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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 14:23:21

Title: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 14:23:21: Yo peeps.. as above really. I'm after a heavy, clicky board, preferably TKL or smaller. Is there anything to suit my needs? I don't mind modding whatsoever. Thanks, James (pex)
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Lanx on Tue, 16 October 2012, 14:38:17: heavy and clicky is really only buckling spring(bs) for tkl search ebay for a model m space saving, or if you want to mod just get a model m and hack off the keypad and roll up the membrane, a few tuts in the how to section for this.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: FoxWolf1 on Tue, 16 October 2012, 14:38:34: Heavy, clicky?

IBM Model M SpaceSaver? TypeNow Solid with MX Blue would count if you mean "heavy" by the weight of the keyboard rather than the force of the key. Both quite expensive, though.

If you mean "heavy" by key force, though, you could get a PCB-mounted MX Blue board and swap in black springs to make ghetto greens...
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:03:28: Thanks for your help guys. As in heavy, I mean keyswitches, I should have made that clearer. I heard about greens, ghetto greens, somewhere like you said; does the keyboard have to have plated mounted switches to be modded to ghetto greens?
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Skull_Angel on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:08:03: PCB mounted switches are just easier to modify because there's no need for desoldering, plate mounted switches require you to desolder the switch in most cases in order to be taken apart for modding.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:20:41: Ahah... What If I were to install a plate myself? That would mean soldering new switches on anyway right? Sorry, I'm pretty new to this stuff.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Magna224 on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:23:55: Ortek MCK-84 and SIIG Minitouch are good ones.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Skull_Angel on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:27:16: Yeah, you'd need to desolder all of the switches, remove the stabilizer tabs (plate and PCB Cherry MX switches are similar except for little tabs on PCB mount), find/make a plate compatible with the PCB (and get/mod some appropriate stabilizers for the bigger keys) and solder everything back together. Simple with some of the necessary skill, but tedious and time consuming.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:52:46: Quote from: Skull_Angel on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:27:16
Simple with some of the necessary skill, but tedious and time consuming.

sounds like something I'd enjoy doing then! :))
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:58:37: Quote from: Magna224 on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:23:55
Ortek MCK-84 and SIIG Minitouch are good ones.
I was going to recommend a SiiG Minitouch, as I have one for sale and believe it might be what the OP is looking for... but I am pending a sale already, and plus I wouldn't want to have to ship international if I could avoid it...

Ghetto greens sound like the way to go, alot more freedom to customize and such...

EDIT: My SiiG is still for sale, and I might consider allowing for international shipping if you'd be interested in it.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: ekw808 on Tue, 16 October 2012, 20:16:43: If you want very heavy switches you can try some clears, they don't click but have a very similar tactile feel as the blues.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: tp4tissue on Tue, 16 October 2012, 21:03:50: Quote from: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:52:46
Quote from: Skull_Angel on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:27:16
Simple with some of the necessary skill, but tedious and time consuming.

sounds like something I'd enjoy doing then! :))

Don't count on that. it's boring as sh1t.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Wed, 17 October 2012, 04:57:01: Quote from: tp4tissue on Tue, 16 October 2012, 21:03:50
Quote from: pexon on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:52:46
Quote from: Skull_Angel on Tue, 16 October 2012, 15:27:16
Simple with some of the necessary skill, but tedious and time consuming.

sounds like something I'd enjoy doing then! :))

Don't count on that. it's boring as sh1t.

But I love stuff like that. Thanks for your help guys, looks like I'm going to have to get a little MX blue board and have a play.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: Skull_Angel on Wed, 17 October 2012, 05:01:32: Happy modding an' good luck!
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Wed, 17 October 2012, 07:16:47: Thanks brother!
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: dorkvader on Wed, 17 October 2012, 09:27:04: If you want, I'll trade you the heavy springs from my clears for the lighter springs from your blues.
Title: Re: Heavy, clicky keyboard
Post by: pexon on Wed, 17 October 2012, 10:09:23: I've not got my new board yet mate, plus I've got some black springs here ready to make some ghetto greens. I appreciate the offer though dude!