geekhack

geekhack Community => New Members => Topic started by: anocer on Thu, 21 April 2016, 18:07:22

Title: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Thu, 21 April 2016, 18:07:22: Hi everyone!

Been a big fan of mks for years, and after several (swdev) colleagues recently picked up their own I started hunting for my ideal setup.

Found GH through r/mk, and through the posts on the Matt3o White Fox & Granite Keycap set.

I've got a WF (vanilla, but swapping w/ another user for true fox!) on order w/ 65g Tactile Zealios, as well as most of the granite keycaps I need (still need mono legends & homing kit), but this is going to be my first DIY soldering project and I'm not sure the zeals will be my ideal switch

So, I got in on the MD for the NPKC 17 Switch Tester w/ the keypad PCB as a starter item to learn on and really test out some switches, but I was thinking of getting something else to do after the switch tester and would love to hear some recommendations! Maybe a 60% DIY?

I definitely don't want to learn / make mistakes on my WF board lol

Thanks all for all the awesome resources and input! This seems like a great community!
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: izilla on Thu, 21 April 2016, 19:03:25: Welcome aboard to the forum. I am new myself but have been in the hobby for awhile. I build my own keyboards and if you have any soldering experience keyboards are rather straight forward. If you went some tips EEVBlog on Youtube has some great soldering tips I found very useful when I was starting out. GH60 boards are easy to find and I have soldered some cheap Chinese (Taiwanese?) copies that works well, I had an issue with the USB port on one but it was about 30$ so no big lose just de-soldered the switches and LEDs (also they have LED support).

Also, I love the LA area I lived there for 6 months after college and had a great time.
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Thu, 21 April 2016, 20:27:23: Thanks izilla!

I've lived in LA for 12 years almost - moved here straight away after college. Lately, I've been thinking about moving out east. Where are you living now, Chicago?

I'll definitely check out the EEVBlog for soldering tips; I've never done any soldering before. Thanks for letting me know about that one!

Best place to pick up a GH60? From what I see the GB is closed?
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: izilla on Thu, 21 April 2016, 20:40:20: I am originally from Albuquerque of Breaking Bad fame and have been in Chicago for 4 years now seems like yesterday but I just did the math. I have a couple GH60 PCBs one from techkeys.us it is the rev.C which is awesome and supports a ton of different 60% layouts. I also have a couple from eBay made in China type that have diodes and resistor SMD (surface mount device) already populated so all you need are switches and LEDs (I like the 2x3x4 square LEDs like 5$ on eBay from China for 100). I usually get my components LEDs and diodes from China eBay because they are cheap and if they don't last long I can de-solder/re-solder without issue. The only suggestion I have is to get a good iron with a chisel tip none of the fine point tips because they do not transfer the heat as well and you need to heat the lead of the component and the solder and the PCB where you are soldering to and you can never have too much flux...
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Thu, 21 April 2016, 21:13:48: Thanks for the techkeys link!

I thoroughly enjoyed BB :D

This is the soldering iron that was recommended, since I would like to do more soldering work after the keyboards:
http://www.amazon.com/Hakko-FX888D-23BY-Digital-Soldering-FX-888D/dp/B00ANZRT4M

Any tips you would recommend that this one doesn't have?
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: switchnollie on Fri, 22 April 2016, 01:56:34: Welcome :)

Are ppl already getting their foxes?

Gonna be in LA for Anime Expo ^-^
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 10:38:03: Thanks switchnollie!

Foxes aren't shipped yet, first round is supposed to go out in 3 days.

Any anime stuffs you're super looking forward to? I just watched Shigurui again recently, so good.
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: izilla on Fri, 22 April 2016, 16:06:39: That is the exact iron I have, so I can vouch for it I think I use one of the tips that come with it I think it comes with two???
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: switchnollie on Fri, 22 April 2016, 17:16:09: Quote from: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 10:38:03
Thanks switchnollie!

Foxes aren't shipped yet, first round is supposed to go out in 3 days.

Any anime stuffs you're super looking forward to? I just watched Shigurui again recently, so good.

Nice, so many people got in on that.
Can't wait to see any good looking keyset/layout combos :)

Haven't seen that one :O
Kill La Kill, but I'm mostly going to take photos of any great cosplays & visit some firends in the area :p
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: xtrafrood on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:21:18: Welcome. The granite set is amazing :eek: Not going for the Infinity Ergodox drop?
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: appleonama on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:49:57: Quote from: anocer on Thu, 21 April 2016, 18:07:22

Thanks all for all the awesome resources and input! This seems like a great community!

You Nerd, Just messing
hello! fellow Angelino
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 21:11:23: Quote from: izilla on Fri, 22 April 2016, 16:06:39
That is the exact iron I have, so I can vouch for it I think I use one of the tips that come with it I think it comes with two???

Hmm, not sure as I've yet to order. I'll have to check before I do! Good to know this one is so well recommended. :D
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 21:14:02: Quote from: switchnollie on Fri, 22 April 2016, 17:16:09
Nice, so many people got in on that.
Can't wait to see any good looking keyset/layout combos :)

I'm thinking all icons, with primary mono legends on all applicable keys. The only thing I'm a little bummed about is there isn't a RGB(YO) for Function.

Quote from: switchnollie on Fri, 22 April 2016, 17:16:09
Haven't seen that one :O
Kill La Kill, but I'm mostly going to take photos of any great cosplays & visit some firends in the area :p

Shigurui is super intense. Have you been to AX before? :D
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 22:40:30: Quote from: csmertx on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:21:18
Welcome. The granite set is amazing :eek:

I really like the style of the granites, I just gotta find R4 Mono Legends & Homing Kits!! :D

Quote from: csmertx on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:21:18
Not going for the Infinity Ergodox drop?

Aww, I didn't know there was an MD for the Infinity kit toooo! I saw the DM Ergo hardwood MDs and was tempted... ugh, but I didn't get the ergodox granites =/
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: xtrafrood on Fri, 22 April 2016, 22:44:00: Quote from: anocer on Fri, 22 April 2016, 22:40:30
Quote from: csmertx on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:21:18
Welcome. The granite set is amazing :eek:

I really like the style of the granites, I just gotta find R4 Mono Legends & Homing Kits!! :D

Quote from: csmertx on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:21:18
Not going for the Infinity Ergodox drop?

Aww, I didn't know there was an MD for the Infinity kit toooo! I saw the DM Ergo hardwood MDs and was tempted... ugh, but I didn't get the ergodox granites =/

Haha yea the drop for the infinity ergodox datamancer hardwood case appeared along with the infinity ergodox kit :eek:
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Sat, 23 April 2016, 01:56:30: Quote from: csmertx on Fri, 22 April 2016, 22:44:00
Haha yea the drop for the infinity ergodox datamancer hardwood case appeared along with the infinity ergodox kit :eek:

AND the infinity ergodox datamancer hardwood case wrist rests too :confused:
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: anocer on Sat, 23 April 2016, 23:55:35: Quote from: appleonama on Fri, 22 April 2016, 19:49:57
You Nerd, Just messing
hello! fellow Angelino

:nerd:

What part of LA are you in, friend? :D
Title: Re: Hello from Los Angeles!
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 24 April 2016, 04:02:46: Welcome to Geekhack!

For something different you could go for the JD40 (a 40% keyboard)!