geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:26:31

Title: How loud are Dampened Cream Alps?
Post by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:26:31
New question:
So I've found a donor AEK II board from a local e-recycling depot, for my upcoming Alps 60% project. From someone with experience using these, how loud are the switches? I'm intending to use this board at work, since my original plan was to use my HHKB, but I kind want to leave it and the expensive artisans at home. Always wanted to have a cream Alps board though, so I thought it'd be great idea to build one for work. I just wouldn't wanna annoy my coworkers with all the clicky clicky. Thoughts?

Old question:
More
Looking to build a custom keyboard for work with some damped cream alps I've harvested. Can anyone tell me which customs I should be looking for? If I'm correct, the two that I know of are the Infinity and the JD40. Are there any other ones?
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: Melvang on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:34:50
Looking to build a custom keyboard for work with some damped cream alps I've harvested. Can anyone tell me which customs I should be looking for? If I'm correct, the two that I know of are the Infinity and the JD40. Are there any other ones?

If you don't mind hand wiring, you can use Swills plate building tool for your own layout.
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:36:15
Looking to build a custom keyboard for work with some damped cream alps I've harvested. Can anyone tell me which customs I should be looking for? If I'm correct, the two that I know of are the Infinity and the JD40. Are there any other ones?

If you don't mind hand wiring, you can use Swills plate building tool for your own layout.
Hmm, I don't think I'm keyboard savvy enough to handwire. I'd probably prefer something with a PCB already :3
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: demik on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:37:53
Kingsaver

Infinity

I think some of duck's stuff is also
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: sth on Tue, 01 September 2015, 01:41:23
Hasu has a 60% pcb that he does groupbuys for sometimes
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Tue, 01 September 2015, 02:55:52
For the record the JD40 isn't Alps.

Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 03:04:36
For the record the JD40 isn't Alps.

Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
Ah I see. I must've misread then. JD45? I thought I saw Joey Quinn posting on the Price Check thread that he had either a JD40/45 with Blue Alps?
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: suicidal_orange on Tue, 01 September 2015, 03:07:17
For the record the JD40 isn't Alps.

Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
Ah I see. I must've misread then. JD45? I thought I saw Joey Quinn posting on the Price Check thread that he had either a JD40/45 with Blue Alps?

Could be, all I know is I have a JD40 and it isn't :)
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 03:07:51
For the record the JD40 isn't Alps.

Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
Ah I see. I must've misread then. JD45? I thought I saw Joey Quinn posting on the Price Check thread that he had either a JD40/45 with Blue Alps?

Could be, all I know is I have a JD40 and it isn't :)
Just double checked, my bad, it's the JD45 haha.
Title: Re: How loud are Dampened Cream Alps?
Post by: TastaturenAuslese on Tue, 01 September 2015, 03:36:27
New question.
Title: Re: How loud are Dampened Cream Alps?
Post by: chyros on Tue, 01 September 2015, 03:45:52
They're very quiet for a mechanical switch. Not as quiet as a mushy rubber dome, but nothing anyone would complain about I'd say.

Check my AEKII review for a typing demonstration at the end:

Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 01 September 2015, 05:36:33
Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
I am not sure that handwiring is suitable for harvested Alps SKCM. The clips that hold the switches to the plates weren't made to withstand switch removal so most of them will break when you harvest the switches. The switches might have to be glued in.
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: chyros on Tue, 01 September 2015, 06:28:09
Handwiring really isn't that hard, don't buy a thin case though or getting it in will be!
I am not sure that handwiring is suitable for harvested Alps SKCM. The clips that hold the switches to the plates weren't made to withstand switch removal so most of them will break when you harvest the switches. The switches might have to be glued in.
I've harvested >500 Alps switches by now (most of them SKCM Black/Late) and not had more than maybe one or two break off - how in God's name did you remove yours? xD

My Alps keychain similarly has a switch clipped into just a small frame of an AT101W mounting plate, and being in my pocket all day with ~25 other keys, it takes a lot of abuse daily. Nothing's come off and it hasn't budged in the frame yet, either.
Title: Re: Which customs are alps compatible?
Post by: jacobolus on Tue, 01 September 2015, 06:35:48
The clips that hold the switches to the plates weren't made to withstand switch removal so most of them will break when you harvest the switches. The switches might have to be glued in.
It’s not hard to desolder full keyboards without losing any little clips, or at most a couple. You just have to be careful. My recommendation is to desolder everything, then remove the PCB leaving just the switches and plate. To remove switches with greatest safety (especially helpful if the plate is thick or tight), push the clips flat against the switch housing while popping switches out of the plate.