Bullet Proof Keyboard?

[Nick8800ny]

Hello! I am new to this "keyboard enthusiasts" world and I am hoping some of you can kind of point in the right direction. I am looking for something that is a tank of a keyboard. I would like it to be heavy and made of metal, very basic and with wide compatibility of parts. The DROP ALT HIGH-PROFILE (https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-alt-high-profile-mechanical-keyboard) is pretty much what I am looking for but I wanted to explore what other options may be out there before I pop open the wallet :-)

[funkmon]

It's a fine keyboard, at least the low profile one, and very well made. Is that the form factor you're looking for? If so, yeah, I'd say go for it. While there are other slab of aluminum style boards out there, few have the community support of that one, and it supports easy switch swapping if you're into the Cherry MX style switches.

Personally, were I you and new to the hobby, the first thing I would do is ensure that you have the right thing for you, and to do that, I'd buy some of the cheaper keyboards to find the stuff you like first, then buy your bulletproof case, otherwise it's going to be a $230 paperweight when you find what you like.

Head to eBay and pick up a cheap alps board like a Dell AT101 in good condition, then a Model M, then start buying cheap Cherry style mechanical boards in multiple form factors.

Why? Well, you might prefer how alps switches work and feel, or even buckling spring, over a Cherry MX compatible keyboard. Then **** with form factors.

It necessarily increases your expenditure, but you should be able to buy some mechanical keyboards for like $35 to be sure that your $230 investment is worth it for you.

[dusan]

Cherry MX 6.0. It has 2.3mm thick aluminium chassis (equivalent to 0.8 mm steel) and U-shaped frame. You can sit on it without causing any damage.

See this photo https://images.anandtech.com/doci/9987/CMXB6_18.JPG.

[el_murdoque]

which parts do you want to be bullet proof?
Most keyboards have a bit of a problem when it comes to the actual keys. They don't like water. The stems of the switches are anything but strong. A halfhearted blow with a normal hammer will wreak havoc on most mechanical keyboards.

The IBM 5251 seems like it can be used to ram down a door and be plugged in again, still working.

The more common Model F and Model M keyboards also stood the test of time. You can easily buy a heayßvily used 30 years old Model M on ebay and expect it to work flawlessly.

[Maledicted]

Yes, funkmon has some very good advice. I don't know how many people would actually stick with modern boards and switches if they experienced the best of the dead switch types.

Cherry MX 6.0. It has 2.3mm thick aluminium chassis (equivalent to 0.8 mm steel) and U-shaped frame. You can sit on it without causing any damage.

See this photo https://images.anandtech.com/doci/9987/CMXB6_18.JPG.

I hadn't even heard about that. That's actually kind of cool.

This is also worth looking at: HEAVY METAL KEYBOARDS

I ordered two of those bad boys in different configurations. They're offering one heck of a lot of options.

If you end up liking Topre, and are made out of money, things like this are also available: the Heavy-6

Topre is capacitive, like the Model F, so there's very little that can go wrong in terms of the mechanism.

which parts do you want to be bullet proof?
Most keyboards have a bit of a problem when it comes to the actual keys. They don't like water. The stems of the switches are anything but strong. A halfhearted blow with a normal hammer will wreak havoc on most mechanical keyboards.

The IBM 5251 seems like it can be used to ram down a door and be plugged in again, still working.

The more common Model F and Model M keyboards also stood the test of time. You can easily buy a heayßvily used 30 years old Model M on ebay and expect it to work flawlessly.

^ He's right, especially with the IBM 4704 keyboards, the reproductions in particular. A new production F62 or F77, with their beefy solid Zinc cases most likely could stop quite a few handgun rounds ... maybe even some rifle rounds if they're not meant for penetrating armor.

[Riverman]

Other than the MX red switches, I liked the MX Board 6.0.  It really is a tank of a keyboard.  I would have kept it if I had liked the switches.

[Maledicted]

Other than the MX red switches, I liked the MX Board 6.0.  It really is a tank of a keyboard.  I would have kept it if I had liked the switches.

My first thought when I saw it was to desolder the MX crap and put in some box clickies. lol

[Riverman]

If it wasn't for the LEDs, I'd seriously consider buying another one and replacing the switches.  Desoldering 216 solder joints for the switches is bad enough, but doubling that for the LEDs is more work than I'm willing to put in.

[Nick8800ny]

Thanks everyone for the input!

Ive owned one mechanical keyboard; SteelSeries 6Gv2 with cherry red switches. Ive owned it about 5 years now and its been my daily driver. I thought about swapping out the switches and keycaps and thats what has led me down this rabbit hole haha.

The Cherry MX 6.0 looks extreme solid. I am assuming they arent made anymore? What would be a fair price if I found a used one?

That heavy metal keyboard is definitely appealing. If I had the money to burn, the heavy 6 would be the one though!

Others that have popped out to me are the Wooting one RGB and Glorious gaming GMMK. I primarily game with the lights off so I like the idea of clear letters on they keys being back lit white and easily seen. I havent really decided yet but I will be going for something it the 60%-80% range.

[el_murdoque]

I do own a Wooting two.

This is not something I'd come up with when someone asks for a bulletproof keyboard.
Don't get me wrong - before I kind of fell into that ortholinear rabbithole, I was into full size keyboards and liked smooth linear switches for gaming. The Wooting has all that plus more - analog capability. Quite useful in gaming. Those contactless Flaretech switches are incredibly smooth. But the board is not heavy and only the top plate is metal, the rest of the case is plastic.
It's a keeper for me, nonetheless - currently I have a Planck - Style 4x12 keyboard with unlabeled keycaps at home, with the Wooting sitting nearby in case normal people need to use my computer, I also use it for most games. Either for the analog input or because four rows is not enough.

[Maledicted]

Alright, how about a wildcard? Behold, the venerable (and cheap) TG3 BL82:



The top of the case is plastic but is very thick, thicker than some vintage boards. The bottom is a a thick piece of aluminum, and the switches are mounted in a thick steel plate. Since they're so cheap, you could also get one of TG3's cop keyboards, pull out the rubber plate sleeve thing, cut the tops of the domes off like I did here: Cop keyboard modded with Kailh Box Jade switches, self-dubbed sunroof mod, etc, maybe swap the red LEDs with white, put in some Kailh box switches, which are themselves already IP56 rated, and you've got an MX-compatible tank. The caps are a bit weird though, and they do not have Nkey rollover. I suppose I should try gaming on one of mine to see if that's even a problem.

[funkmon]

Holy crap, that's a hell of a mod you did on that poor little keyboard.

[Maledicted]

Holy crap, that's a hell of a mod you did on that poor little keyboard.

Thank you, I think? lol. The LEDs are the annoying part, but you only have to do that once, even if you want to swap switches down the road. The rubber sleeve thing can be excluded entirely if feeling lazy. The GX12 aviator socket was also, obviously, not necessary unless you want to be able to throw the keyboard off of a building onto pavement directly onto where the cable meets the case and have nothing happen.

I did the same thing with a ps2 BL82, but those only come with Saran wrap instead of rubber, so I threw that right into the trash. Being ps2 I had the even better opportunity to add a metal 5-pin DIN socket and can now just use really thick/high quality (and still relatively cheap) HOSA MIDI cables, of any length, with a 5-pin DIN to ps2 adapter and/or usb adapter. I may go back and add my sunroof mod as well, if I pull the rubber from another cop keyboard.

[typo]

Mal, hit it on the nail. Not metal but it is actually in fact really bullet proof! They were made for police officers. They are like $40. they will out last your entire family tree. How can you go wrong? not fancy, but all you wanted was bullet proof. The Drop Alt is far from bullet proof. Sneeze on it and it might break. You just want to be sure you get the red led's. That is the only real cop version.

[hoggy]

I'll second the Data911. 

There's Cortronic as well.

[Maledicted]

I'll second the Data911. 

There's Cortronic as well.

I just Googled Cortronic, and it looks like they've made some really cool keyboards (Now that I notice, I have seen some before). Do any have MX switches in them and/or can they be converted to work with modern/normal computers?

The ones on Ebay right now do look like they may not have any controller, so possible Teensy/Pro Micro job?

[Nick8800ny]

So it looks like I am going to go the DIY route. So far the KBDfans Tofu65 kit is the most appealing. Just wanted to say thanks again to everyone for your input.

[hoggy]

I'll second the Data911. 

There's Cortronic as well.

I just Googled Cortronic, and it looks like they've made some really cool keyboards (Now that I notice, I have seen some before). Do any have MX switches in them and/or can they be converted to work with modern/normal computers?

The ones on Ebay right now do look like they may not have any controller, so possible Teensy/Pro Micro job?

I seem to remember they have a different way of holding the caps on the stem, so probably not cherry...

[Maledicted]

I'll second the Data911. 

There's Cortronic as well.

I just Googled Cortronic, and it looks like they've made some really cool keyboards (Now that I notice, I have seen some before). Do any have MX switches in them and/or can they be converted to work with modern/normal computers?

The ones on Ebay right now do look like they may not have any controller, so possible Teensy/Pro Micro job?

I seem to remember they have a different way of holding the caps on the stem, so probably not cherry...

Yeah, finding references to at least magnetic valve and foam and foil, so maybe they made keyboards with other switch types as well?