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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:33:46

Title: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:33:46: I'd like to run a quick mini-buy for Nathan's birthday. Every set purchase will include a donation to the Nathaniel J. Walter foundation, a 501c3 being set up by Smallfry's family to fund scholarships for eagle scout projects in the northern wisconsin chapter.

The color scheme I've settled on will probably be SP ABS codes RBC text on RA keys, DCS profile, using the cherry font legends. The set will also include a single dyesubbed white DCS PBT key dyesubbed with Nathan's avatar, and a friends and family logo 1.25x modifier and 1.5x modifier.

The color scheme is based on a model M122 that was one of Nathan's favorite keyboards. He received it as an attic find from a family member and then rit dyed the keys himself. He was extremely proud of this keyboard, and we will always be proud of him.

[attachimg=1]

I am going to try to run this GB as quickly as possible to attempt to get production and delivery as close to Nathan's birthday as possible. Hence, the kits available will only be the standard 104-key with Tsangan and ISO addons. I will be discussing with Nathan's father the amount held for donation to The Nathaniel J Walter foundation.
RBC:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9277537779_c70ee91d74_o.jpg)

RA:

(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9280327356_42c920b931_o.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:37:15: Count me in on this one. I miss my friend.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:37:33: we all do. :(
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:40:03: In addition to participating, I am happy to help organize this.

I think the set would look great, and be a constant reminder to all of us who have extremely fond memories of Nathan.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: esoomenona on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:48:25: The dyesubbed key should be available separately from the set.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:50:52: definite possibility. however, for simplicity of ordering, we will make purchasing of that key alone a separate matter from this set GB
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: Flyersfan1 on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:01:32: Absolutely interested in this.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:04:25: So is this going to be a group buy only or will it be sold at retail at some point?

My feelings is no one should make money off of this set except whatever extra goes to help the foundation that was setup.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:07:11: well, SP is going to make money. i will try my best to break even (i can't afford to lose money on this right now). i'd like to direct all other proceeds to the NJW foundation, but i have to talk to largefry about the where the foundation is currently.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:09:39: Quote from: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:07:11
well, SP is going to make money. i will try my best to break even (i can't afford to lose money on this right now). i'd like to direct all other proceeds to the NJW foundation, but i have to talk to largefry about the where the foundation is currently.

Yeah I get that I was just thinking about techkeys since i3oilermaker piped up about helping.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:10:23: I got mkawa's back - and can help front for production costs. Every dime of profit needs to go to NJW. I might even auction off some items in addition to help make that contribution larger.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:11:39: also, sneak announcement: i can't afford to lose money on this, because i just bought another robot for the community. i've purchased a small CNC mill for fine detail work that the printer (smallfry's bot) cannot accomplish. more investment is needed for that to come to fruition, but it is capable of cutting materials up to and including steel for the community. that brings our robot count up to two. inviting names for the second bot, which, again, i'd like to dedicate to smallfry, friends and family and the kindness, acuity and and dedication to quality and tinkering that we attempt to uphold in this community every day in his memory.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:12:39: i'm going to let the responses accumulate for a bit, as posting all this has hit me pretty hard.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:17:54: Quote from: SpAmRaY on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:09:39
Quote from: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:07:11
well, SP is going to make money. i will try my best to break even (i can't afford to lose money on this right now). i'd like to direct all other proceeds to the NJW foundation, but i have to talk to largefry about the where the foundation is currently.

Yeah I get that I was just thinking about techkeys since i3oilermaker piped up about helping.

I understand where you are coming from, with regard to cooperation between Vendors, GB organizers, and forum staff. I really do.

And let me add this in the way of disclaimer: I am not exactly forum "staff" as in a mod or admin. I am a Keeper of the Faith. I have no connection to i3oilermaker or TechKeys, other than I buy his products. I am not being compensated in any way for my opinions or comments.

From what I know of i3oilermaker and TechKeys, when he does "community" buys and sales, he has always been very transparent about the costs and prices. He has done these types of not-for-profit, charity fundraising sales before, and as far as I know, he has donated every cent above actual costs to the expected beneficiary. So I don't think we need to worry if i3oilermaker offers to help organize the sales and/or distribution of product and/or monies.

SP will of course be making their cut, but there isn't anything that can be done about the manufacturer turning a profit for everything they sell.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:55:56: While I would love to get in on this I don't think I can float the money at this time.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: CPTBadAss on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:57:55: I'm in. I'd also like to see extra that cap separate from the set.

Edit: For those who don't know and are curious, Nate's birthday was 7/11 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=45288.msg957109#msg957109).
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 12:04:34: :'(
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 07 May 2014, 12:16:26: RIP SmallFry
Nathaniel John Walter
7/11/1996 - 6/29/2013

(http://i.imgur.com/an5vLff.png)
(http://i.imgur.com/LicDYd8.jpg)
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: AKIMbO on Wed, 07 May 2014, 12:23:38: Quote from: jdcarpe on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:37:15
Count me in on this one. I miss my friend.

Ditto... I'll take a set as well.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: sth on Wed, 07 May 2014, 12:42:04: okay please hear me out.

I like the idea of doing something for his birthday but there is something in my gut that tells me this is not it. to be perfectly honest, it just strikes me as kind of tacky. i don't mean to call anybody else tacky here -- i am all for a commemoration but i'm just not sure that tying this in with his eagle scout fund or as some sort of 'perk' memorial -- it doesn't feel right.

i don't mean to sound too cranky. i just tend to overthink things like this and i have my doubts. after i eat some food i will try to expand on my thoughts.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 12:46:06: please do

it was kind of a spur of the moment idea and kind of not. i have been wanting to make a set for nathan for a year, and with the anniversary of his life and passing coming up quickly, i settled on this.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: sth on Wed, 07 May 2014, 13:07:26: well i realize i don't need to like it for it to happen, nor does me participating or not really make much of a difference, nor does it being affiliated with geekhack in anyway, to be honest. my stamp of approval is irrelevant here.
i'm not sure how much more i really can expand on it other than i just don't really think 'things' that some people get the chance to own serve as appropriate or respectful memorials. i'm all for some kind of public work, or even just soliciting direct donations to his eagle scout fund, but using the keycap set to get more people to donate (because that could realistically be a factor) seems kinda icky to me, because it's not really about raising money (although that's a nice thing), it's about remembering our friend.

i would also hate to see some kind of limited edition item made in his honor make its way into the collector pool. i can, really, have to tolerate that kind of stuff as a fact of life around here when it comes to clacks and other small vendors, but do acknowledge that if something is made, it can and probably will be resold on GH or elsewhere. my personal desire for a set of keycaps does not outweigh SmallFry's memory, and i do think that most people that would actually buy this set that knew SmallFry would be buying it for the "right reasons", emphatically including everyone in this thread so far but to me it's just not worth it.

again to reiterate i don't think that most people participating in this would turn around and sell the caps but if one does that's enough to bum me out.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 13:50:25: smallfry was a really inclusive person, and he didn't like things to be super limited or expensive. he fact, he loved this hobby and accumulated some really great material stuff that he treasured, but he felt that learning things was more important than just collecting things. he traded services for much of his collection. one of his last projects that we saw was his lube station for perfecting other people's MX switches in exchange for items that interested him and that he could tinker with. he was also a huge proponent of the cherry legend project and he _loved_ red.

i don't know if that's a satisfactory answer but that's all i've got right now.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 07 May 2014, 14:23:04: I am 100% in for this. Not much more to say, other than I love the idea, I love the keyset (M122 really does look splendid), and now I'm sad.

Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:55:56
While I would love to get in on this I don't think I can float the money at this time.

I've got your order covered, Melvang, don't worry about it.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 16:15:40: Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 07 May 2014, 14:23:04
I am 100% in for this. Not much more to say, other than I love the idea, I love the keyset (M122 really does look splendid), and now I'm sad.

Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:55:56
While I would love to get in on this I don't think I can float the money at this time.

I've got your order covered, Melvang, don't worry about it.

Hoffman, all I can say is thank you. And please pm me your snail mail address.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: pasph on Wed, 07 May 2014, 16:47:10: Please include the chance to make just a donation without buying the set
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 18:51:54: Quote from: pasph on Wed, 07 May 2014, 16:47:10
Please include the chance to make just a donation without buying the set

+1

And Hoffman don't worry about pming me your address, I already have it.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: duq on Wed, 07 May 2014, 21:44:36: Quote from: mkawa on Wed, 07 May 2014, 10:33:46
I'd like to run a quick mini-buy for Nathan's birthday. Every set purchase will include a donation to the Nathaniel J. Walter foundation, a 501c3 being set up by Smallfry's family to fund scholarships for eagle scout projects in the northern wisconsin chapter.

The color scheme I've settled on will probably be SP ABS codes RBC text on RA keys, DCS profile, using the cherry font legends. The set will also include a single dyesubbed white DCS PBT key dyesubbed with Nathan's avatar, and a friends and family logo 1.25x modifier and 1.5x modifier.

The color scheme is based on a model M122 that was one of Nathan's favorite keyboards. He received it as an attic find from a family member and then rit dyed the keys himself. He was extremely proud of this keyboard, and we will always be proud of him.

(Attachment Link)

I am going to try to run this GB as quickly as possible to attempt to get production and delivery as close to Nathan's birthday as possible. Hence, the kits available will only be the standard 104-key with Tsangan and ISO addons. I will be discussing with Nathan's father the amount held for donation to The Nathaniel J Walter foundation.
RBC:

Show Image
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7451/9277537779_c70ee91d74_o.jpg)

RA:

Show Image
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9280327356_42c920b931_o.jpg)

I'm in.
RIP Small Fry
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: HoffmanMyster on Thu, 08 May 2014, 01:58:02: Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 16:15:40
Quote from: HoffmanMyster on Wed, 07 May 2014, 14:23:04
I am 100% in for this. Not much more to say, other than I love the idea, I love the keyset (M122 really does look splendid), and now I'm sad.

Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 11:55:56
While I would love to get in on this I don't think I can float the money at this time.

I've got your order covered, Melvang, don't worry about it.

Hoffman, all I can say is thank you. And please pm me your snail mail address.

Not a problem at all. Would hate to see you miss such a special set because of that.

Quote from: Melvang on Wed, 07 May 2014, 18:51:54
And Hoffman don't worry about pming me your address, I already have it.

:thumb:
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: tjweir on Thu, 08 May 2014, 07:11:19: I'm in.

Please allow an option to increase the donation per order.
Title: Re: [IC] A keycap set for Smallfry's birthday. Nathan's Birthday Set.
Post by: mkawa on Thu, 08 May 2014, 12:52:04: we've changed this up a bit. instead, we're going to run a jd40 group buy. complete keyboards, with simple assembly options if you can't build them yourself, and each jd40 will come with a set of red on red caps specifically made for the jd40

link to the new IC: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58037.0