Build a keyboard :p

[snowcolt17]

Hi all. Ive been registered on here a while but dont think ive ever posted. h

anyways i always browse this site in hopes of building a keyboard. i love mechinical switches!!

anyways ive been looking and seems like there isnt much avaiable.. as of pcbs. i really wanted the octagon kit but like everything else i missed up.. but a few years. and i like sprits, but missed out

i want something with backlighting i really want rgb but dont think thats going to happen

i would like to start getting stuff gathered up, switches leds, resistors and what not.

any suggestions would help.

[TastaturenAuslese]

Would really like to know this too! I found an old keyboard today with some really unique switches. Not sure what they are, but I like the feel. I'm considering recycling the switches into a new custom board if I can figure out what they are, and how to actually get started on a custom. Haha. Project for the future and long-term I guess.

[Leslieann]

I would suggest starting with an off-the-shelf keyboard and mod that, especially for RGB.

If you want custom, you should bear in mind that people here have $500+ keyboards using modded or entirely off the shelf parts. Limited edition customs can top $1000. If you want to go it alone and make it all yourself, it can easily top this depending on your skill level and tooling available. Not everyone can design or etch a pcb, laser cut a case or waterjet a plate. All of that costs money to have done, and it's not cheap for one offs, and mistakes quickly double the cost (and odds are you will make a mistake). There are some PCB's out, but they don;t grow on trees and since the PCB, plate and case are tied together, having one doesn't make the rest any easier.

That said, there are ways to cheat (skip the PCB or plate, not both), but again, you would be smart to mod an off-the-shelf to get some skills first or at least start with a kit designed by someone else (Phantom, GH60, Gonz, Ergodox).

[snowcolt17]

thank you for the reply. ive been looking at the phantoms.

i want a filco but no backlighting.

ill probably go with a ducky shine 4 for now.

i would go woth a corsair k70 but just doesnt look that good with the rgb and reviews about the leds dying and what not.

[Leslieann]

I considered using EL Wire or EL paneling on the plate to backlight me Filco, I never got around to it.
In the end, it's still just a keyboard, lighting doesn't matter (this coming from someone with far, far too much money in "just a keyboard").

[snowcolt17]

ive been gaming for 3 years on the pc. and still have to look at the keyboard. so it helps when there is no light in my room. and i like the eyecandy.

how would one make an off the shelf keyboard rgb?

[VinnyCordeiro]

ive been gaming for 3 years on the pc. and still have to look at the keyboard. so it helps when there is no light in my room. and i like the eyecandy.

how would one make an off the shelf keyboard rgb?

If the board isn't originally RGB, you can rewire it and add an external controller to be able to choose the colors. Or you can desolder the original LEDs and solder in place a 2 pins RGB LED, if you don't mind colors changing randomly over the time.

[Data]

Hang around, there are always new boards on the horizon.

[CaplockJack]

Massdrop has kits every so often.

[snowcolt17]

Massdrop has kits every so often.

i browse there alot

Hang around, there are always new boards on the horizon.

im always here.. in the corner

ive been gaming for 3 years on the pc. and still have to look at the keyboard. so it helps when there is no light in my room. and i like the eyecandy.

how would one make an off the shelf keyboard rgb?

If the board isn't originally RGB, you can rewire it and add an external controller to be able to choose the colors. Or you can desolder the original LEDs and solder in place a 2 pins RGB LED, if you don't mind colors changing randomly over the time.

thank you. i like the quickfire. and it looks like they are realeasing the xti soon. maybe i will get it.. hmm