Putting pandas in a panda for a lot of overall panda

[Cosmin]

I was told I should post here. I'm unsure how popular keyboard modding of pre-built is around here, but here goes.

My first higher quality mechanical keyboard was a Ducky x Varmilo Miya Pro Panda Edition. Delivered in a huge package with a Panda deskmat and a Panda plushie, as well as a switch puller and "artisan" keycaps.

The keyboard felt super high quality to me at the time and after actually digging into it with the knowledge I accrued over time it kind of makes sense now. Tl;dr at the bottom.

After I learned about the holy panda frankenswitch I just had to try it. Meanwhile, the Panda keeb was put back in its box because I was exclusively using my Pok3r and then my Ergodox. Eventually I had my Drop pandas delivered and proceeded to clean and lube them and it was good. Built a Fjell with them and it was great (since then give me 7U spacebar or give me death).

Over the months the holy panda "trend" started to kind of die down and I have gotten a project building in my head. What if I put holy panda switches in the panda keyboard? Would it be worth it? From what I've learned over time, "worth" is a highly subjective thing.

Since the colour theme of the keyboard is green/dark gun metal gray, we can't have white and salmon holy pandas, right? So I've ordered a bunch of Mint YOK Pandas and a bunch of Halo Clears (because Trues were out of stock). Cue months of waiting and months of work distractions and eventually last weekend I had it. It had to be done. So I've lubed up the Mint Pandas and I've disassembled the keyboard and the swap was done.

A few notes on the keyboard:
- it has a steel plate;
- said steel plate is bolted onto the PCB via twisted metal prongs that in some places are soldered to the PCB for some reason;
- stab tuning is suboptimal as a result;
- the final result is really really nice. 80-150$ "added" value nice?
- the build is a screwless sandwich thingamajingy with added foam underneath the PCB which was definitely a "wat" moment.

No, you can't put a price on this.

Full album.

Typing test:
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[HungerMechanic]

Hahaha, I actually suggested this to Varmilo when they opened up custom switch options.

[HungerMechanic]

The Pandas sound deep and fairly thocky.

How loud is it in regular operation? Compared to the previous switches, I mean?

[Cosmin]

Hahaha, I actually suggested this to Varmilo when they opened up custom switch options.

Missed opportunity right there! Unfortunately I don't see how this could have happened without tripling the keyboard retail price and I'm p. sure it wouldn't have featured fully lubed switches anyway seeing the Drop Panda factory lubed fiasco

The Pandas sound deep and fairly thocky.

How loud is it in regular operation? Compared to the previous switches, I mean?

Thank you so much! Indeed the result has exceeded all my expectations given the limited possibility of tuning the stabilizers considering the plate-bolted-to-pcb thingie.

Space bar Panda switch is also filmed which adds a fair bit of thock to it - honestly it sounds almost as good as my 7U Fjell space bar (also holy pandas but on brass plate).

Keeb overall is fairly noisier than before due to the stock Cherry MX Brown that I desoldered which were fairly silent (but scratchy as hell). But holy pandas are not a silent switch and they're on a steel plate. I feel the thocc was there when bottoming out even the MX Browns probably due to the steel plate and sandwich housing but may be wrong, didn't record a typing test prior to modding.

Overall I am super happy with the end result, 11/10 would mod again.

[HungerMechanic]

Yes, Varmilo told me that they had actually received multiple suggestions to create a Holy-Panda Varmilo Panda keyboard once they opened up their custom store to custom switch-types. So they knew about the idea, but decided not to pursue it, probably for the reasons you mentioned.

The problem, as you point-out, is that HPs are heavily lube-dependent. And I have not heard of any way for a factory to produce properly-lubed Pandas. So the only way they could do is is pay a lubist at least 30 cents per switch, I figure, which brings switch price over $1.30 each. So probably a cost of at least $88.50 in switches for your 65% alone. (Probably $140 or so for a full-size!) Although I guess they'd get a discount if the bought the switches in quantity.

So yeah, it would have substantially increased retail price for the keyboard, and be very difficult produce large-scale. In my opinion, maybe Varmilo could have added a special feature to their "custom store" in which you can pay an asinine sum of money to have someone create and lube frankenswitches for your build.

Well, your HPs do sound good in the Panda, as expected. Varmilo, as you saw, likes to use a heavy plate. And some dampening material. I have experience with a VA87M (MX Brown) and the switches are surprisingly thocky, thanks to the dense plate and whatever else they do to their case.

I had considered a similar Panda modification to a Varmilo keyboard, and was curious about difficulties. A desoldering service took apart my Leopolds and replaced the Cherry switches with Zilents and Ergo Clears. The process went surprisingly well. So I wondered about Varmilos, which seem more complex with the LED/RGB lighting and strange internal characteristics that you mentioned.

It's too bad Varmilo broke the mold (literally) for their metal VA68, because I've always wanted to retrofit custom switches into one and build this guy:

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/92/33/41/923341524f8ec34490b8d6ffeccbe586.jpg

Anyway, you did a great job, and I hope you enjoy it.

[Cosmin]

That price estimation is quite spot on but I don't think I'd lube tactiles for as little as 0.3$ given the fact that they're much more delicate to lube than linears (you have to stay away from the legs and the legs are really lubed preference-related imo, some people prefer a more linear feel)

This makes it completely unfeasable to offer holy pandas as an option. I think if Drop Pandas were offered as-is, without lube, they'd have been much more well received, I know I was upset at all the cleaning I had to do - I don't have an ultrasonic cleaner (yet) so had to employ a Thermos and several wash cycles. Overall, never again, I'd rather pay for YOKs and Halos.

Anyway, you did a great job, and I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you so much! I did plan to do a Sakura Edition with Sakurios but it's been out of stock everywhere unfortunately so if anybody wants that mod done I'm down just to add it to my "CV"

Currently the Panda keeb went back into its box and I'm back to my Ergodox with lubed and filmed Gateron Yellows, the sound and feel is amazing 

[shine]

Nice build!