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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: lightsout714 on Sun, 18 May 2014, 02:11:16
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So we have the Code, and maybe some keycools were produced in small numbers.
Not really interested in the 660m layout.
Any standard layout TKL's with clears out there I am missing? Besides a custom job of course.
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i've had the same question, and have come to the same conclusion... there used to be a deck legend with clears posted on mechanicalkeyboards.com, but someone finally bought it :(... and now their legend only comes with blacks... if i were to buy a clear board preassembled, i'd probably try the keycool 84 with clears, non backlit and pbt caps... i've seen them around on the web.
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So we have the Code, and maybe some keycools were produced in small numbers.
Not really interested in the 660m layout.
Any standard layout TKL's with clears out there I am missing? Besides a custom job of course.
The key cools are almost all out of stock.
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i've had the same question, and have come to the same conclusion... there used to be a deck legend with clears posted on mechanicalkeyboards.com, but someone finally bought it :(... and now their legend only comes with blacks... if i were to buy a clear board preassembled, i'd probably try the keycool 84 with clears, non backlit and pbt caps... i've seen them around on the web.
Yeah I had an offer for an 87 KC with clears recently but don't have the money right now.
Although I recently saw Qtan say he will no longer stock KC's as he has dealt with too many returns/problems. Has me hesitant to buy from them.
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I think the Deck Legend has a version with clears.
You're better off modding a board to clears, honestly.
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I think the Deck Legend has a version with clears.
You're better off modding a board to clears, honestly.
Sadly that is the case. Clear stems seem to be one of the most popular or favorited switches among the MX fans, but they're so rare to find in stock boards. And even then, there's big arguments for the spring that should be used in clears.
Personally I think panda clears are a strong contender for best variant, along with the coveted [lightly lubed] 62g. Then there are days when stock is best. I'm ranting again, as I often do.
If you assemble one for yourself, take a look at the phantom options. Making your own board is about 10% as difficult as it first sounds, and 200x as fun. Even more fun when you get into switch variants. I would love to help you put one together, and I'm sure the rest of the community is ready to help as well.
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I think qtan sells a leopold with MX Clears. I'm not sure if it's TKL or not.
Edit: Here's the link (You have to set the switch to MX Clears): http://www.vendio.com/stores/E-sports-Gaming-equipments/item/shop-mechanical-keyboard-by-sw/leopold-fc660m-mechanical-keyb/lid=35722930
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You're better off modding a board to clears, honestly.
I already posted this elsewhere, but thought it would be appropriate here as well
Ever since I got my G710+ with Cherry MX Browns and my switch tester, I wanted to try MX Clears. But at the same time I didn't want to spend much more than about $100 on it.
So want I did, was get a Keycool 87II with Cherry MX Blacks from Banggood.com (with an $8 coupon), next I got 100 Clear switches from mechanicalkeyboards.com/, and from ebay I got 100 3mm White Diffused Round Flangeless LEDs.
After that the fun started, I had to desolder all the LEDs and switches from the board. The LEDs were a bit tricky at first, since the two pins are so close together, but with a little practice it became a lot easier. I found that adding a bit of fresh solder and then using the solder pump was the best technique to use. Once all the LEDs had been removed, I had to remove the switches. The only issue I has with the switches are that some had pins that had been bent towards the PCB. This made them very tricky to remove even when the solder was gone (because there would always be a bit under the bent part of the pin). In this picture you can see a switch with a bent pin http://i.imgur.com/8A4da4y.jpg , more than once I thought I was going to mess up the board.
The next step was to resolder all the new switches and LEDs. This was maybe the easiest step in doing this project.
It all looked good at first. But when I took it to work (it's final resting place) the next day, and started to use it I noticed that the LED for the letter “T” was not working and the the “B” was doing some flickering. So I brought the keyboard home and changed the two LEDs plugged it back in and all was fine. Until the “F7” key was also not turning on and the “/” was flickering. So once again I changed the LEDs and it's all working again. Now I'm just hoping that no more LEDs will die or give me issues.
Here is a small album of before and after, sorry I forgot to take pictures when I was doing the work. http://imgur.com/a/xYsjV
Oh and this was typed using the new keyboard and switches.
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Actual keycools being sold:
http://deskthority.net/marketplace-f11/keycool-mechanical-84-87-108-with-cherry-mx-clear-switches-t7182.html
(mech greenhand has an account here too, just contact him)
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
Tbh, I just took what's available from my dad's toolbox :p
soldering pen. just need to be careful.
tho he bought a soldapullt for me when i was mod-ing my boards xD
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
Tbh, I just took what's available from my dad's toolbox :p
soldering pen. just need to be careful.
tho he bought a soldapullt for me when i was mod-ing my boards xD
Thats cool, not all of us have that luxury lol.
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
Tbh, I just took what's available from my dad's toolbox :p
soldering pen. just need to be careful.
tho he bought a soldapullt for me when i was mod-ing my boards xD
Thats cool, not all of us have that luxury lol.
:-X well. it was a 1 off thing, maybe if you're planning to use it for long term purposes, it's better to invest in better equipment's. ;D
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
Tbh, I just took what's available from my dad's toolbox :p
soldering pen. just need to be careful.
tho he bought a soldapullt for me when i was mod-ing my boards xD
Thats cool, not all of us have that luxury lol.
:-X well. it was a 1 off thing, maybe if you're planning to use it for long term purposes, it's better to invest in better equipment's. ;D
It is something I would like to do down the road, for now I will just buy one already made or have someone do the modding.
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Thanks everyone. Phantom or mod would be cool money is the issue for me these days. When I do look to pull the trigger I'll probably see if I can't score a kc.
If you want to get into the modding game you could always just buy a cheap second hand QFR and grab clears off mechanicalkeyboards.
Could even go with caseless phantom. My first custom board was built around a Pure PCB.
The problem at this time is the additional fee of proper soldering gear. I do really want to learn how though.
you can get a cheap soldering iron. It just probably won't last very long and would be difficult to clean but a cheap one to start out with would work reasonably well and is inexpensive soy uo could try to get your hands on that
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Except for the 2012 and 2013 special edition KeyCools I don't think there were that many. It has always been somewhat of a rare switch or at least not that easy to come by.
So I'd say go with what other people have said, mod a board yourself.
All my boards except for my raptor have Clears btw. It's the superior switch. :D
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Yes, still have several pieces of keycool 84 and 87 with mx clears in white color, PBT keycaps..
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Ducky has made some TKL with (only) MX Clears, but it looks like they were very few and they are very hard to find.
A couple TLK's with ISO/German PBT caps were available from Teraset in Finland back in March but they sold out quickly.
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I know you mentioned the Code. WASD's website said they will be back in stock in July however. Not sure if you're trying not to wait, but it's only a month and a half away (incase you missed the update).
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I was originally looking at the code. Price shipped is pretty high with tax in Cali. I don't want backlighting so I would leave it disabled. And everyone is complaining about ping on those things.