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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Melvang on Thu, 08 August 2013, 07:10:37

Title: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Thu, 08 August 2013, 07:10:37
Alright guys I got a bit of a research project for you.  I am looking for any info that would help me track down the elusive 15x spacebar.  According to a post by a fellow GH'er they do exist he just doesn't have his anymore.  I have a thread posted over at DT in both the keyboard section and the marketplace section.  Over there I go by the name of Rotti in case you guys happen to frequent that site more than this one.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 04:34:05
Nobody has anything on this?  After reading some posts in one of the GH60 threads I am led to believe that they do exist.  And if I remember correctly Samwise and Ivan had actually owned them.  Now I need to try and figure out what old keyboards shipped with them so I can really lurk around on eBay.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 04:42:47
Wish I could help mate, the board mine is on is totally unbranded. I can tell you that it is a Model F copy with Cherry switches instead of BS.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 04:45:17
Pic please?
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 04:48:48
Done.

(http://i.imgur.com/uwjj3sU.jpg)
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 09 August 2013, 05:54:14
That is only a 10x space bar.  My Link terminal keyboard has about a 10x space bar too.  15x would be the entire width of the alpha section, including modifiers.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 05:55:10
Ah I didn't realise he was specifically looking for a 15x one, we'd discussed my 10 unit space-bar previously.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 05:55:49
That is only a 10x space bar.  My Link terminal keyboard has about a 10x space bar too.  15x would be the entire width of the alpha section, including modifiers.

Correct.  There is some mention of these elusive creatures actually existing in the wild in one of the GH60 threads and I have send a PM to both parties involved but no response in a few days.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 05:58:28
Ah I didn't realise he was specifically looking for a 15x one, we'd discussed my 10 unit space-bar previously.

Its all good Bueller.  I actually won an auction on Ebay for a WYSE (http://www.stonesys.com/product.aspx?pf_id=901867-01).  Will post pics after I pick it up today.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 09 August 2013, 06:05:13
I think GH60 listed that it could use a 10x or 15x.
finding the space bar itself may be a problem.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 06:07:43
I think GH60 listed that it could use a 10x or 15x.
finding the space bar itself may be a problem.

True but Ivan mentioned that he had one at one point.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 06:13:02
Ah I didn't realise he was specifically looking for a 15x one, we'd discussed my 10 unit space-bar previously.

Its all good Bueller.  I actually won an auction on Ebay for a WYSE (http://www.stonesys.com/product.aspx?pf_id=901867-01).  Will post pics after I pick it up today.

Nice! Sooo jealous of all the old keyboards available to you guys in the US, out of the 10+ boards I've found locally all but one have been Alps!
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 09 August 2013, 06:19:17
Ah I didn't realise he was specifically looking for a 15x one, we'd discussed my 10 unit space-bar previously.

Its all good Bueller.  I actually won an auction on Ebay for a WYSE (http://www.stonesys.com/product.aspx?pf_id=901867-01).  Will post pics after I pick it up today.

Nice! Sooo jealous of all the old keyboards available to you guys in the US, out of the 10+ boards I've found locally all but one have been Alps!

Nothing wrong with Alps - you'd get some GHers falling over themselves to buy them off you (depending on which type of Alps they are, of course).
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 06:26:24
Ah I didn't realise he was specifically looking for a 15x one, we'd discussed my 10 unit space-bar previously.

Its all good Bueller.  I actually won an auction on Ebay for a WYSE (http://www.stonesys.com/product.aspx?pf_id=901867-01).  Will post pics after I pick it up today.

Nice! Sooo jealous of all the old keyboards available to you guys in the US, out of the 10+ boards I've found locally all but one have been Alps!

Nothing wrong with Alps - you'd get some GHers falling over themselves to buy them off you (depending on which type of Alps they are, of course).

Yeah the majority have only really been salvage-able for caps, I'll probably do a FS thread once I have everything cleaned up and sorted.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 07:15:37
Alright if I can't find a 15x spacebar what do you guys think the chances are of finding a 10x PBT spacebar?
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 09 August 2013, 07:19:22
You probably won't find one, PBT tends to crook when cooling down so that's especially hard with such a long spacebar. I think even the standard 6.25 spacebars in PBT sets are sometimes ABS.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: TheQsanity on Fri, 09 August 2013, 07:33:36
I hear PBT space bars are worse for that case.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 07:42:39
Any suggestions on gluing PBT?  Thinking of splicing one together to get somewhere in the 10+ range.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: kps on Fri, 09 August 2013, 09:02:18
Any suggestions on gluing PBT?  Thinking of splicing one together to get somewhere in the 10+ range.
Permabond ES5741. Good luck finding some. You might be able to solvent-weld with MEK; have never tried.



Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: 0100010 on Fri, 09 August 2013, 09:40:33
You probably won't find one, PBT tends to crook when cooling down so that's especially hard with such a long spacebar. I think even the standard 6.25 spacebars in PBT sets are sometimes ABS.

Only on the Greenock Model Ms are the spacebars ABS - the rest are all PBT.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 09 August 2013, 10:06:53
Only on the Greenock Model Ms are the spacebars ABS - the rest are all PBT.

Nobody mentoined the Model M? SP PBT sets for example have an ABS spacebar.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 11:54:50
I think I found my solution.  Granted the largest I can go with this method would be 10x without cutting and splicing but I emailed the following via their form online.

 I was wondering if you folks have any molds for a spacebar over the semi standard size of 7 units?  I am looking for a dark gray to black spacebar in PBT in any size between 10 units and 15 units.  Any help in this would be greatly appreciated.

This was my reply

Chris-
Thank you for the request! We have a variety of spacebars over the standard
7 unit size - you can check out the various sizes on our datasheets here:
http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php
Let me know if you need anything else!

Melissa Petersen
Signature Plastics LLC

So I head over there to that link and clicked on the link for the DCS family as I think that is the profile that we commonly use for our GB's and lo and behold they can make space bars in the following sizes 4.5, 5, 6, 6.2, 6.75, 7, 8, 9, 9.75, and 10.  Also according to this page they can be made in ABS and PBT.  Now the question is will they let me purchase a couple of them.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 11:56:54
Space-bar group buy? You know you want to :P
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: oTurtlez on Fri, 09 August 2013, 11:57:55
I think I found my solution.  Granted the largest I can go with this method would be 10x without cutting and splicing but I emailed the following via their form online.

 I was wondering if you folks have any molds for a spacebar over the semi standard size of 7 units?  I am looking for a dark gray to black spacebar in PBT in any size between 10 units and 15 units.  Any help in this would be greatly appreciated.

This was my reply

Chris-
Thank you for the request! We have a variety of spacebars over the standard
7 unit size - you can check out the various sizes on our datasheets here:
http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php
Let me know if you need anything else!

Melissa Petersen
Signature Plastics LLC

So I head over there to that link and clicked on the link for the DCS family as I think that is the profile that we commonly use for our GB's and lo and behold they can make space bars in the following sizes 4.5, 5, 6, 6.2, 6.75, 7, 8, 9, 9.75, and 10.  Also according to this page they can be made in ABS and PBT.  Now the question is will they let me purchase a couple of them.

They've got 20 10x ABS Spacebars in stock in DCS profile. $2.50 + shipping
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 11:58:30
I think I found my solution.  Granted the largest I can go with this method would be 10x without cutting and splicing but I emailed the following via their form online.

 I was wondering if you folks have any molds for a spacebar over the semi standard size of 7 units?  I am looking for a dark gray to black spacebar in PBT in any size between 10 units and 15 units.  Any help in this would be greatly appreciated.

This was my reply

Chris-
Thank you for the request! We have a variety of spacebars over the standard
7 unit size - you can check out the various sizes on our datasheets here:
http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php
Let me know if you need anything else!

Melissa Petersen
Signature Plastics LLC

So I head over there to that link and clicked on the link for the DCS family as I think that is the profile that we commonly use for our GB's and lo and behold they can make space bars in the following sizes 4.5, 5, 6, 6.2, 6.75, 7, 8, 9, 9.75, and 10.  Also according to this page they can be made in ABS and PBT.  Now the question is will they let me purchase a couple of them.

They've got 20 10x ABS Spacebars in stock in DCS profile. $2.50 + shipping

How did you check that?
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: oTurtlez on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:04:51
I think I found my solution.  Granted the largest I can go with this method would be 10x without cutting and splicing but I emailed the following via their form online.

 I was wondering if you folks have any molds for a spacebar over the semi standard size of 7 units?  I am looking for a dark gray to black spacebar in PBT in any size between 10 units and 15 units.  Any help in this would be greatly appreciated.

This was my reply

Chris-
Thank you for the request! We have a variety of spacebars over the standard
7 unit size - you can check out the various sizes on our datasheets here:
http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-caps.php
Let me know if you need anything else!

Melissa Petersen
Signature Plastics LLC

So I head over there to that link and clicked on the link for the DCS family as I think that is the profile that we commonly use for our GB's and lo and behold they can make space bars in the following sizes 4.5, 5, 6, 6.2, 6.75, 7, 8, 9, 9.75, and 10.  Also according to this page they can be made in ABS and PBT.  Now the question is will they let me purchase a couple of them.

They've got 20 10x ABS Spacebars in stock in DCS profile. $2.50 + shipping

How did you check that?

Marketplace > Inventory

Scroll down and you'll see different lists containing either ABS | PBT links, or DCS | SA / DSA links. Click one and it shows their current stock. Prices are on the previous page.

http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-capsinventory.php
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: bueller on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:05:55
Make sure you go right to the bottom for the Spacebar inventory though.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:06:28
They only have ABS spacebars in their inventory, I still think they don't make PBT ones.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:09:29
Thanks guys I will keep in touch with them and let you guys know.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:14:05
Got this as a reply on purchasing a couple that wasn't in stock.

Chris-
We have some DCS 10 unit spacebars in stock available for $2.50 each plus shipping - you and see the list and order from here: http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-capsinventory.php. Any other spacebars would need to be manufactured - minimum order value is $100.
I hope this helps!

Hmmm wonder if there is enough interest for that many 10x spacebars around here.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: Melvang on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:31:14
Got this as a reply on purchasing a couple that wasn't in stock.

Chris-
We have some DCS 10 unit spacebars in stock available for $2.50 each plus shipping - you and see the list and order from here: http://www.keycapsdirect.com/key-capsinventory.php. Any other spacebars would need to be manufactured - minimum order value is $100.
I hope this helps!

Hmmm wonder if there is enough interest for that many 10x spacebars around here.

Nevermind on the PBT spacebars from SP.

Got this a few minutes ago.

Chris-
There are a few more issues than warping with running the spacebars in PBT, unfortunately we don't mold them at this point in PBT - sorry!
 
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: BlueBär on Fri, 09 August 2013, 12:34:45
Yep that's what I meant.
Title: Re: Looking for super sized spacebar
Post by: dorkvader on Fri, 09 August 2013, 13:41:27
That is only a 10x space bar.  My Link terminal keyboard has about a 10x space bar too.  15x would be the entire width of the alpha section, including modifiers.

link, and wyse terminal spacebars are slightly less than 10x. I think they are 9.75, but I dont have a wyse handy to measure.

the spacebar that was referenced, I don't remember anyone saying the size, but I think he said it had multiple sets of stabilizers (and possibly multiple switches?) I think it was posted on DT. Hopefully that helps.