geekhack
geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Reckthor on Thu, 19 September 2013, 05:01:33
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So I have been looking around on ebay for a keyboard o harvest some clear switches from. Any models I should look out for?
Thank you for any help.
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I'm not the best with keyboard model names on eBay but have you tried looking at Mouser.com or OnlineComponents.com?
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You can get a Chyron maxine for fairly cheap on eBay.
There's also this one that's not awful bad but they had some similar ones cheaper a few weeks ago
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cherry-G80-8200L-Keyboard-W-MSR-120-Keys-Beige-TDX265-/370868138851?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565976b363 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cherry-G80-8200L-Keyboard-W-MSR-120-Keys-Beige-TDX265-/370868138851?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item565976b363)
Otherwise if you want new switches you might try and get in on 7bit's group buy at deskthority.
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/cherry-mx-taking-pre-orders-t2760.html
I'm sure Ivan will chime in, he is the expert ;D
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There are also these bad boys (http://www.ebay.com/itm/PINNACLE-SYSTEMS-DEKO-FAST-ACTION-KEYBOARD-AVID-/121175568370?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item1c36a06ff2) which I think have most switches per board. Also there is WEY and Cherry G80-****HQ* if you also might want to take care of some nice doubleshots at the same time, but those chances are not so frequent.
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There are also these bad boys (http://www.ebay.com/itm/PINNACLE-SYSTEMS-DEKO-FAST-ACTION-KEYBOARD-AVID-/121175568370?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item1c36a06ff2) which I think have most switches per board. Also there is WEY and Cherry G80-****HQ* if you also might want to take care of some nice doubleshots at the same time, but those chances are not so frequent.
I forgot about that one, it's been in my watch list haha.
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There are also these bad boys (http://www.ebay.com/itm/PINNACLE-SYSTEMS-DEKO-FAST-ACTION-KEYBOARD-AVID-/121175568370?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item1c36a06ff2) which I think have most switches per board. Also there is WEY and Cherry G80-****HQ* if you also might want to take care of some nice doubleshots at the same time, but those chances are not so frequent.
I forgot about that one, it's been in my watch list haha.
Just stopped by on this thread and saw that Deko keyboard. Do they work with PCs and do they have them in cherry blues? I would love to find a clicky one :)
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There are also these bad boys (http://www.ebay.com/itm/PINNACLE-SYSTEMS-DEKO-FAST-ACTION-KEYBOARD-AVID-/121175568370?pt=PCA_Mice_Trackballs&hash=item1c36a06ff2) which I think have most switches per board. Also there is WEY and Cherry G80-****HQ* if you also might want to take care of some nice doubleshots at the same time, but those chances are not so frequent.
I forgot about that one, it's been in my watch list haha.
Just stopped by on this thread and saw that Deko keyboard. Do they work with PCs and do they have them in cherry blues? I would love to find a clicky one :)
I'm not sure how much difficulty you would face attempting to get that to work but I believe they all have clears.
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I actually, think I'd like to type with one of those Dekos. Even if we have to make a new controller, that'd be cool.
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There are a ton of character generator keyboards showing up for sale, I suspect everyone is switching over to digital and this stuff is just obsolete. Pretty cheap, too, but shipping is what kills - best bet is to see if you can find a local electronics recycler that handles odd lots of video processing equipment.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chyron-Maxine-NTSC-Character-Generator-with-Keaboard-/121097148807 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chyron-Maxine-NTSC-Character-Generator-with-Keaboard-/121097148807)
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I don't really know anything about the Deko in use. It seems to have some kind of 7pin connector similar to PS/2 and I don't know what it speaks. The only reason I bought one was for parting it out since it was a cheap deal. Whenever I finally receive it I might be able to tell more about them once I open it up.
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I actually, think I'd like to type with one of those Dekos. Even if we have to make a new controller, that'd be cool.
They have a PS2 port and support the normal 101 keyset by default. To get any of the macro keys to work, outside of the Deko software - you may need a different controller, as the software comes with the driver for those extra keys - that as far as I know only function in Deko. If you do buy one, make sure it comes with the power supply. Limited KVM support as well.
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Just an update so I got a chyron maxine had some weird oddball keytronics switches not even MX, and I got the deko a few minutes ago and sadly it has blacks. But at least it is mx. oh well no more ebay adventures hoping to get clears for me.
At least the deko looks brand new and I thin it has cherry stabs also.
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
TP's probably just trolling :P
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
TP's probably just trolling :P
I think he actually believes some of the stuff he says :)
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
TP's probably just trolling :P
I think he actually believes some of the stuff he says :)
yeah who knows, although I would have settled for clear stems haha.
so just to be clear for anyone else who finds this thread, NOT all chyron maxine's have clears, neither do all avid deko boards. your mileage may vary.
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
TP's probably just trolling :P
I think he actually believes some of the stuff he says :)
I stand firmly on all stuff said by I, TP4.
I am open to corrections.
I have had the switches wharp due to heat, "before" I got a soldering pump.
It's not that easy to get the switch off if you only have a thin tip on hand.
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It's not that easy to get the switch off if you only have a thin tip on hand.
Yeah, I can see that. Desoldering braid without enough flux is a slow and painful method to remove switches.
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once you harvest the switch it is best to use just the clear stems instead of the whole switch..
The housing doesn't stand up to soldering
the internals may warp
I've not had that happen yet... Housing stands up to soldering just fine. Why would the internals magically warp? You only heat the pin ends for a fairly short time. Disassembling switches has a higher probability of warping the metal inside the bottom housing, but that's about it.
TP's probably just trolling :P
I think he actually believes some of the stuff he says :)
I stand firmly on all stuff said by I, TP4.
I am open to corrections.
I have had the switches wharp due to heat, "before" I got a soldering pump.
It's not that easy to get the switch off if you only have a thin tip on hand.
So my hakko 808 should be good then?