Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[Dubsgalore]

that first photo looks more like dolch alphas with white on black mods

Isn't that what Dolch is? White on Grey Alphas with White on Black mods? Just called Dolch because that's the board the color scheme originally came from.

not what i thought, in fact, in MMB's photo here, the mods are dolch, with the one exception of the right shift, which is white on black


edit: also those 1x caps on the bottom row are from the hashbaz tsangan buy, white on black SP to match the SP white on black right shift

[metalliqaz]

Dolch is actually medium gray and very-dark gray.

[Dubsgalore]

Photekq wanna help me out? Hunt down a picture of both and add them to that post? Gonna add it to the OP.

I'm not phobro, but winrar?



Moogle on top; Tsangan on bottom

[CPTBadAss]

that first photo looks more like dolch alphas with white on black mods

Isn't that what Dolch is? White on Grey Alphas with White on Black mods? Just called Dolch because that's the board the color scheme originally came from.

Dolch is actually medium gray and very-dark gray.

For anyone who's reading this later. This is what I learned today.

[Dubsgalore]

Bro, check dem quotes  ) )

also, is that photo of moogle vs tsangan ok?

[Photekq]

Photekq wanna help me out? Hunt down a picture of both and add them to that post? Gonna add it to the OP.

I'm not phobro, but winrar?

Show Image

Moogle on top; Tsangan on bottom

Woops, was in dota and missed your post CPT. I think dubs pretty much covered it though.

[CPTBadAss]

Bro, check dem quotes  ) )

also, is that photo of moogle vs tsangan ok?

Yeah dude....I edited the wrong post and was like WTF HAPPENED.

* CPTBadAss IS DUMB

Could you possible do some sick Paint editing to it too? Box the moogle and the tsangan and label both?

[Dubsgalore]

LOL all good
i got so confused while reading it



i think some of us might remember vaguely my master paint skills..http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=43183.msg879446#msg879446

also, for the first 3 months i was on Geekhack, i thought the difference between Moogle and Tsangan was profile..i thought they were both 1.5 mods but with different seperate profiles..CPT can vouch for me

[CPTBadAss]

Thanks dubs, appreciate it. I'll add that to the OP later. And fixing the quotes...that was a mess...

[stancato9]

Quick question.. Where can I get dark grey / charcoal pbt?

I know imsto has thick grey pbt but I would like something darker."

Thanks.

[Dubsgalore]

Quick question.. Where can I get dark grey / charcoal pbt?

I know imsto has thick grey pbt but I would like something darker."

Thanks.

not sure those exist, to be 100% honest

[stancato9]

Quick question.. Where can I get dark grey / charcoal pbt?

I know imsto has thick grey pbt but I would like something darker."

Thanks.

not sure those exist, to be 100% honest

I've seen them on here somewhere. Can't remember where though. And the owner said they were darker than imsto I believe.

[Photekq]

There are probably some thin PBTs or ABS ones that are darker. There are no thick PBTs that are darker though..

[dndlmx]

Any good wrist rests for smaller keyboards? 60%, TKL, HHKB, etc...

That are available, easy to get at the current time, mind you.

[lcs]

Any good wrist rests for smaller keyboards? 60%, TKL, HHKB, etc...

That are available, easy to get at the current time, mind you.

Beast's?

[nubbinator]

Any good wrist rests for smaller keyboards? 60%, TKL, HHKB, etc...

That are available, easy to get at the current time, mind you.

Beast's?

He's not making them right now because of school.  They're pretty easy to make though and I've made several myself.

If you just want a padded one, Grifiti makes a decent one.

[stancato9]

There are probably some thin PBTs or ABS ones that are darker. There are no thick PBTs that are darker though..

I think I remember Keyboard King being where they were from.. if that's even a store / person.

[IvanIvanovich]

There was some dark charcoal with black dyesubs sets made by vortex at one point, Ducky had some black pad print on black sets awhile ago too. Both are OEM profile thin caps though.

[jonathanyu]

where can I get  LED stand-offs for filco-style LEDs?

I never realized they had a standoff but i found a picture from Photoelectric. I bet you could just order some plastic bushings and cut it down to size from McMasterCarr or a hardware store. I don't know the diameter though. And I wonder if you actually need them or if you could just put a bit of insulation, like plastic, between the LED and plate.

They are 5mm in diameter x 8mm in height. You can get 400 of them for $6.83 shipped, from Amazon.

someone tell mkawa he can buy a pack and add them to the geekhackers store

Hmmm, 2000 pcs is only $21.91 shipped, from Hong Kong. http://www.ebay.com/itm/310577934164

just bought it  thanks!

[jonathanyu]

just got the music wire today, 1/16" is the right size. But another question come out? what kind of cutter can I use to cut it? I have tried edsyn kp111, it to hard for kp111.
and....how to bend it? I use a Du-Bro EZ Bender, but the wire break up every time just before it get to 90 degree.

[frogamic]

What type of steel do you use when making a plate for switch mounting?

[jdcarpe]

What type of steel do you use when making a plate for switch mounting?

Cherry specs call for 0.060" thickness. You can use any type of steel, but these have typically been made using 16-gauge stainless steel. 16-gauge is 0.0625" but is close enough to work well for our purposes.

[MKULTRA]

just got the music wire today, 1/16" is the right size. But another question come out? what kind of cutter can I use to cut it? I have tried edsyn kp111, it to hard for kp111.
and....how to bend it? I use a Du-Bro EZ Bender, but the wire break up every time just before it get to 90 degree.

Have you seen litster's video?

[CPTBadAss]

just got the music wire today, 1/16" is the right size. But another question come out? what kind of cutter can I use to cut it? I have tried edsyn kp111, it to hard for kp111.
and....how to bend it? I use a Du-Bro EZ Bender, but the wire break up every time just before it get to 90 degree.

Have you seen litster's video?

His video has the EZ Bender in in but metalliqaz said its apparently too weak to bend music wire. I know he tried to bend some wire for his Epsilon project. More info can be found in that thread.

[jonathanyu]

just got the music wire today, 1/16" is the right size. But another question come out? what kind of cutter can I use to cut it? I have tried edsyn kp111, it to hard for kp111.
and....how to bend it? I use a Du-Bro EZ Bender, but the wire break up every time just before it get to 90 degree.

Have you seen litster's video?

I have seen it, and I tried the same, but mine broke every time.

just got the music wire today, 1/16" is the right size. But another question come out? what kind of cutter can I use to cut it? I have tried edsyn kp111, it to hard for kp111.
and....how to bend it? I use a Du-Bro EZ Bender, but the wire break up every time just before it get to 90 degree.

Have you seen litster's video?

His video has the EZ Bender in in but metalliqaz said its apparently too weak to bend music wire. I know he tried to bend some wire for his Epsilon project. More info can be found in that thread.

seems that mine music wire just doesn't match with the ez bender 

[jdcarpe]

Doesn't the DuBro EZ Bender have different dies for different sizes of wire? Are you using the correct one?

[jonathanyu]

Doesn't the DuBro EZ Bender have different dies for different sizes of wire? Are you using the correct one?

I am using the 062-.072 die

[jdcarpe]

Doesn't the DuBro EZ Bender have different dies for different sizes of wire? Are you using the correct one?

I am using the 062-.072 die

Well then, I got nothing.

I use a vice and pliers.

[jonathanyu]

Doesn't the DuBro EZ Bender have different dies for different sizes of wire? Are you using the correct one?

I am using the 062-.072 die

Well then, I got nothing.

I use a vice and pliers.

Finally, I bend the wire to 90 degree successfully.  I found that the wire won't break if you bend it really fast. 

[phx]

say I have a board with mx brown and I want to mod it to ergo clear, would my best/easiest option be just open up the switches and swap the stem, spring, etc?
are the housings universal?

[BlueBär]

say I have a board with mx brown and I want to mod it to ergo clear, would my best/easiest option be just open up the switches and swap the stem, spring, etc?

With a PCB mounted keyboard, yes, but with a plate mounted keyboard without a solderless plate you will have to desolder the switches and remove them from the plate, so it would actually be easier to swap the whole switch instead of opening each one.

are the housings universal?

Apart from the PCB mounting pins, yes.

[lcs]

say I have a board with mx brown and I want to mod it to ergo clear, would my best/easiest option be just open up the switches and swap the stem, spring, etc?
are the housings universal?

You need the sliders from the clears and the springs from the browns, if I am not mistaken.

[CPTBadAss]

1) say I have a board with mx brown and I want to mod it to ergo clear, would my best/easiest option be just open up the switches and swap the stem, spring, etc?

2) are the housings universal?

1) Depends on the keyboard you have. If its plate mounted and stock or PCB mounted with LEDs you'll have to desolder the switches. If you have a custom plate that allows you to open the switches without desoldering then yes, swapping the stem and spring would be easiest. If you have a custom plate and LEDs, you'll have to desolder the LEDs. You can mod the housings to work with the custom plate and LEDs.

2) Yes

say I have a board with mx brown and I want to mod it to ergo clear, would my best/easiest option be just open up the switches and swap the stem, spring, etc?
are the housings universal?

You need the sliders from the clears and the springs from the browns, if I am not mistaken.

If you're doing the "traditional" ergo-clear mod then yes, this is correct. I think there's a bit of confusion with ergo-clears since some people, including myself, refer to anything that's not stock clears as ergo-clears. However, the precedent is that ergo clears are Brown/Red/Blue springs with a Clear stem. And everything else should be referred to by spring weight. For example: 55g Clears or 62g Clears.

[lcs]

If you're doing the "traditional" ergo-clear mod then yes, this is correct. I think there's a bit of confusion with ergo-clears since some people, including myself, refer to anything that's not stock clears as ergo-clears. However, the precedent is that ergo clears are Brown/Red/Blue springs with a Clear stem. And everything else should be referred to by spring weight. For example: 55g Clears or 62g Clears.

Yes, it'd be better. I believe this comes from the DT wiki, right?

[CPTBadAss]

Yes, it'd be better. I believe this comes from the DT wiki, right?

Correct.

[phx]

aww crap, I have a QFR which means it's plate mounted.

guess it's time to buy a soldering iron... 

people seem to be suggesting this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1379358026&sr=8-4&keywords=soldering+iron

or can I be cheap and get a cheaper one?

[whiskytango]

guess it's time to buy a soldering iron and a desoldering iron... 

ftfy

I have used the RadioShack desoldering iron with the built in bulb with some success. The tips wear out quickly, but it's very cheap (around $15 I think) Edit: you can also use a solder sucker for even cheaper, but I don't care for those too much. I really like my Hakko 808 but they're not cheap

People have widely varying opinions on which soldering iron to get. Some people get by with cheap ones. Some people prefer expensive ones. I think that buying a decent iron will pay off down the road. I have been using a XYtronic 258 for 10 years or so, but I don't use it very often. I like it. If I had it to do over again, I'd probably buy one with a base station instead of one that has the thick heavy power cord running straight from it to the plug.

There's a whole thread on this: Living Soldering Thread

[CPTBadAss]

guess it's time to buy a soldering iron...

or can I be cheap and get a cheaper one?

Issue with the Radio Shack Bulb is that the tip isn't fine enough for LED/smaller solder joints. I had to get a Soldapult, which has worked fine.

Cheaper soldering iron would might be a Yihua 936. Follow WhiskyTango's link for more info and details.

FWIW, I have a Radio Shack Desoldering Bulb, a Soldapult DS017, and a Hakko 936 with a Chisel Tip.

[phx]

hmm... I have a solder sucker so I thought I could just use that instead of buying a desoldering iron, I guess desoldering would be much easier if I had an iron just for that.

[CPTBadAss]

hmm... I have a solder sucker so I thought I could just use that instead of buying a desoldering iron, I guess desoldering would be much easier if I had an iron just for that.

I've had HORRIBLE results with a solder sucker. Definitely spring for a Soldapult if you want to go that route. Otherwise other popular options are Hakko 808 and the Radio Shack bulb. I like the Soldapult after getting some time to practice with it.

[jdcarpe]

people seem to be suggesting this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1379358026&sr=8-4&keywords=soldering+iron

Yihua 936

[phx]

people seem to be suggesting this one:
http://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-Watt-Soldering-Station/dp/B000AS28UC/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1379358026&sr=8-4&keywords=soldering+iron

Show Image

Yihua 936

lol it is in the Soldering Thread....
but damn that's a good deal, will pick that up, thanks!

edit: bought it, and will pick up a desoldering iron and solder next time I'm at radioshack :d

[CPTBadAss]

Any good wrist rests for smaller keyboards? 60%, TKL, HHKB, etc...

That are available, easy to get at the current time, mind you.

At work I just have the generic gel wrist pads they sell at Staples. At home I have a 3G gel wrist rest for my keyboard and a IMAK bead wrist rests that I bought at Amazon and MicroCenter respectively. I've heard good things about Griffiti wrist rests too.

Quick question.. Where can I get dark grey / charcoal pbt?

I know imsto has thick grey pbt but I would like something darker."

not sure those exist, to be 100% honest

Don't think I've ever seen this color in thick PBT either.

[sga101]

Is there a device which can graft on extra features like remapping and macros to an existing USB keyboard?

Something which looks like one of those USB keyloggers perhaps?

If not, I suspect there would be a market for it....

Since my electronics skills are almost zero, I'm ideally looking for something that comes ready assembled....

[CPTBadAss]

Is there a device which can graft on extra features like remapping and macros to an existing USB keyboard?

Since my electronics skills are almost zero, I'm ideally looking for something that comes ready assembled....

Soarer converter assembled by someone in the Professional Services thread. Pro Service link in the OP. Soarer Converter is a sticked thread in Making Stuff Together.

[dorkvader]

Is there a device which can graft on extra features like remapping and macros to an existing USB keyboard?

Since my electronics skills are almost zero, I'm ideally looking for something that comes ready assembled....

Soarer converter assembled by someone in the Professional Services thread. Pro Service link in the OP. Soarer Converter is a sticked thread in Making Stuff Together.

The soarer works great if you have a PS2 keyboard. For USB, I know of the QIDO qwerty to dvorak converter. I think someone is working on usb host support, possibly hasu's tmk firmware, but it's surely in the alpha stage right now, if that.

[keymaster]

Does anyone know what type of switch this keyboard uses? It looks like a Topre rubber cup but I've never seen this keyboard before.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Solbourne-102691-Computer-Keyboard-/261268991231

[loadstar81]

What combination of switch/o-ring/spring(?)/etc would give the absolute quietest setup for office use?

[ComradeSniper]

What combination of switch/o-ring/spring(?)/etc would give the absolute quietest setup for office use?

For MX, Browns, Clears, Reds, and Blacks will be equally loud.

[Sifo]

Naw linear Is quieter, you can hear the actuation on clears. Get blacks