Show Image(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4074&stc=1&d=1251310831)
So overall I'm pretty happy with this. The next trick is to find a replacement right shift key. I think the G81-8000 series is my best bet so I found one on Ebay for $115. Too much (it's USED too). He takes offers so I offered $20. He came back with $85. Hahahahahaha!
I might have to keep on looking. Anybody has some ideas here please post them - they gotta be around somewhere.
Also, what's up with those Cherry front row keys???
1989 G80-1xxxHAD Esc: Back 1.73 mm, sides 1.53/1.58 mm, front 1.49 mm.
1993 G80-3000HAD Esc: Back 1.67 mm, sides 1.49 mm, front 1.44 mm.
1996 G80-3000LFADE Esc: All between 1.40 and 1.47 mm, with the sides again taking middle positions.
2004 G80-3456LQMDE Esc: Back 0.94 mm, sides 0.82 mm, front 0.75 mm. Darn cost-cutting. No wonder I don't like the feel of these keys as much. You notice they're lighter when picking them up. Not like I'd ever have seen a worn-through Cherry key but anyway...
I know it's user preference but I don't know how geekhackers can resist the blank look of those filcos.
Even though the keys gets shiny quickly, it is still slick looking =D
Show Image(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4069&stc=1&d=1251309726)
It was late at night and I was rushing it. Luckily I was gonna order some switches for DataCal so I'm only out an extra $1.20 and some soldering time. Told you those Filco keycaps fit tight. If you run across a sticky one don't yank, just keep rocking it off.
do they sell "lettered" keys for the filcos? im getting an otaku which is blank and would like some letter keys for the numbers and f keys
I have two sets of lettered Filco keycaps that I'm willing to part with for merely the price of shipping.
The catch is they're for the Filco Zero XM (Alps), not Cherry.
The catch is they're for the Filco Zero XM (Alps), not Cherry.
Wonder if they'd work on an AT101W, the default cheap Alps board?
I wonder if a preference for shiny keys depends on the plastic. Some, like lowpoly, like shiny keys as they feel it helps them stick to the keys better (like racing slicks on a car), but I wonder if that's true for all plastics. I am currently seeing how long it takes to make POM caps shiny. When that finally happens, I will see if they are as "grippy" as ABS. Right now, with their texture intact, the POM keys on my Cherry feel like surface of a Teflon pan... literally.
Sounds about right. That's what a Delrin guitar pick feels like.
I think the shiny keys would be an acquired taste but they are incredible sharp - the pictures don't do them justice.
The cost cutting measures of keyboard manufacturers are starting to piss me off. In the volumes we are talking for some of these guys I wouldn't be surprised if dual shots cost them less than $5 a set.
That slick?
That's interesting. The POS keyboards have noncentered keystems for CTRL, ALT (idiotic Cherry engineers) so that's the only row I haven't been able to replace. Also, I haven't seen doubleshot CTRL ALTs that would fit the spacing.
That's interesting. The POS keyboards have noncentered keystems for CTRL, ALT (idiotic Cherry engineers) so that's the only row I haven't been able to replace. Also, I haven't seen doubleshot CTRL ALTs that would fit the spacing.
What do you measure on those? - I get 23mm when I measure the base. From the looks of it yours aren't Filco compatible. (Edit: I checked by putting two together and comparing with your pic for R-SHIFT and nope, not compatible).
What are you trading?? Get me some Red Cherry keyboards!
You think there is a big different between the plate mounted Filco vs the PCB mounted cherry boards?
I'm not ripster, but yes, there is. I am not sure if ripster has any PCB-mounted MX 'boards. The G81 series has MY switches.
And the difference is....? :)
I assume the plate mounted boards might make more sound and are harder to mod (you have to desolder switches) in comparison to PCB mounted boards you can pry the switch open, and maybe the sound is quieter?
There is flex on PCB mounted cherry boards (I can verify from my MX8100) but I'm not sure if it affects my typing at all? I can't tell.
Thanks for the info itlnstln and rip. Dang by the way you describe it itlnstln, it seems that the g80-3000 is superior to the Filco 104key cherry blue. And if you can find it at one of the POS sites in stock it could be much cheaper.
Sorry bout that not searching the forums first, I thought I had actually read every post on geekhack already, being a big time lurker already lol.
No problem. I do like the 3000 more than the Filco, personally. Both my Filco and my Cherry have brown switches, though, so I couldn't tell you if the blues are any better on the 3000 than the Filco, but there are other members here that have both, and they might be able to tell you.
Show Image(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4235&stc=1&d=1251909237)
Yaaaay - the R-SHIFT key is a 1:1 replacement. Finally. Now for the front row. Whaaa.... A DOUBLE insult. No double shot and offcenter posts. What was Cherry Corp thinking. Dumbkopfs. Sheisskopfs. Das ist nicht gut.
The front row keys on this Cherry MX8100 fit the Filco:and so does the capslock - the stem is centred on this board.Show Image(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/CherryMX8100.jpg) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=260543612299&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT#ht_500wt_975)
The Control and Alt keys are double-shot, the Windows keys aren't.
and so does the capslock - the stem is centred on this board.
Are the keys on this board (Cherry MX8100) double shot? And if they aren't, do they match the height/look of the double shot keys on the G80 and G81 boards?
thanks,
skc
They are doubleshot on the auction (and pictures) linked earlier in this topic. However, there are also lasered versions. Keep looking for the H** in the serial, which indicates double shot keys.
Talking of double shot keys... something very cool will be coming to geekhack soon. Maybe expect it at the end of this month. This is hint one! Stay tuned.
Stay tuned for what?? :smile:
This may officially be the geekiest thing I've ever done. I sort of like the "stepped" caps lock key. Messed up a few before I got one right.Show Image(http://www.fototime.com/DE9B25F0309D1D9/standard.jpg)Show Image(http://www.fototime.com/79E2D3C9F6DA15B/standard.jpg)
The spacebar has turned out to be more of a problem due to the different spacing on the stabilizer bar. But I'm sure I figure something out ....
Very Nice! I have been planning on trying this for a while. How did you remove the stem? I am guessing pliers?
Is that the same 2 part epoxy ripster recommended a few days ago? (sry, not sure the thread)
Anyone find a good source of mid mounted doubleshot black capslock keys without cracking the stem off?
I think the only double shot board with a compatible capslock key is the MX8000 series. All other Cherry boards have the stepped capslock key which equals a non centered stem.
I bought a Filco tenkeyless with Cherry browns for the office and found a couple Cherry 'boards on eBay that provided the necessary double-shot replacement keys:Show Image(http://www.soybomb.com/ratpfink/keyboards/filco-ds-700.jpg)
I apologize for my lousy photography skills, but in person this thing looks and feels great. Filco with double-shots is definitely a winning combination.
That's awesome!! Which cherry board did you use for the caps lock and the front row?? I have several that fill in the other keys. Didjamatic listed the board that he used for the front row. I'll need to find one of those. Is that the Filco space bar or did you find one of those also?
It is a much nicer look/feel than the stock Filco isn't it?
skc
The caps lock and front row keys came from a Cherry MX-8100:
http://geekhack.org/showpost.php?p=156685&postcount=67
The rest of the keys are from an MY-7000, except the spacebar which is the original Filco.
Yeah, the double-shot keys definitely make a difference in feel and sound.
But what is the exact Article No. on that board? There seem to be a few different MX-8100 boards. Thanks!!
skc
I could see the DS swap being great with Blues, but would you say it's worth it for browns as well?
I think so. The keys feel better.
The only thing that takes a little getting used to is that there are no nubs on the F and J keys, they're curved differently instead.
I got a midmounted DS capslock off the 8113
Zazzle needs to add nubs.
skcheng and ripster,
If I weren't mechanically incompetent, I'd try to duplicate what you've done. Too bad I can't get a filco like these.
The Filco stablizer fits a bit looser in the Cherry key which makes it annoying when putting on but it works. It also sticks out a bit on some keys but trust me, it ends up working fine.
This is a bit of an understatement in my case -- about half of the Filco stabilizers are so loose that they fall out of the keycap when I turn it over. So some of my long keys don't have a functioning stabilizer at all right now, and some of the others feel mushy or clattery.
Does anyone happen to know of any good model number for a key donor with a short left shift key? (i.e. 105 key layout) Alternately, if anyone already has such a thing, i'd happily trade a long doubleshot cherry left shift for one!
Spiffy.
The Filco Blue Cherry Tenkeyless with DoubleShots - the Ultimate Modern Keyboard!
*wince* close! But that's about a quarter of an inch too longShow Image(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=11360&stc=1&d=1277433942)
You're Canadian right? What on earth possessed you to get a UK layout keyboard? I've been trying to dodge them for years... well, one year.
This I think may have thrown off some people. The stabilizers are quite different. Filco on the left, Cherry 81 series on the right.Show Image(http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=4067&stc=1&d=1251309363)
It's simple though to just pull the stabilizers and exchange. The Filco stablizer fits a bit looser in the Cherry key which makes it annoying when putting on but it works. It also sticks out a bit on some keys but trust me, it ends up working fine.
If you have a standard keyboard the numpad section looks to me to be fully compatible.
I know the black doubleshots are harder to get in Germany but they do exist IIRC.
I bought a german layout Cherry G81-1800 from sixty here at geekhack. I'm not so sure how common these are, but I haven't seen any SWE/FI layout ones anywhere.
Oh, and welcome to geekhack!
Not DoubleShot but extremely rare Deck Trucker Girl. I think only Lmnop and I have one.
You want to trade one of these keys for that Deck Trucker Girl?
I can modify any of these novelty keys in MX or Buckling Spring format. If interested PM me.