MKC Aluminum Spacebar [Closed]

[feng]

What is that brushed metal case??

MKC's aluminum case, it's a sample product. MKC will present brushed case in the future with his own brand.

[esoomenona]

^Can I just be first in line for one of those already?

[shawn o]

Will you be listing these on ebay also?

[Ragnorock]

Just double checking, you got my payment right?

[Permeability]

want to double check you received my payment as well

[el2k]

Can't wait to get mine, look sick!

[feng]

"Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Arrived at Sort Facility CINCINNATI HUB - USA CINCINNATI HUB, OH - USA  00:17"
 

[metalliqaz]

* metalliqaz hijacks the shipment

[Turbo Slaab]

Is the red color accurate? I'm digging how dark it is.....

[esoomenona]

I hope it matches the red mods of a RA2 or maybe it might mesh well with Rag red on black...

[TheProfosist]

Nice cant wait!

[Turbo Slaab]

In! Can't wait!

[feng]

Order list updated. Sorry about the delay guys.

[feng]

^Can I just be first in line for one of those already?

lol don't rush, it won't be like a limited edition or something, as far as I know.

Will you be listing these on ebay also?

Yes I will, the ebay price would be $28.

Is the red color accurate? I'm digging how dark it is.....

We'll see how it actually look tonight. I think I get have them on hand today.

[feng]

Got the packages today. Will do the shipping asap.

[tjcaustin]

Hooray!

[metalliqaz]

Fenghis Khan -- arrives in glory with precious keycaps for everyone! 

[TheProfosist]

Thanks for the update cant wait to get all of mine.

[Jupiter]

These look fantastic. Desperately want that gorgeous red one to match my Red NZXT Phantom

Edit: Also I messaged you, Feng

[TotalChaos]

Do these work with Leopold Model: FC500RR/ABN ?

I ask because it seems like I read something about nonstandard spacebars on Leopold keyboards.  But maybe that was from the olden days?

Also, are aluminum spacebars noisier than plastic ones?  Do they ring (like a bell) when you pound the spacebar?  Or when u release the spacebar suddenly?

[metalliqaz]

They will not.

[TotalChaos]

I thought they would work on a Leopold since your sig says "Currently driving a Leopold".

This really sux.  I had convinced myself to buy 2 of them.  1 red and 1 silver.

How heavy are the spacebars anyway?  Are they going to smoosh my delicate new red switches?

What kind of keyboard am I supposed to buy for the purposes of replacing the keycaps?
I just hafta have PBT DoubleShot or DyeSublimation keycaps because that's what all my Amiga Cherry Black keyboards have.  I suppose I could maybe skip the PBT but I require smooooth keycaps due to my medical condition so I just absolutely have to have DoubleShot or DyeSub caps (if the cap is plastic).

I was lusting after those metal keycaps too.  Metal = cold.  Cold=Less Pain.  Less Pain=GOOD.  The coldness of the metal could let me handle the engraving on the cap.  But I am wondering how heavy the Zinc keycaps are?  Will they smoosh my weak little Cherry Red springs?  I am wondering how much travel I would lose (if any).

[metalliqaz]

I have a feeling that the red springs will have trouble with the Zinc caps.  I don't know about the aluminum spacebar but I'm pretty sure that I read that they can't handle the titanium spacebar.

I am currently using a Leopold as my daily driver at work, but I have a Filco that will get this spacebar.  Also, the FC500 has a different spacebar than even the FC200.

[TotalChaos]

Which Leopold has the nonstandard spacebar?  Both of them?

I could have got a Cherry red G80-3800 for $60.00 but I skipped it because of the stupidly nonstandard capslock key with offcenter stem (incompatible to their old offcenter version) so I am/was about to buy a Leopold for $90.00.  I thought it was worth the extra $30.00 if it was more easily customizeable....  argh this is confusing.  I don't know how anyone picks out a keyboard. 

[metalliqaz]

Both of them.  As far as spacebar stabilizer stems go, you have basically these types:

• "standard" like this group buy (Filco, Das, Ducky, Rosewill, WASD, etc.)
• Cherry, which has standard stem spacing but an off-center center stem
• Leopold FC200R
• Leopold FC500/700
• 7X spacebars

Obviously there are others out there but I don't come across them much.  Most group buys for keycap sets these days have "universal" spacebars which fit the first three items in that list.  This Alu spacebar only fits the first.

[TotalChaos]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me kind sir!  I shall make sure to share that with everyone I meet.

It kinda sounds to me like EliteKeyboards got ripped off or tricked into buying a bunch of Leopolds with nonstandard spacebars since it seems like they are about to lose 2 sales from me.

The funny thing about what u just told me is that I was going to buy a Rosewill from Newegg like a MONTH ago but it said it had crappy pad printing which only  lasts maybe 3 weeks under my high acid superfast typing.

So basically I could have just bought that, figured out that the keycaps sucked and then thrown the caps away and bought some new proper PBT Doubleshot or Dyesubs.  Doh!

Are there any other "gotchas" when picking out a keyboard?
I don't care so much about price.  My health is worth whatever they are charging as long as the product does what I need.  I need every key.  And PS/2 compatibility.  I need OEM keycap height for full compatibility with EK Landing Pads and WASD O-Rings.

I don't like DAS because they have that big thing sticking up off of it that wastes my deskspace.  I have a tiny rollerdesk that I hafta use so I ruled out DAS and all those old 1970s looking Cherry boards.

I can't buy a Topre cause they rig their boards to not work with any PS/2 adapter.     I would have bought a Topre years ago if only they worked with PS/2

I have never looked at Ducky yet.  Even though I have been studying keyboards for 20 hours a day for the last 8 or 9 days.

Newegg sells Rosewills.
Is there anything about a Rosewill that sux?  (given that I will replace the caps anyway)

[metalliqaz]

Heh.  Trust me.  EK did not get tricked.  He lurks these forums and he definitely knows what he is doing.  They sell complete keyboards, not platforms for custom keycaps.  I own a Leo from EK and it is my favorite keyboard (except for very expensive customs).

Why is PS/2 so important?  Anyway if you want maximum compatibility and a quality board, and you can afford it, get a Filco.  I don't think anyone is ever sorry about buying a Filco.

[Piehunter]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me kind sir!  I shall make sure to share that with everyone I meet.

It kinda sounds to me like EliteKeyboards got ripped off or tricked into buying a bunch of Leopolds with nonstandard spacebars since it seems like they are about to lose 2 sales from me.

The funny thing about what u just told me is that I was going to buy a Rosewill from Newegg like a MONTH ago but it said it had crappy pad printing which only  lasts maybe 3 weeks under my high acid superfast typing.

So basically I could have just bought that, figured out that the keycaps sucked and then thrown the caps away and bought some new proper PBT Doubleshot or Dyesubs.  Doh!

Are there any other "gotchas" when picking out a keyboard?
I don't care so much about price.  My health is worth whatever they are charging as long as the product does what I need.  I need every key.  And PS/2 compatibility.  I need OEM keycap height for full compatibility with EK Landing Pads and WASD O-Rings.

I don't like DAS because they have that big thing sticking up off of it that wastes my deskspace.  I have a tiny rollerdesk that I hafta use so I ruled out DAS and all those old 1970s looking Cherry boards.

I can't buy a Topre cause they rig their boards to not work with any PS/2 adapter.     I would have bought a Topre years ago if only they worked with PS/2

I have never looked at Ducky yet.  Even though I have been studying keyboards for 20 hours a day for the last 8 or 9 days.

Newegg sells Rosewills.
Is there anything about a Rosewill that sux?  (given that I will replace the caps anyway)

I don't think you can call the keycaps "gotchas" =/ I mean, sure since you are on geekhack, you are probably looking for something "better", but with your "high acid superfast typing" I doubt you are staring at your keyboard anyways. And I'm pretty sure having crappy keycaps won't have any negative impact on your health...

That said, heres a post on deskthority discussing about rosewill vs filco
http://deskthority.net/keyboards-f2/rosewill-rk-9000-in-iso-t4211.html

[TotalChaos]

I was going to buy a Rosewill but they use Pad Printing.  YUCK.

So then I was going to buy a Filco but they use Pad Printing.  YUCK.

So then I discovered EliteKeyboards.com and their wonderful looking Leopolds with Laser Engraved keys.  At the very least the engraving will last forever.  But I never met any paint that could withstand my fingers for 6 months.

So then I started researching stickers.  I figured I would just put a clear sticker on every one of my Leopold's keycaps and then they would last forever.  But then I realized if I put stickers on my keycaps there will be a little edge on the top of each of my keys all the way around and I am sure that it will annoy my supersensitive fingers. And stuff tends not to stay stuck here in Houston with our 100% humidity.  And anyway why should I need to put stickers on?  I have several old Amiga keyboards from the 1980s that have perfectly clear text on them because they used properly constructed and expensive keycaps.

So then I thought, yeah I will just buy a whole entire set of replacement keycaps for my Leopold!  Ones that are Dysubbed or Doubleshot!  Problem solved!  But then I discovered all sorts of crazy things like color-coordinated keycaps that would clash terribly with a big black spacebar.  And I found other weird stuff like some crazy guy who makes aluminum spacebars!  No really its true! 

Only his spacebars won't work on my proposed Leopold due to Leopold intentionally installed an incompatible spacebar. 

Now maybe you can see how one thing led to another.

Ok back to the present:

I ruled out the Rosewill product line.  They failed the "Newegg Review Test"(tm)  Everyone says they have a defective USB port.

I read on GeekHack.org (World's Best Source of Keyboardicidal Informations(tm)) that CM Storm keyboards are Filco keyboards but at half the price and can be purchased within the USA.  They say that CM Storms are manufactured at the same plant as Filcos.

I am now planning to buy Cooler Master CM Storm QuickFire Rapid SGK-4000-GKCR1-US Black USB or PS/2 Wired Gaming Mechanical Cherry RED switches gaming keyboard  from Newegg.

Will it work 100% with all normal GroupBuy Cherry Keycaps?

Including Feng's Indestructible Aluminum Spacebar of Death(tm) ?

[metalliqaz]

These spacebars fit the CM Storm QFR

[WhiteFireDragon]

Wow this was actually pretty quick compared to the titanium space bars. Looking forward to both of mine. Hopefully no shipping problems this time :/

[singaporean123]

omg lol im sssooo excited

[midnight77]

Ordered and paid.  Can't wait to get one.

[cDtF]

These spacebars fit the CM Storm QFR

But not a Quickfire TK I suppose?

[esoomenona]

Nah, we calculated the size of that space bar and its a little bigger at 6.5x vs 6.25x. It MIGHT fit, with a little bit of space on each side, but no guarantee that the stemming will be the same.

[cDtF]

Okay 

Thanks anyway.

[TheProfosist]

received my spacebars today looking good the silver matches the KMAC

[gizzard]

Installed today.. amazing feel on browns

[netdevil]

Ordered and pay ! awesome can't wait to feel how its like on my browns 

[graboy]

Ordered and payment sent. Looking forward to receving it.

[metalliqaz]

I have mine on a Filco with browns.  I was actually thinking that it is a little too heavy for them.

[Elrick]

Just paid for one Silver and one Red.  Because it's before the 11/30 I did make the deadline this time.

Just let me know when you'll ship mine.  Thank you. 

[Turbo Slaab]

Hey feng, any chance of making more keys out of aluminum? Like modifiers for instance? It would go very good with these space bars.

[samwisekoi]

I have mine on a Filco with browns.  I was actually thinking that it is a little too heavy for them.

I was planning to try just that.  Hmmm.  Maybe on the Leo.

What are your other keys' profile?  OEM as well?

Thanks very much.  It is awesome to have actual, specific feedback before the end of the order period.

 - Ron | samwisekoi

[feng]

Just paid for one Silver and one Red.  Because it's before the 11/30 I did make the deadline this time.

Just let me know when you'll ship mine.  Thank you. 

I will ship out the rest orders on Saturday after my terrific Accounting exam on Friday. :/

Hey feng, any chance of making more keys out of aluminum? Like modifiers for instance? It would go very good with these space bars.

It is possible to make aluminum modifier keys for sure, but it really depends on the demand. MKC is a business man and the quantity is the thing he cares the most. I'll talk to him about it.

[Dgsbllx]

Are these going to be alright on a poker?

[feng]

Are these going to be alright on a poker?

Yeah sure, Poker's spacebar is also 6.25 units, 3 stems, and OEM profile.

[dorkvader]

The heavier Ti spacebar really lightens up a green switch, and this lighter one is perfect for my CMstorm with Reds, It doesn't make as satisfying a metallic click when you bottom it out, though.

The colour, texture, and costar stab fitment are all superb, this was well worth the money, and my only regret is not buynig three.

Thanks very much, Feng!

[WhiteFireDragon]

Just got mine in today. They look amazing, better than my pics can portray. Thanks feng!

[samwisekoi]

We worships the Precious, yes we does!

Beautiful, just beautiful.

Gotta go order me some of this metal!

I wonder if they could be engraved with a nice geek hack logo?

 - Ron | samwisekoi