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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: probablypat on Thu, 19 June 2014, 13:34:44

Title: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: probablypat on Thu, 19 June 2014, 13:34:44
Hi all, I'm new here but I wanted to share with you fellow keyboard hackers on my mod of a spare HHKB I had lying around.

I've been using the modded keyboard for about 4 months now, and it's honestly become my favorite keyboard. The feel is just amazing a 55g silenced Topre board is something I expected to feel good, but not this good. My colleagues love it because my typing is now a lot quieter than any of them on their lesser rubber dome, and I used to write code with MX Greens so that pissed them off a bit.

The form factor is perfect for carrying around, and the build quality is excellent.

Here is the link!
https://medium.com/@probablypat/keyboard-of-smiting-ed61dee89efd
 (https://medium.com/@probablypat/keyboard-of-smiting-ed61dee89efd)
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: exitfire401 on Thu, 19 June 2014, 13:35:34
Awesome! Glad I'm not the only one that prefers 55g!
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: probablypat on Thu, 19 June 2014, 13:43:45
Oh I'd love to see a breakdown of your KBT 85g! How cool is that?!
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: exitfire401 on Thu, 19 June 2014, 14:35:28
Oh I'd love to see a breakdown of your KBT 85g! How cool is that?!

I actually made a thread here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392) I'm really proud of that board. It was done exactly the way I wanted it, and it really is my perfect Cherry board. (It was also my first soldering job)
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: probablypat on Thu, 19 June 2014, 14:46:54
Oh I'd love to see a breakdown of your KBT 85g! How cool is that?!

I actually made a thread here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392) I'm really proud of that board. It was done exactly the way I wanted it, and it really is my perfect Cherry board. (It was also my first soldering job)

Thats just great! Where do people sell those cool USB cables?
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: exitfire401 on Thu, 19 June 2014, 14:58:11
Oh I'd love to see a breakdown of your KBT 85g! How cool is that?!

I actually made a thread here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392) I'm really proud of that board. It was done exactly the way I wanted it, and it really is my perfect Cherry board. (It was also my first soldering job)

Thats just great! Where do people sell those cool USB cables?

I got mine from Zeal here on geekhack. You can find his sale thread in the Artisan sub-forum and he takes custom orders
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: Zeal on Thu, 19 June 2014, 18:34:41
Oh I'd love to see a breakdown of your KBT 85g! How cool is that?!

I actually made a thread here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392 (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57612.msg1310392#msg1310392) I'm really proud of that board. It was done exactly the way I wanted it, and it really is my perfect Cherry board. (It was also my first soldering job)

Thats just great! Where do people sell those cool USB cables?

I got mine from Zeal here on geekhack. You can find his sale thread in the Artisan sub-forum and he takes custom orders

Thanks for the mention! :)
Not sure how I missed your build log too.  :-[

I should really give Topre a shot. Just haven't bitten the bullet yet.  :p
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 19 June 2014, 18:37:53
Welcome to Geekhack!

"a spare HHKB I had lying around" - if only we could all be in that situation :p

I love my HHKB, but I have a feeling that a 55g version would be even nicer.  I cannot, however, justify doing something like this to my one and only Topre board.
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: alosec on Thu, 19 June 2014, 18:45:24
Welcome to Geekhack!

"a spare HHKB I had lying around" - if only we could all be in that situation :p

I love my HHKB, but I have a feeling that a 55g version would be even nicer.  I cannot, however, justify doing something like this to my one and only Topre board.
I own both a Realforce 55g and a HHKB. I can't fathom taking either apart, I'm too afraid I would beef it and end up breaking a $200 piece of electronics.

The RF 55g is amazing but I'll just "deal" with the "bad" layout.
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 19 June 2014, 18:50:14
Welcome to Geekhack!

"a spare HHKB I had lying around" - if only we could all be in that situation :p

I love my HHKB, but I have a feeling that a 55g version would be even nicer.  I cannot, however, justify doing something like this to my one and only Topre board.
I own both a Realforce 55g and a HHKB. I can't fathom taking either apart, I'm too afraid I would beef it and end up breaking a $200 piece of electronics.

The RF 55g is amazing but I'll just "deal" with the "bad" layout.


Exactly!

And what would you do with the RF afterwards?  Put the 45g domes into it and make a semi-variable RF?
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: "Edgar Allen Pho is Dead." on Thu, 19 June 2014, 19:08:36
I really wonder why PFU doesn't offer 55g for HHKB, anyway great tutorial!
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: Justintoxicated on Thu, 19 June 2014, 21:28:28
Nice mod, but you know...Math books make better monitor stands than programming books.
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: probablypat on Fri, 20 June 2014, 09:50:16
Welcome to Geekhack!

"a spare HHKB I had lying around" - if only we could all be in that situation :p

I love my HHKB, but I have a feeling that a 55g version would be even nicer.  I cannot, however, justify doing something like this to my one and only Topre board.
I own both a Realforce 55g and a HHKB. I can't fathom taking either apart, I'm too afraid I would beef it and end up breaking a $200 piece of electronics.

The RF 55g is amazing but I'll just "deal" with the "bad" layout.


Exactly!

And what would you do with the RF afterwards?  Put the 45g domes into it and make a semi-variable RF?

That's exactly what I did. My brother users the RF now, he doesn't seem to notice. Especially since its an upgrade from a keyboard he got at the dollar store (EZ Eyes, if you want to look it up). I tried my best to place the 45g domes in areas where they wont effect general typing, but of course, there aren't that many extra keys on the RF.

I can recommend doing this mod rowdy, it really is very simple. I only used one screw driver for the whole thing, and it took me an hour. I can give you more details if needed.
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: probablypat on Fri, 20 June 2014, 09:51:53
Nice mod, but you know...Math books make better monitor stands than programming books.

I agree, but I use them as my bed.
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: Lurch on Fri, 20 June 2014, 11:05:55
I have a feeling I'm going to be staring at my Type-S and 55g RF when I get home tonight, contemplating this.

Great write up! :thumb:
Title: Re: HHKB Pro 2 Type-S 55g
Post by: exitfire401 on Fri, 20 June 2014, 11:08:32
I have a feeling I'm going to be staring at my Type-S and 55g RF when I get home tonight, contemplating this.

Great write up! :thumb:

I was staring at my 55g RF while my Type-S was in the mail and contemplating it. Only took me a week to actually do it.