Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[CPTBadAss]

I'm sure I will get more then one answer, but what is the best solder for soldering switches?

I use Kester 44 .031" diameter. I think mkawa is still selling it.

[CommonCurt]

I'm sure I will get more then one answer, but what is the best solder for soldering switches?

I use Kester 44 .031" diameter. I think mkawa is still selling it.

Okay.   Thanks CPT.

[SpAmRaY]

I'm sure I will get more then one answer, but what is the best solder for soldering switches?

I use Kester 44 .031" diameter. I think mkawa is still selling it.

according to the description on geekhackers.org mkawa sells Kester 44 63/37 Sn/Pb RA 0.02" Solder

http://www.geekhackers.org/collections/soldering-tools-and-supplies/products/activate-rosin-core-fine-pitch-eutectic-leaded-solder

unless he is selling other solder not listed.

[CPTBadAss]

I'm sure I will get more then one answer, but what is the best solder for soldering switches?

I use Kester 44 .031" diameter. I think mkawa is still selling it.

according to the description on geekhackers.org mkawa sells Kester 44 63/37 Sn/Pb RA 0.02" Solder

http://www.geekhackers.org/collections/soldering-tools-and-supplies/products/activate-rosin-core-fine-pitch-eutectic-leaded-solder

unless he is selling other solder not listed.

Then apparently I'm using .020" diameter lol.

[intelli78]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

[CPTBadAss]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

* CPTBadAss shrugs

I don't ever clean my PCBs after soldering. Never had an issue.

[Pacifist]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

* CPTBadAss shrugs

I don't ever clean my PCBs after soldering. Never had an issue.

I tried cleaning my PCBs after soldering but I never got anything off.

[SpAmRaY]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

it's technically no-clean, but i like to clean RA flux first, because it's sticky and annoying, and only gets more sticky and annoying as it dries out, but also because even though it's no-clean in an industrial sense, it still leaves a very mildly active residue and you will get the best results if you clean it up.

[intelli78]

Thanks 

[Lain1911]

Do metal keycaps such as zinc and aluminum pretty much last forever?

[CPTBadAss]

Do metal keycaps such as zinc and aluminum pretty much last forever?

I can't find the picture or thread right this second but there's a disgusting picture of zinc keycaps reacting with someone's finger oils or something. They looked horrible. I dont think zinc keycaps are very durable.

I don't know much about aluminum keycaps. I suppose I could put one of my aluminum novelties on a daily driver and see what happens.

[Lain1911]

Ah the oils, good point.

[Jixr]

How do you turn on PokerX's LEDs?

[Pacifist]

How do you turn on PokerX's LEDs?

poker x doesn't have LEDs, or I'm not aware of them

[phoenix1234]

How do you turn on PokerX's LEDs?

poker x doesn't have LEDs, or I'm not aware of them

No, it does have leds on some positions (esc, spacebar) .
These leds were designed for changing mode.
To turn those led on, we need to press : Fn+Q or Fn+Spacebar

Plus, as you can see in the Poker X that I just modded the plate yesterday, it also has led holes so we can mode the leds with additional wiring. Indeed, this non-trivial task, but we know they are there once we need  .

[CommonCurt]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

it's technically no-clean, but i like to clean RA flux first, because it's sticky and annoying, and only gets more sticky and annoying as it dries out, but also because even though it's no-clean in an industrial sense, it still leaves a very mildly active residue and you will get the best results if you clean it up.

What would you clean it with?   Isopropyl Alcohol?

[Melvang]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

it's technically no-clean, but i like to clean RA flux first, because it's sticky and annoying, and only gets more sticky and annoying as it dries out, but also because even though it's no-clean in an industrial sense, it still leaves a very mildly active residue and you will get the best results if you clean it up.

What would you clean it with?   Isopropyl Alcohol?

Yes, as high of percentage as you can find.  Highest I have available locally is 91%.

Speaking of which, anyone know where I can find hydrogen peroxide higher than a 4% concentration for doing retro brite work?

[CommonCurt]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

it's technically no-clean, but i like to clean RA flux first, because it's sticky and annoying, and only gets more sticky and annoying as it dries out, but also because even though it's no-clean in an industrial sense, it still leaves a very mildly active residue and you will get the best results if you clean it up.

What would you clean it with?   Isopropyl Alcohol?

Yes, as high of percentage as you can find.  Highest I have available locally is 91%.

Okay.  Thanks Melvang.

[hwood34]

Is that Kester solder considered no-clean?

it's technically no-clean, but i like to clean RA flux first, because it's sticky and annoying, and only gets more sticky and annoying as it dries out, but also because even though it's no-clean in an industrial sense, it still leaves a very mildly active residue and you will get the best results if you clean it up.

What would you clean it with?   Isopropyl Alcohol?

Yes, as high of percentage as you can find.  Highest I have available locally is 91%.

Speaking of which, anyone know where I can find hydrogen peroxide higher than a 4% concentration for doing retro brite work?

http://www.purehealthdiscounts.com/h2o2.htm
you gotta scroll down near the bottom to find the actual product

[SpikeBolt]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

[Melvang]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

Build quality is very good on both.  The ducky has a removable cable with cherry stabilizers, while the filxo has a fixed cable and costar stabilizers.

[SpikeBolt]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

Build quality is very good on both.  The ducky has a removable cable with cherry stabilizers, while the filxo has a fixed cable and costar stabilizers.

I don't mind the cable being fixed but I don't know the difference in feel between the stabilizers. Which keyboard do you prefer?

[studybreak]

Would this connector (http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-Keyboard-Adapter-MiniDin6/dp/B0016RTO1M/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y be ) be likely to allow using a 5-pin 122 key Model M on a modern computer without dead keys?

[Melvang]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

Build quality is very good on both.  The ducky has a removable cable with cherry stabilizers, while the filxo has a fixed cable and costar stabilizers.

I don't mind the cable being fixed but I don't know the difference in feel between the stabilizers. Which keyboard do you prefer?

I personally prefer costar or cherry if they are clipped.  Cherry stabs that are not clipped feel very mushy at the bottom of the keystroke.  Some people like that some don't.

[CPTBadAss]

Would this connector (http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-Keyboard-Adapter-MiniDin6/dp/B0016RTO1M/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y be ) be likely to allow using a 5-pin 122 key Model M on a modern computer without dead keys?

I *think* so? I can't remember if you can just use a converter on a terminal board though.

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

I don't mind the cable being fixed but I don't know the difference in feel between the stabilizers. Which keyboard do you prefer?

If I had to pick between the two? Filco. But I'm a Filco fanboy.

[Puddsy]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

Build quality is very good on both.  The ducky has a removable cable with cherry stabilizers, while the filxo has a fixed cable and costar stabilizers.

I don't mind the cable being fixed but I don't know the difference in feel between the stabilizers. Which keyboard do you prefer?

I own both,, I like my Filcos more. The ducky has a lot of strange issues with my VOIP softwares.

[SpikeBolt]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

Build quality is very good on both.  The ducky has a removable cable with cherry stabilizers, while the filxo has a fixed cable and costar stabilizers.

I don't mind the cable being fixed but I don't know the difference in feel between the stabilizers. Which keyboard do you prefer?

I own both,, I like my Filcos more. The ducky has a lot of strange issues with my VOIP softwares.

I'm already pretty sold on the Filco, but you elaborate on why you prefer it? (other than the voip software thing which seems awkward)

[Puddsy]

The Filco is lighter, which is nice when I want to keep my keyboard in my lap (which is often). The LEDs in the Ducky's spacebar shine in my face when I lean back, which is really annoying, and leads me to keep them off 100% of the time. My USB-A to mini-B cable has some problems, but since the Filco has a non-detachable cable, these issues are not present. Filco does not twist as much as the Ducky in the "Twist test" but my black MJ2 makes some nasty creaking. Filco has more custom case options. Ducky's QC has been known to be lacking in some parts, mainly LED testing.

I could go on, but I just woke up and this post probably reads like crap.

[domoaligato]

Filco's are built like tanks. they have the best build quality of pretty much every out of the box cherry keyboard (some actual cherry brand keyboards are better). I would choose a cm storm qfr before a ducky also.
Filco > QFR > Ducky as long as led's are not important.
Eventually you might move past all this TKL and move to a 60%, in which case the search begins again

[epzy]

Undecided in which keyboard to buy: Ducky Shine 3 TLK or Filco MJ2 Ninja TKL.

The backlighting is a non-factor for me. Which has the better build quality?

I'd go with the Ducky just because I think it feels much better to type on than my Filco's.

[domoaligato]

it all comes back to personal preference.
I have a model f and I love it more then any of my cherry mx boards, but it is too loud to use at home(wife hates it) or at work(coworkers hate it).
So it sits in a closet until one day that either my wife leaves me or I change jobs. lol.

[swill]

Random question: who would I talk to to get the Geekhack logo in AI so I can print it off large in quality?

[domoaligato]

Which logo? There are a few... oh wait there is only nostalgia ^_^

[swill]

Which logo? There are a few... oh wait there is only nostalgia ^_^

Just the Geekhack text.

[dorkvader]

Would this connector (http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-Keyboard-Adapter-MiniDin6/dp/B0016RTO1M/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y be ) be likely to allow using a 5-pin 122 key Model M on a modern computer without dead keys?

I *think* so? I can't remember if you can just use a converter on a terminal board though.

Depends on the board.

Some, especially terminal emulator M122's will work on PS/2 with either no problem or with no problem once a jumper is set.

Some work more like the F122's and "barely" work on PS/2.

[CPTBadAss]

Random question: who would I talk to to get the Geekhack logo in AI so I can print it off large in quality?

So you can check out this Wiki entry which should have the logo. mkawa and Krogenar should have the logo files. The "Geekhack" font is also called Special Elite. An example of what this font looks like can be found in bunnylake's sale thread. Look at the little card with the text on it.

[swill]

Random question: who would I talk to to get the Geekhack logo in AI so I can print it off large in quality?

So you can check out this Wiki entry which should have the logo. mkawa and Krogenar should have the logo files. The "Geekhack" font is also called Special Elite. An example of what this font looks like can be found in bunnylake's sale thread. Look at the little card with the text on it.

Show Image

Thx Cpt'n

[fohat.digs]

Would this connector (http://www.amazon.com/SF-Cable-Keyboard-Adapter-MiniDin6/dp/B0016RTO1M/ref=pd_bxgy_e_text_y be ) be likely to allow using a 5-pin 122 key Model M on a modern computer without dead keys?

Isn't that an ordinary AT-to-PS/2 type adapter? I have never seen an M-122 with that plug.

The early ones that I have had my hands on had the 240-degree connection, and the later ones were RJ-45-ish or PS/2.

[Lain1911]

Is it rare to see a Poker II on Massdrop or on sale? Rare as in 2-3 times a year or none at all?

[Pacifist]

Is it rare to see a Poker II on Massdrop or on sale? Rare as in 2-3 times a year or none at all?

like a month ago there were p2's on md

[Lain1911]

Is it rare to see a Poker II on Massdrop or on sale? Rare as in 2-3 times a year or none at all?

like a month ago there were p2's on md

Mixed emotions of happy and sad :\
thanks tho heh

[epzy]

Is it rare to see a Poker II on Massdrop or on sale? Rare as in 2-3 times a year or none at all?

like a month ago there were p2's on md

Mixed emotions of happy and sad :\
thanks tho heh

They offer MX Clear Poker 2's now, which is unique.

[SpAmRaY]

Is it rare to see a Poker II on Massdrop or on sale? Rare as in 2-3 times a year or none at all?

like a month ago there were p2's on md

Mixed emotions of happy and sad :\
thanks tho heh

They offer MX Clear Poker 2's now, which is unique.

Seriously? I've never noticed those. Interesting.

[combataran]

What's the difference between the layouts of the Duck Mini v2 and the Duck Eagle?

[CPTBadAss]

What's the difference between the layouts of the Duck Mini v2 and the Duck Eagle?

I thought both were 60% boards with different cases. Also I think the Eagle is MX only and the Mini can take both MX and Alps. Same layout iirc.

[combataran]

What's the difference between the layouts of the Duck Mini v2 and the Duck Eagle?

I thought both were 60% boards with different cases. Also I think the Eagle is MX only and the Mini can take both MX and Alps. Same layout iirc.

Guess that explains the lower price point then.

[Melvang]

Anyone know what the radius of curve in Model M's steel back plate is?

[asgeirtj]

I was wondering about the availability of tenkeypads with red switches.  So far i've found these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leopold-FC210TP-Mechanical-Tenkeypad-Cherry-MX-Red-Switches-21-Key-PBT-Black-/281342246330
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=435

Was wondering if there were more options with red switches?

[BlueBär]

I was wondering about the availability of tenkeypads with red switches.  So far i've found these

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leopold-FC210TP-Mechanical-Tenkeypad-Cherry-MX-Red-Switches-21-Key-PBT-Black-/281342246330
http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=435

Was wondering if there were more options with red switches?

Filco also offers a numpad, but I can't find one with reds, so apart from custom numpads I don't think there is one.

[CPTBadAss]

I was wondering about the availability of tenkeypads with red switches. 

I think Keycool has some numpads with Reds but I'm not 100% sure. I like the Filco numpad so maybe you can just find one you like and the swap in new switches?