr4v3m4n]

waiting on my carbon ship hopefully goes well (crossing my fingger)

waiting on my toxic and wor ship.

get my yas62 ship and build

get my phantom build (after years of hold up)

getting any 1800 boards (waiting on revo get onto gb status on their samoyed or getting b-stock tx1800)

finnish my artisan keycap project.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TheNamesTy45]

1) See if GMK Purple Dragon can get enough support to make it to group buy stage.
2) Maybe get a second HHKB (again). Just keep going back to these boards, but miss customization. 3) Get a 3rd and final HHKB for customization and slap some SA keycaps on it.

[bitzie]

- Build my BananaSplit v2 once it all gets here.
- Try my hand at handwiring a board.
- Get going on sculpting artisan keycaps.

[UsualSuspectXXX]

- Hopefully get my E8-V1 sometime this year
- Build a second planck (which I just finished ordering parts for)
- Restore a second Apple M0110A
- Try some of these newfangled Kaihl switches and more Alps
- Sell some stuff I haven't used in a while

Should be a good year

[Rob27shred]

This upcoming year, hmm... good question. I just recently knocked a big one off my list with my RSII+ Ver.C build (1st board I built with Zealios  ) Although there are plenty of other things I would like to do as far this hobby goes. I would really like to do a handwired build soon, finally give a Topre or EC board a shot, & do a custom 1800 build this year if my finances will allow for those last two  . Other than that the handwired build & replacing the Pro Micro that broke on my Let's Split are the 2 projects I have on my plate right now & will be doing for sure.

[Rob27shred]

- Hopefully get my E8-V1 sometime this year
- Build a second planck (which I just finished ordering parts for)
- Restore a second Apple M0110A
- Try some of these newfangled Kaihl switches and more Alps
- Sell some stuff I haven't used in a while

Should be a good year

The Kaihl thick click Navies do look very interesting. I was so tempted to order a batch from NovelKeys when they last had them but I couldn't justify it as I just finished a Red Scarf II+ Ver.C build. I probably should've put an Alps build on my post too, that is something I would really like to try also ever since I got a chance to try out an Alps board. Hope this year does go well for all us!

[iceteazz]

 _ I would plan to buy Leopold FC980C AND Realforce R2 APC Silent. Topre is love, at least for me.

[fcoury]

I am super new to this mechanical keyboard thing. My trigger was a friend and co-worker that was using a Cooler Master Rapid-i with Cherry MX Brown switches. He was telling me how much he loved it and how one of his new year's resolution was to learn to properly touch type using the home row, etc.

So I started researching and found /r/MechanicalKeyboard and I fell in love. Particular to those colorful beautiful DSA keysets with awesome fonts. The main issue is that I live in Brazil and importing things here is a pain in the ass. It takes forever and you always end up paying 2-2.5x the product price.

However, I was decided to get my hands on a mech keyboard so I ordered a CM Rapid-i that had some burnt LEDs to get a feeling of the Brown switches myself. I bought this one locally from our own incarnation of an eBay like website called Mercado Livre.

This happened around new year's so the shipping would take almost a week to get here. And I reeeeally wanted to try a mechanical keyboard so I ended up going to a local computer store and got one of the keyboards that are easy to find: I got the Razer Chroma Tournament v2 with Blue switches.

And of course, I loved it! The blue switches are awesome... But in this interim, my CM Rapid-i with brown switches arrived and I was really pleased with the browns as well, but to be honest the burnt LEDs was a downer for me.

And therefore, here are my 2018 keyboard plans:

- Get my first programmable keyboard - I bought the tada68 off from KBDfans on AliExpress
- Get my first custom keyset - I got this [1], from AliExpress as well
- Get the ErgoDox-EZ - I do programming for a living and after watching this guy use the ErgoDox on this YouTube video [2] I was hooked

So with all that I currently became addicted to checking tracking codes every hour or so, even though they obviously don't change at all -- many haven't even been picked up by the carrier 

--
[1] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-product-104-108-125-PBT-Thick-Keycap-Dye-Sublimated-ANSI-layout-Cherry-MX-Switch-Keycap/32815810006.html
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78RtO38wOwI

[Rob27shred]

I am super new to this mechanical keyboard thing. My trigger was a friend and co-worker that was using a Cooler Master Rapid-i with Cherry MX Brown switches. He was telling me how much he loved it and how one of his new year's resolution was to learn to properly touch type using the home row, etc.

So I started researching and found /r/MechanicalKeyboard and I fell in love. Particular to those colorful beautiful DSA keysets with awesome fonts. The main issue is that I live in Brazil and importing things here is a pain in the ass. It takes forever and you always end up paying 2-2.5x the product price.

However, I was decided to get my hands on a mech keyboard so I ordered a CM Rapid-i that had some burnt LEDs to get a feeling of the Brown switches myself. I bought this one locally from our own incarnation of an eBay like website called Mercado Livre.

This happened around new year's so the shipping would take almost a week to get here. And I reeeeally wanted to try a mechanical keyboard so I ended up going to a local computer store and got one of the keyboards that are easy to find: I got the Razer Chroma Tournament v2 with Blue switches.

And of course, I loved it! The blue switches are awesome... But in this interim, my CM Rapid-i with brown switches arrived and I was really pleased with the browns as well, but to be honest the burnt LEDs was a downer for me.

And therefore, here are my 2018 keyboard plans:

- Get my first programmable keyboard - I bought the tada68 off from KBDfans on AliExpress
- Get my first custom keyset - I got this [1], from AliExpress as well
- Get the ErgoDox-EZ - I do programming for a living and after watching this guy use the ErgoDox on this YouTube video [2] I was hooked

So with all that I currently became addicted to checking tracking codes every hour or so, even though they obviously don't change at all -- many haven't even been picked up by the carrier 

--
[1] https://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-product-104-108-125-PBT-Thick-Keycap-Dye-Sublimated-ANSI-layout-Cherry-MX-Switch-Keycap/32815810006.html
[2] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78RtO38wOwI

Welcome to the fold man! I can completely relate to your post. I found here at GH & r/MKB shortly after getting my 1st mech for gaming & feel in love with the hobby really quick too! Those are some nice boards you got to start off with but wait till you get your TADA68! I bet that becomes your daily driver. Nothing against the CM Rapid i & Razer Chroma V2 but the MKB world has much better to offer IME & IMO the TADA68 is a nice step up from both of them especially if you got an aluminum case with yours. Anyways, just wanted to say welcome & be sure to let us know how you like the TADA68 once you get it!

[fcoury]

Welcome to the fold man! I can completely relate to your post. I found here at GH & r/MKB shortly after getting my 1st mech for gaming & feel in love with the hobby really quick too! Those are some nice boards you got to start off with but wait till you get your TADA68! I bet that becomes your daily driver. Nothing against the CM Rapid i & Razer Chroma V2 but the MKB world has much better to offer IME & IMO the TADA68 is a nice step up from both of them especially if you got an aluminum case with yours. Anyways, just wanted to say welcome & be sure to let us know how you like the TADA68 once you get it!

Hey man, thank you so much! I'll definitely post here once my tada arrives.

I forgot to say that I already started looking into buying a solding station, plastics spray painting how tos and taking it to the next level with some DYI. Let's see where 2018 takes me.

Great 2018 to you!

[zslane]

Updated after the awesome news about SA Retro round 2.

1. Get dark blue Norbauer aluminum case for my last NovaTouch. Awaiting powder coating.
2. Design a killer Mercury Rocketeer group buy bundle for MassDrop. In progress.
3. Wait for the following keycap sets to be made/delivered:
    A. Round 6 phase 2 (Honeywell colors) - Being packed and shipped by 7bit as we speak.
    B. /dev/tty - Currently in production.
    C. SA Carbon
    D. SA Oblivion
    E. DSA PuLSE
    F. SA Retro
4. Paint the top case frame of my "Honeywell" Topre RealForce RGB board white.
5. Paint one Plum numpad dark blue and another one dark gray (these are to be paired with the NovaTouches).
6. Super secret keyboard project. 

Some of these goals are rollover goals from 2017.

[whale-tail]

Just ordered my first ever mechanical keyboard (KUL ES-87 with Blue switches, $60 on Amazon), so I guess my plan for 2018 is to not get addicted and not spend too much money! Pumped to retire my Apple Magic Keyboard though...

I do plan to invest at least another $50 in better keycaps, but by then I'll want to try out different switches, different layouts, ortholinear...and by then I'll have spent money I don't have :/