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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: footloose on Sun, 06 June 2010, 01:20:57

Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: footloose on Sun, 06 June 2010, 01:20:57
I am building a one-handed chording keyboard.
I would like some nice mechanical keyswitches.
Cherry MX are easy to find, I bought some from Digikey.

But how can I buy ALPS-like or buckling spring-like keyswitches?

I am not a connoisseur of mechanical keyswitches...  I fondly remember a Model-M-alike I had as a child, and when this project came up I naturally wanted a similiar feel.  But I don't know what ALPS-like or BS-"like" switches feel like, so I would like to test them.

It seems crazy that I can buy a keyboard with 104 switches+caps for $70 (solidtek 6600 for ALPS-like or unicomp customizer for BS-like), but I can't find a place to direct-buy the keyswitches from.

I'm guessing I'm probably going to go with Cherry anyway since that leaves several options for feel, but I thought I'd ask.
Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: ch_123 on Sun, 06 June 2010, 05:28:45
Alps doesn't make keyswitches any more. Modern Alps boards use copies of varying quality from different Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers, but I'm not sure where you can buy them individually.

IBMs do not use individual switches, but Model Fs and Japanese 5576s use detachable spring modules, but it's not going to be easy to find them seperate to whole keyboards.
Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: didjamatic on Sun, 06 June 2010, 06:22:32
Your best/only option is to find a used board and desolder the switches from it, it takes under an hour to desolder them all.

Some good options that are usually inexpensive:
Apple Extended Keyboard II - Dampened, tactile, non-clicky
Dell AT101W - Tactile, non-clicky blacks

There are plenty of clicky ALPS boards that pop up on ebay, this one (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260612010426) should have very good complicated clicky ALPS and since it has an ugly cord and cigarette burn, it should go for cheap and be a great donor board.
Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: Superfluous Parentheses on Mon, 07 June 2010, 18:55:31
Quote from: didjamatic;190151
Dell AT101W - Tactile, non-clicky blacks
Don't know if I'd call them "tactile" but they're definitely the most common - and cheapest - second hand board around here with real mechanical switches (as in; separate switches you can desolder and move around - IBM buckling spring boards aside from the really rare Model F types have a membrane, so the switches are in a fixed position).

If you can find an AT 101, they shouldn't cost more than a few bucks so just get one and try them out.
Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: Superfluous Parentheses on Mon, 07 June 2010, 19:03:59
Quote from: ripster;190730
Damn.  I was hoping the Dells would be some super rare thing in Europe if I ever sold mine on Ebay.


Haven't you heard?! (http://computer-software.marktplaats.nl/toetsenborden/352613198-dell-model-m-keyboard-de-opvolger-van-de-ibm-m.html)
Title: How can I buy keyswitches directly?
Post by: Mental Hobbit on Mon, 07 June 2010, 19:11:14
Quote from: Superfluous Parentheses;190732

Haven't you heard?! (http://computer-software.marktplaats.nl/toetsenborden/352613198-dell-model-m-keyboard-de-opvolger-van-de-ibm-m.html)

Hmm, creative idea. I guess most buyers on ebay won't know the difference anyway.