And maybe after a "noob" receives a box and gets an idea of what they like and don't like they can pass it on to a new person,
And maybe after a "noob" receives a box and gets an idea of what they like and don't like they can pass it on to a new person,
I think that this might be key (ha ha no pun intended).
Everybody needs a keycap puller, but after playing with a few switches a few times, they should have the concept down.
For example, I can make a little credit-card sized piece of board with a few odd switches, say, black and white Hi-Teks and an SMK switch, but I can't make dozens of them to pass out willy-nilly.
For example, I can make a little credit-card sized piece of board with a few odd switches, say, black and white Hi-Teks and an SMK switch, but I can't make dozens of them to pass out willy-nilly.
This box project gave me an idea:
What if we got some of the vendors out there to work together so that we could make our own GeekHack loot crates where we pay a subscription to get a bunch of random goodies?
Almost like a crap bag subscription.
What I'm donating:
Extra costar stab and inserts because the inserts are pretty easy to lose, and costar seem to be popular in OEM boards
O-rings (not sure which, got from MAX)
Left over stickers that you guys could use, idk or let the winner try putting them on and seeing the (non existant) difference
Every spring that Sprit had to offer in his group buy
62g silver spring
***SIFO APPROVED 62G #LEGITBALLIN SPRING*** that I personally use in all my boards
Do you reckon a keycap layout sheet would fit in there too? Someone asking again where to get those triggered the idea in me. It could be cut into two A5 halves and laminated - might fit in such a box as you have illustrated.
(Attachment Link)
Almost everybody here experienced this: When you first hear about mechanical keyboards, you're overwhelmed with a flood of choices. You hear
about different switch types, different keycap options, different plastics and so on. And if you finally decide on a keyboard you already tasted blood
and you want more.
The entry into this hobby can be quite hard, especially for your wallet because you want to try out so many things. Now we, the Keepers of the Faith
have been thinking, how could we make this easier for newbies apart from providing information in the form of a Wiki? And this is what this project
is about.
We want to provide Newbies with some basic things a Geekhacker needs or should have. This could include for example:Additionally we want to provide printed versions of the Simple Question, Simple Answers FAQ and the Modding Cookbook. There is also a GH
- some common switches
- a keycap puller
- a variety of springs
- a selection of keycap types
keycap exclusive to the boxes on order.
And here's where you come in.
We would like to give away more cool stuff, but we cannot provide everything on our own. We would like you to donate stuff for this good cause. It
doesn't have to be anything special, rare or expensive, just something that you wanted when you joined Geekhack. We are mainly looking for things
that you have leftover for example.
These boxes will be filled evenly (as much as possible) and sent out by us. The boxes themselves will get raffled, we currently plan one per month.
Any expenses on our side such as shipping will get covered by a small entry fee and any leftovers of that money (if there are any) will be invested in
future Keeper of the Faith projects or get donated to Geekhack.
I'm in the process of printing some boxes by hand and making some keycap pullers from wood and stainless steel wire. Here is the first box I made:
(Attachment Link)
Our current plan is to get out one box per month for one year. Any expenses we already made (the boxes, the keycap pullers, the GH keycaps) are
not going to be financed by the entry fees and are paid by us.
This is a project we, the Keepers of the Faith have planned for a long time and it's exciting to get this finally going. Originally it was planned to
announce this at Keycon, but things didn't work out as planned. Amusingly Rowdy had pretty much the same idea just a few days ago and people
liked it - we hope you like our version of it too :D
If you have any ideas or suggestions for this project we would love to hear them!
If you want to donate things, please fill out this form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17Do3... (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/17Do3BvfNbhmlgZ5rDoFJnL1nsYMxlqF0-qUoqCHS48k/viewform?usp=send_form)
Please don't feel pressured by the load of categories, they're only for sorting things!
Will you be accepting monetary donations to fund the boxes? I really like the idea and want to contribute, but I've just started myself and don't own any parts. I'd love to give a couple dollars every month for the cause if that does happen.
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
Also BlueBär, you should take some money to cover your costs man. This was mainly BlueBär's baby and he's funded it himself.
If you could throw geekhack colours on there and put that on a mousemat, then that would make a sweet addition for the Box of Faith!
I would include the size of the caps in the printout as well, e.g. 2x, 1.75x, etc.
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
Isn't it redundant to have \| as well as Tab on the same sheet since they're both the same size and same profile?
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?Where is ISO shift?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
Where is ISO shift?
Where is ISO shift?
Oh thanks, didn't notice that, will add it.
I'll cover a year's worth of GH cables. Maybe GH themed orange/black? :)
Also shorter right shift is not there
Just wondering, will we be PM'ed prior to the first box going out? Or any estimates on when this'll start? :)
What do you guys think about this as a mini keycap size identification sheet?
(Attachment Link)
(PS: this is a downscaled version, the original one has the correct size and 300ppi)
If we have stuff we want to donate, but aren't sure of the exact count, should we still fill out the form and just make a note?
In the center, you should have a profile view of the common cap types (DCS, cherry, oem, DSA, SA).
Also, I have an AT101 that has a bad switch that I would be willing to donate if someone wants to pull the switches (I already sold the caps - sorry).
If we have stuff we want to donate, but aren't sure of the exact count, should we still fill out the form and just make a note?
Yes please! An approximate amount would be nice if you can provide that?In the center, you should have a profile view of the common cap types (DCS, cherry, oem, DSA, SA).
Also, I have an AT101 that has a bad switch that I would be willing to donate if someone wants to pull the switches (I already sold the caps - sorry).
I have thought about that but the problem is that I would have to shrink it lower than real life size or I can't include all rows, and I'm not sure if that's missing the point :-X
I could desolder them myself but shipping would be too high. We might use an US proxy to collect the donations which could help us out - thank you for the offer!
How about rolling it up? It length shouldn't be a problem then!
Sounds like a great idea. :D
I'll cover a year's worth of GH cables. Maybe GH themed orange/black? :)
If we have stuff we want to donate, but aren't sure of the exact count, should we still fill out the form and just make a note?
I have a bunch of novelty keys that I love, but never use, and would be willing to donate. Also some MX switches that are not blue, brown, black, or red. Also possibly a sleeved cable.
Edit: Oh, I have some extra soldering stuff too that I've been trying to decide what to do with! Granted, I'm still in the learning phase too, so I don't know if it's stuff we would want to give out, but everything is still new in their boxes!
If we have stuff we want to donate, but aren't sure of the exact count, should we still fill out the form and just make a note?
I have a bunch of novelty keys that I love, but never use, and would be willing to donate. Also some MX switches that are not blue, brown, black, or red. Also possibly a sleeved cable.
Edit: Oh, I have some extra soldering stuff too that I've been trying to decide what to do with! Granted, I'm still in the learning phase too, so I don't know if it's stuff we would want to give out, but everything is still new in their boxes!
I would actually vote against the Helping Hands. About the only thing I find mine useful for is either tinning very small wires or soldering very small wires together. Both of which can be done with much better tools that are available.
Sounds like a great idea. :D
I'll cover a year's worth of GH cables. Maybe GH themed orange/black? :)
Will there be bulges in the Boxes of Faith? :p
Maybe we can toss in some of those ravello business cards that Techkeys showed us once they are released.
They seem like inexpensive, simple, and fun kits that everyone could use!
Not to mention the fact that there is a lot of coding that could be done for the LED matrix.
They are also quite heavy (at least mine is) and could significantly increase shipping costs.
In my opinion, the biggest part in the mechanical world is to determine what switch is your cup of tea. What i personnaly did was purchase one of each Common MX (Red, Black, Blue, Brown, Green, White, Clear, Grey, Dark Grey) and got my friends to test them out before buying.
I believe people entering the mechanical world would go MX (If you do not already own a board (that could be ALPS or BS or Topre or whatever), most mechanical boards are MX, therefore very easy access and not too expensive at entry level) and so i believe this box should contain maybe a little PCB with the 9 switches soldered on them with a little info chart stating both the weight (45cn to 105cn) and the type (linear, tactile or clicky) with a summary explaining these little concepts (aka the entry theory), as well as 9 keycaps to cover these switches.
A referal card that has the geekhack link on it would also be nice to have in there, because once you have a mech, here is the place to talk about / ask for help.
Other things like key sizes or o-rings or lube or keycap profils are in my opinion not mandatory in these boxes, for these concepts are intermediate knowledge that requires a little experience to understand/apply-to-your-advantage.
Also, boxes doesn't have to be given to someone forever. You could ask the people that gets these boxes to either pay the fee to assemble a new one (which could contain a good 15$ worth of stock) or pass it forward to the next in-developpement-geek.
I would actually vote against the Helping Hands. About the only thing I find mine useful for is either tinning very small wires or soldering very small wires together. Both of which can be done with much better tools that are available.
And even if they weren't that heavy (I can't remember if they are!), they're still quite bulky and probably would not fit.
Wouldn't it be more efficient and cost effective (time + material)
if we did a "directed" send of a switch-tester-keyboard along with a crowd funded giftcard to mechkb.com..
I realize this current box idea be "from the heart"... but... well.. hmm.... if we wanted to accomplish the gospel task more efficiently...
Wouldn't it be more efficient and cost effective (time + material)
if we did a "directed" send of a switch-tester-keyboard along with a crowd funded giftcard to mechkb.com..
I realize this current box idea be "from the heart"... but... well.. hmm.... if we wanted to accomplish the gospel task more efficiently...
That would get very expensive very quickly for overseas GHers.
How about we stop using postal services and start meeting up?
Ok then. It was just a proposition.
That'll be what you want, it's your project, but i'm defenetly keeping my idea for later use.
I had no idea you were going to mount the switches like that. I'm really into that. :)
Will you be sending flowers as well as the boxes?
I had no idea you were going to mount the switches like that. I'm really into that. :)
Will you be sending flowers as well as the boxes?
Not sure if it would survive customs:-X
You can't even send plants (or rather seeds) within EU.
It's partially because of diseases.
I like the idea of a plain brown box with that logo on it!
I got some WASD keycaps (from their tester pack). If anyone throws in a PBT keycap then maybe people can see how bad ****ty thin ABS is.
(Attachment Link)
Thank you Ivan!
Looks like BlueBar has the boxes almost done and the caps he ordered in hand.Show Image(http://geekhack.org/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=33130.0;attach=79887;image)
Needs a glossary or index with acronyms, abbreviations, common terms, names of switches, etc.
Has this idea died?
I am no more active on GH. I'm only checking the GH60 and a few other threads every few days.So then could we pass this on to someone else?
Not sure who this we is, but sure, just come over and get the stuff.
I'm pretty sure anyone on this site would be able to invest some time and money into a project like this himself. I'm not sure what you think I have that you don't have access too?boxes, caps, pullers? unless all of those were one-offs
a switch tester with all the most common types of switches (including different mechanisms like buckling spring, Alps clones, Topre, etc
I understand that combining them into one working keyboard would be impossible. But switch testers don't need working electronics - as long as the physical mechanism is there for testing out the tactile feeling. That doesn't sound impossible to me.a switch tester with all the most common types of switches (including different mechanisms like buckling spring, Alps clones, Topre, etc
You do understand that this is impossible?
I would argue that buckling springs and Topre are not switches at all, merely "mechanisms" for activating switches.
There is a world of difference there, in the most fundamental terms.
Buy a few keyboards and take them apart.
as the physical mechanism is there for testing out the tactile feeling.