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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Cata1yst on Mon, 04 April 2011, 22:51:43

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Cata1yst on Mon, 04 April 2011, 22:51:43

So basically ive got a dell AT101 tenkeyless worklog here. http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:16754 (that none of you have commented on :( )

The switches feel gross to me and the keycaps arent in exactly prime condition. So ive come down to replacing them. Ive got a pair of simplified type 2 alps that i do actually like the feel of, and i absolutely adore the feel of the monteray blues that came in the siig minitouch that i have for sale.

Anyone have any alps switch suggestions? From what i could work out the greens/oranges have a very similar nature to the blacks, and if theyre close to the blacks, i have this gut feeling that i will not like it. Any suggestions? I kinda need it to be more easily sourced than the blues, as a northgate is commanding huge price premiums.

Does anyone have a particular keyboard that they could suggest harvesting keycaps from? As far as i can work out only the NEXT has doubleshots for alps? I dont mind lasered or dye sublimated.

worst come to worst ill dye these at101w keycaps for some extra flair.

PS: its not possible to swap alps for cherries is it?

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Hak Foo on Mon, 04 April 2011, 23:55:17

For white switches, try a DSI/Solidtek ASK-6600U.  very cheap, nice switches.

For doubleshots, Focus boards can supply.  The FK-9200 is rubberdome, but features doubleshot alps-compatible keycaps at least in the one I saw.

However, most, if not all, cheap Alps boards with doubleshots have big enters.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: keyb_gr on Tue, 05 April 2011, 08:22:22

Quote from: Cata1yst;324738

PS: its not possible to swap alps for cherries is it?

Nope - nor will Montereys fit.

You can try lubing them black switches and see whether you like the feel then. Apparently that can make a big difference.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 05 April 2011, 09:39:41

I would seriously try cleaning the black ones first. I thought they felt gross too when I first got them, gritty, nasty, hard to press, etc.

Disassembling and cleaning them worked like magic.

And what worked even better (for me) was swapping in dampened sliders from an AEKII. Personally, I prefer the feel of those, but it's definitely a personal choice.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Cata1yst on Tue, 05 April 2011, 10:10:35

im going to try cleaning it up. Theres a leading edge keyboard that ive been eyeballing that looks like it might be a one stop shop with doubleshots and alps blues.

Can anyone comment on Blues vs Orange vs Green?

EDIT: theyre clean. Ill give lubing them a shot for fun.

I removed the tactile leaf spring and realized or hypothesize its the high actuation point and almost lack of a tactile bump that i dont get along with.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Hak Foo on Tue, 05 April 2011, 21:19:04

I hear Blue and White are a lot alike.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Cata1yst on Tue, 12 April 2011, 01:20:42

Bleh, im getting more and more discouraged at finding proper Alps parts.

would the cherry switch fit inside of an alps backplate? I might just end up manually wiring everything in to one of those NKRO controllers if they will fit.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Ascaii on Tue, 12 April 2011, 01:42:47

I have a set of doubleshot Black/white Alps keys with red cyrillic letters on them as well. ANSI layout with big enter. Want some pics?

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: REVENGE on Tue, 12 April 2011, 01:50:32

Want vintage AT101 dyesub keycaps? I have a bag full just sitting on my desk.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Cata1yst on Tue, 12 April 2011, 09:06:39

Quote from: Ascaii;329029

I have a set of doubleshot Black/white Alps keys with red cyrillic letters on them as well. ANSI layout with big enter. Want some pics?

Quote from: REVENGE;329035

Want vintage AT101 dyesub keycaps? I have a bag full just sitting on my desk.

Sure, just PM me guys. Keycaps are kinda whats bothering me atm, if i can sort out keycaps then i can allocate funds to finding a good conditiion donor board for switches.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 12 April 2011, 09:27:52

A lot of people like the AEKII with tactile leaves removed. Might feel too close to a rubber dome for your taste, though. And *most* of the keys are swappable, though some are rotated relative to everyone else.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Pylon on Tue, 12 April 2011, 13:50:10

If you want switches and caps, the old-logo Dell AT101s (non-W) have a possibility of having pink/orange Alps (they probably also have dye subbed keys).

Here's one on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-DELL-Enhanced-Keyboard-old-dell-logo-/190517761839?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2c5bbe572f

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: CurtisLeon on Tue, 12 April 2011, 18:16:34

Quote from: Pylon;329351

If you want switches and caps, the old-logo Dell AT101s (non-W) have a possibility of having pink/orange Alps (they probably also have dye subbed keys).

Here's one on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-DELL-Enhanced-Keyboard-old-dell-logo-/190517761839?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item2c5bbe572f

I'm fairly certain that, that's either a Dell branded Model M or a rubber dome. I don't remember any AT101's that looked like that.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Pylon on Tue, 12 April 2011, 19:36:40

Actually, good catch. I thought that it was an AT101 but the picture is pretty obvious. My apologies.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: REVENGE on Tue, 12 April 2011, 22:30:14

I really like the dyesub AT101 keycaps. They're made of thick plastic and have a nice texture. It's too bad that Pink ALPS is so overrated.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: REVENGE on Tue, 12 April 2011, 23:49:52

Quote from: ripster;329811

SGI Granites are even thicker.

Show Image

(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=9776&stc=1&d=1273209100)

They almost look exactly the same, save for the fonting. That SGI font is quite nice.

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: Cata1yst on Fri, 15 April 2011, 13:48:03

Are the beam spring alps swappable with regular alps?

Anyone know if the p75 keyboard is plate moutned?

Title: Need alps swiches/keycap replacement suggestions
Post by: ricercar on Fri, 15 April 2011, 16:54:14

Quote from: Ascaii;329029

I have a set of doubleshot Black/white Alps keys with red cyrillic letters on them as well. ANSI layout with big enter. Want some pics?

Yes, please!