Dood... this is officially the cleanest looking keyboard that has ever graced my eyes since I started my keyboard journey. The amount of time, dedication, and planning that you put into it has created something absolutely unique and beautiful! I know the feels of being able to finalize a keyboard that you've planned and dreamed of having, because I felt the same way when I finished my White RGBY Filco, which was the first custom/modded keyboard I ever built (yeah, it's not a Korean custom but it required a lot of planning, time, work, and even luck to build). BUT I'll stop now because I think I'm getting a lil' too excited and emotionally invested in a keyboard that isn't even mine...LOL!!! ...................... (give it to me)
Seriously, this has to be one of my favorite keyboards to date ~<3 The theme is a huuuuge part of it but also amount of heart put into it is what makes it so special :D It's so personal, and I love it even more for that reason ~<3
The moments I experienced as I looked through and read this post:
GON NS NerD Crystal TKL
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/4odfIcF.jpg)
(http://www.gifsforum.com/images/gif/shocked/grand/294143_o.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/hJZIdNm.jpg)
(http://replygif.net/thumbnail/668.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/hTiGOGD.jpg)
(http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131211025239/our-total-drama-roleplay/images/a/a6/Trippy_gif_3._different_gif_yet_still_mind_blowing_ba8bb2_3699999.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/yVtpIGO.jpg)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/bBiPgbI.jpg)
(http://mommyedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Mind+blown+_6413a2aef3142eab8dd789403f71008e.gif)
Thanks to VesperSAINT...
(http://img.pandawhale.com/post-40447-Frozen-Anna-smiling-in-love-gi-HzV5.gif)
Also,
(http://media.giphy.com/media/ymkLJAxVz2la/giphy.gif)
Forget about the keyboard, this response is hilarious. :)) :P
Just kidding, this keyboard is fantastic. I'm really happy that it came out like you hoped it would! And now you need to mail it to me for "inspection". kthnx
*damnit, none of the gifs I add to this section will work! LOL! I literally tried 3... are you doing this Mr. Mod?! Lel*
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNDDDD! WHY MUST YOU ALWAYS TRY TO TAKE MY KEYBOARDS?! I thought we already talked about this. You've already owned a GON before so you won't need to see it... I must experience it. NOT YOU! NO! I need my GON cherry popped... *blush*
...
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(http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/861/295/b29.gif)
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(http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/800/010/d5c.gif)
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(http://i0.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/856/179/d9f.gif)
Dude yes. Yes yes yes yes. ILU2 <3
(http://cdn.gifbay.com/2013/06/emma_watson_blows_you_a_kiss-57092.gif)
Dood... this is officially the cleanest looking keyboard that has ever graced my eyes since I started my keyboard journey. The amount of time, dedication, and planning that you put into it has created something absolutely unique and beautiful! I know the feels of being able to finalize a keyboard that you've planned and dreamed of having, because I felt the same way when I finished my White RGBY Filco, which was the first custom/modded keyboard I ever built (yeah, it's not a Korean custom but it required a lot of planning, time, work, and even luck to build). BUT I'll stop now because I think I'm getting a lil' too excited and emotionally invested in a keyboard that isn't even mine...LOL!!! ...................... (give it to me)
So many feels from reading your post here. It's funny because even though your Filco is your first modded board, it is definitely my favorite of your collection.
And yes, I totally agree with you, it is an amazing emotion to finish a custom job and have it meet your expectations.
Learning and tinkering are such huge parts of Geekhack, but I think it also takes a certain bravery to take on projects. I might be ranting a little bit here, but I think the risks we take as builders are totally understated. We really put ourselves in vulnerable positions where we can fail and many times we do. I've not only invested a lot in this project, but also my assembly tools as well. I'm basically putting a bet on myself that I can and that I will build awesome keyboards that will be worth that investment. I am also betting that the community will continually help make those keyboard kits and great keycap sets become available.
But when these risks payoff they really do payoff. Once you build an amazing keyboard you have it forever.
I think as GH builders we kind of only show our successes, but at least for me there is a lot of trial and error involved. And gobs and gobs of time. And like you said it even takes some luck. But we all came here as learners and I think that is what keeps us going. We do it because we love keyboards. <3
Show Image
(http://31.media.tumblr.com/9fc1ab3caf62e73ea9bef5593a6e6c98/tumblr_mv3xegMrcL1sv98gio1_500.gif)
uguu~~ <333
I'm so glad you mentioned the "bravery" and "risk" part of modding. In my post, I had originally had a paragraph about that in it, but decided to get rid of it because I didn't want to interrupt the thread. I 100% agree with you about the risk, fear, and bravery it takes to mod and make your dream keyboard. I didn't (still don't LOL) have a lot of disposable money when I made my Filco, and I was all-in when I made the investment into the gear & tools, switches, springs, and other materials for my Filco. It was actually a really scary moment because if I failed, I would have thrown ALL my disposable income away. I also had no extensive experience with soldering before this, and ZERO experience desoldering (used the Radio Shack desoldering pump LOL). Luckily, I had a lot of people (real life engineering friends and GH friends) help me, and I practiced a lot on trash PCBs. Even with all that practice though, I still won't forget how nervous I was right before desoldering the first switch on my Filco PCB... It was as Samuel L. Jackson once said in Jurassic Park, "Hold onto your butts..." Luckily though, once you get started, the rest is history. A man with a mission cannot be stopped! It's do or die, baby! I'll never forget the moment when I finalized my Filco, hooked it up, and did my first typing test... It was something I had only read and dreamed about for months (ergo clears were really entering its hype period then, I think).
The thing is, I look at all your previous keyboards and progression, and it's not surprising you've actually made this GON because you've always had a specific theme in mind for each board, or you wanted backlit/transparent. This GON was bound to happen, but the progression/journey to this is what makes it super special, I think :D And to see it actually finished and made... <3
Anyhow, I'll stop ranting. Whoever is brave enough to take on a modding project, you've got my respect no matter what the outcome is because it takes a lot to do it. If it happens to match my taste, then you got my adoration as a bonus HUE. It just so happens, Lastpilot's was an absolute success and entirely in my flavor :-* :-* :-* (so send it to me already...)
Just realized how mushy this post is... *BLUSH* maybe too personal for public viewing ~
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(https://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_liyj3pEP2M1qit92oo1_500.gif)
Eeeekk so adorable! You two should really get a room before I try to join in. ;)
Wow! Such a clean, beautiful board, and I loved the build log. It really does make it so much more amazing seeing all the dedication you put into it. :D Grats dude!
Thank you ComradeSniper! Yep, a lot of effort and money, but so so so so worth it.
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(http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/2011/09/mind_blown.gif)
dude, this is amazing.
Thanks admiralvorian!
I guess you used a soldering iron for the smd soldering. what are your experiences on that?
Great question! Funny how I kind of just skipped over that.
-Practice: This was my first SMD experience, so the first few resistors and LED's I did had to be re-soldered. It is definitely harder than your standard through-hole soldering. I tried it a few different ways, but I quickly learned that the popular "pad-component-pad" method was best. Basically, put a little solder on the pad, apply the component while reheating the recent solder, THEN move on to soldering the companion pad. This allows the component to flatten out before the 2nd pad is applied and give you the best result for your SMD components. You will need steady hands so I recommend avoiding any caffeine intake before attempting SMD soldering.
-Tools: I use the standard flat-head wedged soldering tip that came with my Edsyn 951sxe. Getting the component between the flat edge of your soldering iron and a some other flat-edge tool (I use my tweezers) will allow you to straighten the SMD component while soldering it. You will definitely need a dependable pair of tweezers to apply and straighten SMD components. I use the Edsyn blunt nose tweezers (http://www.geekhackers.org/collections/hand-tools/products/edsyn-blunt-nose-tweezers) and I like them because they have square tip which I use as a straight and flat edge to align components as I just mentioned.
Hope that helps!
________________________________________
Side-note: Updating thread now to include the typing video I did yesterday.
Dood... this is officially the cleanest looking keyboard that has ever graced my eyes since I started my keyboard journey. The amount of time, dedication, and planning that you put into it has created something absolutely unique and beautiful! I know the feels of being able to finalize a keyboard that you've planned and dreamed of having, because I felt the same way when I finished my White RGBY Filco, which was the first custom/modded keyboard I ever built (yeah, it's not a Korean custom but it required a lot of planning, time, work, and even luck to build). BUT I'll stop now because I think I'm getting a lil' too excited and emotionally invested in a keyboard that isn't even mine...LOL!!! ...................... (give it to me)
Seriously, this has to be one of my favorite keyboards to date ~<3 The theme is a huuuuge part of it but also amount of heart put into it is what makes it so special :D It's so personal, and I love it even more for that reason ~<3
The moments I experienced as I looked through and read this post:
GON NS NerD Crystal TKL
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/4odfIcF.jpg)
Show Image
(http://www.gifsforum.com/images/gif/shocked/grand/294143_o.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/hJZIdNm.jpg)
Show Image
(http://replygif.net/thumbnail/668.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/hTiGOGD.jpg)
Show Image
(http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131211025239/our-total-drama-roleplay/images/a/a6/Trippy_gif_3._different_gif_yet_still_mind_blowing_ba8bb2_3699999.gif)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/yVtpIGO.jpg)
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/bBiPgbI.jpg)
Show Image
(http://mommyedwards.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Mind+blown+_6413a2aef3142eab8dd789403f71008e.gif)
Thanks to VesperSAINT...
Show Image
(http://img.pandawhale.com/post-40447-Frozen-Anna-smiling-in-love-gi-HzV5.gif)
Also,
Show Image
(http://media.giphy.com/media/ymkLJAxVz2la/giphy.gif)
x2
Hello,
I am planning my first DIY keyboard and I am absorbing all the information an build logs I can find.
I have been looking through your images (thank you for the high resolution) and I saw that the acrylic plate has these notches:
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/lGPXrFc.jpg)
Would you mind telling me what are those for? I do not think I have seen them on metal plates.
Thank you!
I'm pretty sure they're so that the Cherry switches will actually click/lock into the plate because if the plate is too thick it won't lock in.
*edit*
This part.
[attach=1]
Also next time please post these kinds on things in this thread to keep people's post uncluttered https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=40501.0
So Last are you going to leave the board as is forever? or do you have any plans to tinker with it a bit more?