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Author Topic: Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC  (Read 1734 times)

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Offline silent-circuit

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« on: Sun, 12 February 2012, 16:52:13 »
I recently got in to this whole mechanical keyboard thing, and I'm looking to expand my tiny collection (IBM Model M, Leopold TKL with MX Browns, CM Storm with MX Blues, Cherry compact with MLs, TG3 Data 911 with MX Blacks) and get a feel for different switch types. I've seen some amazing deals on here but sadly it looks like many of them happened 2-4 months ago, and everything in those threads is doubtless long since sold. I'll keep watching the classifieds, but just in case any in the community are feeling generous I figured I'd post this and bump it every now and then.

I'm looking for for boards in good condition, not perfect. If they're dirty, that's fine I can take the time to clean them myself. Just so long as the switches are in good working condition and have some life left in them, that's fine with me.

I also prefer tenkeyless boards, but if you can give me a good deal on a full size board with a switch type I haven't tried before that's perfectly fine too. Generally speaking the more compact the layout the better, for me.

Looking to spend $50 or less shipped for tenkeyless boards, $30 or less shipped for full size boards with Cherry or ALPS switches. For a point of comparison, I picked up a brand new CM Storm Quickfire with MX Blues for $65 shipped from NCIX-US, and I just got a TG3 "Data911" tenkeyless with MX Blacks for $30 shipped from 5traus in the classifieds here. I paid $120 shipped for my Leopold tenkeyless with MX Browns from EliteKeyboards and don't think I can justify spending anywhere near that much on a board again any time soon; I love it but it honestly hurt.

Only interested for the time being in switch types I don't already own, though this may change in the future. I'll update if it does.

Switches I own (not interested in more):
Cherry MX Brown
Cherry MX Blue
Cherry MX Black
Cherry ML
Unicomp buckling spring

Switches I'm interested in:
Cherry MX Clear (really want some of these)
Cherry MX Red
ALPS White
ALPS Black
Others?

Switches I'm not interested in:
Cherry MY
rubber domes / scissors / etc


Please contact me with what you have! As I said, I'll also continue to look through the classifieds from time to time.
« Last Edit: Tue, 14 February 2012, 11:54:08 by silent-circuit »
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Offline Ascaii

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 13 February 2012, 06:33:21 »
are you only interested in working boards?

I can ship you a PCB from a g80-1800 for 20€ including shipping. MX Blacks.

I would offer you my fullsize boards, but I'm assuming youre from the US, which makes shipping them really expensive.
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"Mechanical keyboards are like pokemon:
you start with one, and then you wanna catch em all."

Offline silent-circuit

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 13 February 2012, 09:59:01 »
Generally only interested in working boards, yes, though I'll make exceptions for really interesting stuff where there's some chance they can be fixed. I'm fairly handy with a soldering iron.

You're correct that I am located in the US -- Columbia, SC to be exact.
« Last Edit: Tue, 14 February 2012, 11:52:23 by silent-circuit »
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Offline silent-circuit

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #3 on: Tue, 14 February 2012, 11:49:46 »
Bump. Made some edits to reflect my latest acquisitions and what I'm interested in.
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Offline silent-circuit

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #4 on: Thu, 16 February 2012, 18:17:26 »
Bump. Would really like to get an inexpensive ($50 or less, ideally) board with MX Clears. Flexible on price depending what it is, but lower is better -- I'd prefer it were usable but I'm mainly interested in switch feel. No one have anything they're willing to part with for a reasonable price?
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Offline hashbaz

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #5 on: Thu, 16 February 2012, 22:02:44 »
Biniaris has been a good source of clears in the past.  You might be able to buy some switches from him and mod one of your keyboards.  He might also have a cheap functioning MX black board (I got one from him a while back).  Check out "Bini's Keyboard Bazaar" in the classifieds.

I have a switch tester numpad with all the common Cherry switches on it (plus ergo clears), but the waiting list to try it out is pretty long.

I have a Dell AT101W with black Alps and a Ducky with green Alps (clicky) that I would be willing to sell.  I'll PM you details.
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Offline silent-circuit

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Inexpensive boards with various switches -MX black red clear, ALPS black white, ETC
« Reply #6 on: Thu, 16 February 2012, 22:59:07 »
Appreciate the response hashbaz! I've also had some interesting offers via PM but sadly no MX Clears. Some ALPS though. Just need to make sure I have the cash. I may take you up on that Ducky as well -- would be interested to see how their build quality compares to Costar (CM Storm Quickfire) and Leopold (FC200R) since I've heard mixed opinions.
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