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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: wakko on Sun, 26 April 2015, 19:56:00

Title: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: wakko on Sun, 26 April 2015, 19:56:00
I really like the clean look of that keyboard, simple plates with keys that sit high and proud but not so much the price. Is there an alternative kit, sub $200 possibly. TKL is preferred. I can solder just fine from my xbox modding days.

Ideas?
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: ttzhou on Mon, 27 April 2015, 14:07:38
I really like the clean look of that keyboard, simple plates with keys that sit high and proud but not so much the price. Is there an alternative kit, sub $200 possibly. TKL is preferred. I can solder just fine from my xbox modding days.

Ideas?

http://winkeyless.kr/

too lazy to do the adding up but you might be able to get sub 200 if you supply your own switches and stabs.
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: awhitedev on Mon, 27 April 2015, 19:41:36
There's also the Tex Acrylic Case:

https://www.massdrop.com/buy/tex-acrylic-cnc-keyboard-case

I'm actually thinking about doing a build with a Nerd PCB in this case... I think it would look really good  with the bottom SMD LEDs.
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: wakko on Tue, 28 April 2015, 11:22:08
Does tex make any tkl cases?
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Giorgio on Tue, 28 April 2015, 11:31:13
You can actually have your layered case lasercut for example from bigbluesaw or lasermaster. If you find 5 other persons, I'm quite sure that you can do a case with three layers for less than $80. With plate mounted switches with cutouts. Look in the diy subforum for the swill's plate builder. You can have the big blue saw prices just uploading the dxf file.

I don't know why nobody talked about sprit. Are his cases good?
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Sygaldry on Tue, 28 April 2015, 11:40:59
Another vote for www.winkeyless.kr/en

You won't find anything better for that price.

Fully assembled and tuned would barely break 200. Since you're confident in your soldering skills, you can build your own for sub-$200 for sure (yes, this includes shipping costs).

So many options to choose from, you're bound to find something you love.

Browse around the site, figure out what you want and shoot hojin.yi (on GH) a message if you have any questions or concerns about pricing and options. He responds super fast and is super helpful!

https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;u=42778
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Giorgio on Tue, 28 April 2015, 12:23:33
Winkeyless, for a little more, makes plates with cutouts.
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Novus on Tue, 28 April 2015, 16:53:07
OH winkeyless I remember seeing one of these boards on youtube last year and now I finally know what it is.

English site and assembly.
Damn.
This is pretty nice.
Kind want to get one  :))

Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Novus on Tue, 28 April 2015, 16:55:47
How is the winkeyless so cheap (relatively speaking to other customs) at ~200 price range?
How's the quality compared to it's other (and more expensive) kustoms?
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: awhitedev on Tue, 28 April 2015, 17:10:37
Does tex make any tkl cases?

Tex does make very nice CNC aluminum cases for TKL.  I believe mechanicalkeyboards.com is getting them back in stock soon ™
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: wakko on Wed, 29 April 2015, 00:54:58
Alright, I'm gonna give this a go. What's the favorite TKL firmware around here?

On a side note, any ideas for fixing the scratchy and wobbly cherry reds?
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: ttzhou on Wed, 29 April 2015, 08:05:00
On a side note, any ideas for fixing the scratchy and wobbly cherry reds?

Lube the sliders. Wobbliness is rumoured to be fixed by switch stickers, but dunno if there is real hard evidence for that.

Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: FrostyToast on Wed, 29 April 2015, 08:07:47
On a side note, any ideas for fixing the scratchy and wobbly cherry reds?

Get Gateron switches.
Smoothest switches around and almost zero wobble stock.
Seriously. There is no fix for **** tier reds. :p
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: GenKaan on Wed, 29 April 2015, 08:37:29
Im looking pretty closly at a GON myself but winkeyless is so much cheaper. On the other hand a GON would be my end game so it dose not matter what it cost realy
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: Hellcatz on Wed, 29 April 2015, 09:02:35
will the pcb fit a gon housing? Already have a gon crystal tkl on the way but I want to have another 60% keyboard to add to my collections
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: metalliqaz on Wed, 29 April 2015, 10:07:09
Im looking pretty closly at a GON myself but winkeyless is so much cheaper. On the other hand a GON would be my end game so it dose not matter what it cost realy
Definition of "end game" has a way if changing for every one. Mine went from Realforce, to KMAC2, to one of my own creations.
Title: Re: GON crystal like keyboard without breaking the bank?
Post by: sakai4eva on Thu, 30 April 2015, 02:50:03
Im looking pretty closly at a GON myself but winkeyless is so much cheaper. On the other hand a GON would be my end game so it dose not matter what it cost realy
Definition of "end game" has a way if changing for every one. Mine went from Realforce, to KMAC2, to one of my own creations.

The game only ends when we "win" or when we die.

You can't "win" the game of inputs. I had a dream last night of using pneumatic switches with a button to turn it from tactile to linear and a reservoir and a a screw to adjust actuation force. You think it's doable?

Nonetheless, mine went from Realforce TKL 45g to Ergodox E.Clears 55g to Lightsaver MX Blues to whatever I can get my hands on now.