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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: ARSLOCK on Thu, 07 August 2025, 11:50:38

Title: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: ARSLOCK on Thu, 07 August 2025, 11:50:38
(https://i.imgur.com/n9DkLXj.jpeg)
Fossil Southpaw Gunmetal Grey Prototype

Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw Fossil - Made in USA

Carolina Mech (https://www.carolinamech.com) + Van Dusen (https://www.vdmfg.com/)

R2 Album (https://imgur.com/a/38BVyUQ)

Join our Discord and give us feedback! (https://discord.gg/zzyj64g)
Follow us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/carolinamech/)


The best full size keyboard is back for Round 2. We're excited to be offering a Southpaw variant this time! The group buy is planned for August 25 2025 through mid September 2025. Shooting for a 6 month turnaround time. Worldwide sale exclusively on Carolina Mech (https://www.carolinamech.com). Sale format is an preorder style buy, no max currently set beyond human limit.

(https://i.imgur.com/B2guquY.jpeg)
Northern Lights Cerakote Fossil Southpaw Proto


(https://i.imgur.com/N9aN1A0.jpeg)
Ankylosaurus weight for R2!

Blued Ankylosaurus Engraving Video (https://youtube.com/shorts/4KZILnQwD2g?si=Lz8uYROtUAmIPy06)

(https://i.imgur.com/H4oAmon.jpeg)
Carnivore Weight, blued, designed by u/onecreativemind

(https://i.imgur.com/hj0qKQZ.jpeg)
7 degrees, 17.5mm front height

(https://i.imgur.com/Q51ClwL.jpeg)
Herbivore Weight, blued


specifications:
- solder only for southpaw, regular will have option for hotswap pcb, via, f12 and f13 compatible
- grommet mount
- usb-c daughterboard
- 7 degrees
- 17.5mm front height
- 2.44 kg / 5.6 lb
- price: kits around $660-$700 still finalizing and worried about tariffs.
- plates: kit will come with an aluminum full plate, option for half , fr4, carbon fiber
- custom tx bag style carrying case

colors are: Grey, Sand, Mongoose (color changing), Pegasus (color changing), and Northern Lights, maybe raw?

weight options: Carnivore (T-rex), Herbivore (Brontosaurus), Ankylosaurus, or blank. Bronto and Ankylo will have an option for a bluing, then engraving process in this video (https://youtube.com/shorts/4KZILnQwD2g?si=Lz8uYROtUAmIPy06)

Below are some renders by ruby (https://www.instagram.com/rubybuilds/) of the color options this round, which were voted on by our discord.

(https://i.imgur.com/7f5ORYc.png)
Gunmetal Grey Cerakote (https://www.cerakote.com/shop/cerakote-coating/H-219/gun-metal-grey)

(https://i.imgur.com/TyGALFx.png)
Mongoose Gun Candy Color Changing (https://www.guncandy.com/products/mongoose?srsltid=AfmBOoo7xWai5czsqoah9VJX6IdPterdvdQIwHeLmMk1FQPUUsSqoAfX)

(https://i.imgur.com/pliWhek.png)
Northern Lights Cerakote (https://www.cerakote.com/shop/cerakote-coating/H-315/northern-lights)

(https://i.imgur.com/PwvgfTG.png)
Pegasus Gun Candy Color Changing (https://www.guncandy.com/products/pegasus?srsltid=AfmBOooMSKlxcsDXoxNtRGf3SQKRONVSegoeZILD-oYmyMep5wBPpwqH)

(https://i.imgur.com/g7mH3Ji.png)
Sand Cerakote (custom blend)

(https://i.imgur.com/YuPUJvB.jpeg)
exploded view

(https://i.imgur.com/EjqgU3S.png)
side view

(https://i.imgur.com/AXahlHw.png)
grommet rubber mount

(https://i.imgur.com/TtoynLV.jpeg)
plate

We have a few more protos being coated and will update with IRL pics. Renders are approximations and color changing coating is tough to match! Please note the grey is a little tough to capture, here's another photo of it in natural light (https://i.imgur.com/GkIqaYE.png)

some stuff from R1


typing tests by u/Hedgey:



(https://preview.redd.it/c13ezu60gpqc1.jpg?width=4572&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c44735690138e58d56a75b86c6cb3cf63df8035)
R1 pic from u/coalxxx

Alexotos' youtube video below on Fossil:



Album from Lightning (https://imgur.com/a/TcYxurB)

Sound test from Lightning:

Join our Discord and give us feedback! (https://discord.gg/zzyj64g)

Alexotos will be building a Southpaw Fossil on August 27!

Thanks for looking!


Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: clay on Thu, 07 August 2025, 12:59:29
I vouch for Carolina Mech! I have a Fossil R1 and I can say this is the best full size and one of the best keyboards I have ever owned.
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: IOVERCALLHISTIOCYTES on Thu, 07 August 2025, 13:58:56
Make your other cerakote boards sad at how nice these finishes are

Years after memeing for Sossils it’s come true
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: Rob27shred on Thu, 07 August 2025, 14:58:15
That Northern Lights coating looks so good! :eek:
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: DirtyGingy on Thu, 07 August 2025, 16:13:07
Oh wow, I didn't expect an R2 of this. I don't know if I have room in my budget for it anytime soon, but this is cool to see.
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: white_rabbit on Thu, 07 August 2025, 16:48:37
I know its unlikely but any chance for F12 with media key blockers?

If not I'll settle for an F12 Airwave :)
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: MartinThePolarBear on Thu, 07 August 2025, 19:07:28
Please add Raw or Silver (Satin Aluminum Cerakote) as an option. That would look perfect
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: ARSLOCK on Fri, 08 August 2025, 08:59:41
Please add Raw or Silver (Satin Aluminum Cerakote) as an option. That would look perfect

Raw we can offer!
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: rob2kx on Fri, 08 August 2025, 17:47:10
Wish the black cherry/burgundy from R1 were an option.
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: CoffeeTime on Sat, 09 August 2025, 23:20:17
YES! Bronze finish in R1 was awesome but good golly I am a sand stan!!  :cool:
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: ARSLOCK on Mon, 11 August 2025, 12:55:55
Wish the black cherry/burgundy from R1 were an option.

Wanted to offer new colors this round, so we aren't doing any of the previous versions. Raw will be an option, so you could have that color applied by a local cerakoater if you choose.
Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: MartinThePolarBear on Mon, 11 August 2025, 21:51:47
Please add Raw or Silver (Satin Aluminum Cerakote) as an option. That would look perfect

Raw we can offer!
Sweet, will Raw be treated with a clear coat to prevent corrosion?

Title: Re: [IC] Fossil Full Size R2 + Southpaw - Made in USA
Post by: ARSLOCK on Tue, 12 August 2025, 07:31:03
Please add Raw or Silver (Satin Aluminum Cerakote) as an option. That would look perfect

Raw we can offer!
Sweet, will Raw be treated with a clear coat to prevent corrosion?

Raw will be raw! So no bead blasting or anything else, visible machine marks. Generally people who buy these units plan to custom coat or anodize themselves. I will say we have very clean machining and these units look pretty nice as-is.