Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[fohat.digs]

PBT warps easily

Wait, what? Do you mean ABS?

I have boiled PBT caps in dye for half an hour with no harm.

[Sifo]

PBT warps easily

Wait, what? Do you mean ABS?

I have boiled PBT caps in dye for half an hour with no harm.

No pbt warps really easily.. that's why they tend to come bent. They are heat resistant but they warp

[Pacifist]

PBT warps easily

Wait, what? Do you mean ABS?

I have boiled PBT caps in dye for half an hour with no harm.

No pbt warps really easily.. that's why they tend to come bent. They are heat resistant but they warp

specifically when its fully melted and being cooled

[CPTBadAss]

PBT warps easily

Wait, what? Do you mean ABS?

I have boiled PBT caps in dye for half an hour with no harm.

No pbt warps really easily.. that's why they tend to come bent. They are heat resistant but they warp

specifically when its fully melted and being cooled

Pretty sure it's due to how the material cools and shrinkage that causes the warping.

[nubbinator]

Man how I hate shrinkage.

[Puddsy]

Man how I hate shrinkage.

heh

[Melvang]

PBT warps easily

Wait, what? Do you mean ABS?

I have boiled PBT caps in dye for half an hour with no harm.

No pbt warps really easily.. that's why they tend to come bent. They are heat resistant but they warp

specifically when its fully melted and being cooled

Pretty sure it's due to how the material cools and shrinkage that causes the warping.

Yup PBT has a much higher thermal expansion coefficient than ABS, hence the warping.

[nukec]

60% alu plate anywhere in stock?

Does it have to be aluminum? I think Imsto has some stainless steel plates as well. But I'm not sure I've seen many aluminum 60% plates.

Edit: I can't read. See BlueBar's post above about Imsto's stock

imsto has them out of stock, no matter it says 280 available. i've sent an email to gonskeyboardworks though, waiting reply. do you know any difference between the types of anodizing here? soft and hard? http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/17-universal-frameplate-for-60.html are there any pictures with differences?

[BlueBär]

imsto has them out of stock, no matter it says 280 available. i've sent an email to gonskeyboardworks though, waiting reply. do you know any difference between the types of anodizing here? soft and hard? http://www.gonskeyboardworks.com/accessaries/17-universal-frameplate-for-60.html are there any pictures with differences?

Hard anodizing is more scratch resistant than soft anodizing. As you can see on his site you can only get a gray plate if you want hard anodizing.

[nukec]

thanks, i will go with silver soft

btw is there any generator for these sexy keyboards in signature: ?

[rowdy]

thanks, i will go with silver soft

btw is there any generator for these sexy keyboards in signature:

Show Image

?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=19113.0

[Flyersfan1]

Are the classifieds the only way to obtain KMAC's today? In an e-mail, Sheraton told me DIY kits were gone indefinitely due to no more availability.

[Puddsy]

IIRC they sell them on KBDlab but you have to get a proxy

[Flyersfan1]

IIRC they sell them on KBDlab but you have to get a proxy

Oh cool, thanks TS!

[Puddsy]

it's pretty weird though, so don't freak out if you have a hard time getting one

and between you and me i've always liked GON boards a lot more

[Flyersfan1]

it's pretty weird though, so don't freak out if you have a hard time getting one

and between you and me i've always liked GON boards a lot more

He was next on my list actually, the allure of the korean custom has really hit me hard lately, haha.

[CPTBadAss]

and between you and me i've always liked GON boards a lot more

I like KMACs more than GONs but both are solid. And yeah, classifieds are the only way to grab them at this point.

[Pacifist]

is this cherry or are they just saying that?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Vintage-Cherry-MX-Black-Switch-USB-Keyboard-Double-Shot-Injection-Molded/360976288275?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23772%26meid%3D8109281367554166080%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10164%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D390876015611&rt=nc

[CPTBadAss]

is this cherry or are they just saying that?
http://bit.ly/1jUqgDJ

Could be, but I've never seen an old Cherry board with spherical caps. And they didn't take a picture of the switches so it's hard to say for sure.

[BlueBär]

is this cherry or are they just saying that?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Retro-Vintage-Cherry-MX-Black-Switch-USB-Keyboard-Double-Shot-Injection-Molded/360976288275?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D23772%26meid%3D8109281367554166080%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D10164%26rk%3D3%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D390876015611&rt=nc

Doesn't look Cherry made to me, could use Cherry switches though. I kind of doubt it. On the other side, it has a USB connector so someone seems to know what they're doing.

[whentheclouds]

are there that many Korean customs brands? i know of KMAC, GON, LZ, 356 and Duck. anyone else i'm missing?

[BlueBär]

are there that many Korean customs brands? i know of KMAC, GON, LZ, 356 and Duck. anyone else i'm missing?

Wouldn't really call those brands but rather series. There's more boards from OTD than just the 356 (456GT for example).

[Puddsy]

are there that many Korean customs brands? i know of KMAC, GON, LZ, 356 and Duck. anyone else i'm missing?

Wouldn't really call those brands but rather series. There's more boards from OTD than just the 356 (456GT for example).

yeah

there are too many to list really

like all 5-6 KMAC versions (2.1 now?)

or all of Duck's boards and all the incarnations of the duck poker

you've basically got the gist of it really

[fohat.digs]

Could be, but I've never seen an old Cherry board with spherical caps.

I have bought old typewriters and keyboards with "+" or "cross" shaped stems, only to discover that they are significantly too big and/or fat to work on modern Cherry keyboards.

[whentheclouds]

wow, the 456GT looks filthy good, but then i have yet to see a bad looking Korean board. this might be a naive question, but do Korean "manufacturers" incorporate public opinion/feedback into their creations? i'm wondering if, say, i get a group of people to lobby for a Duck MX-MINI board hard enough, will he design one or is it just wishful thinking?

side queston: do you guys have experience with both side LEDs and in-switch LEDs, and if you could only choose one which will it be? i'm not sure if inswitch LEDs/backlighting are very useful when i spend most of my computer time at night/in a dark room. the plus side is that they are very photogenic, they have that wow factor that you can impress people with (a big motivator for splashing the cash on an expensive keyboard, heh), and you can just turn them off when you want to

[CPTBadAss]

1) Do Korean "manufacturers" incorporate public opinion/feedback into their creations?

2) I'm wondering if, say, i get a group of people to lobby for a Duck MX-MINI board hard enough, will he design one or is it just wishful thinking?

3) Do you guys have experience with both side LEDs and in-switch LEDs?

1) They might from the Korean forums. The thing is, the Korean forums operate very differently from say Geekhack and Deskthority. A lot of it is hidden from non-Koreans and a lot of the boards can only be bought in GBs through the the closed areas in their froums.

2) You can try contacting duck0113 and asking him. I know Kaliet will do custom commissions. See Binge's 2TU.

3) What's a "side LED"? Like how Sifo has the LEDs in his GON?

[BlueBär]

1. this might be a naive question, but do Korean "manufacturers" incorporate public opinion/feedback into their creations?
2. i'm wondering if, say, i get a group of people to lobby for a Duck MX-MINI board hard enough, will he design one or is it just wishful thinking?
3. do you guys have experience with both side LEDs and in-switch LEDs, and if you could only choose one which will it be?

1. Kind of, some Korean keyboard, I can't remember which, got some recessed parts in it's case in a later version due to people complaining that they couldn't pick them up very well because of it's weight and it not having something you could use as a grip.
2. Rather not, maybe if you get a lot of people, not sure.
3. I don't know what you mean with side LEDs. All current MX boards with backlighting use the slots in the switches afaik.

Sniped!

[whentheclouds]

1. that's cool, but seems like GH doesn't have a lot of say there unless a creator comes here asking for feedback, which i've never seen happen before, and i've read a decent amount of old threads on this board

2. so it's like organizing an IC -> GB in a way? there's no way i can do that. i don't know much about 2TU except that it's a 60% board which doesn't interest me, but i'll check it out

3. by side LEDs i mean the light emanating from the 4 sides of the board, like Sifo's board, this NerD GON by yuiop with the green glow



or this Duck Orion which radiates a very vivid red

[CPTBadAss]

1. that's cool, but seems like GH doesn't have a lot of say there unless a creator comes here asking for feedback, which i've never seen happen before, and i've read a decent amount of old threads on this board

2. so it's like organizing an IC -> GB in a way? there's no way i can do that. i don't know much about 2TU except that it's a 60% board which doesn't interest me, but i'll check it out

3. by side LEDs i mean the light emanating from the 4 sides of the board, like Sifo's board, this NerD GON by yuiop with the green glow

Show Image

or this Duck Orion which radiates a very vivid red

Show Image

1) Again, see my previous response. We have very little say on the Korean forums.

2) It's like emailing duck0113 or Kaliet and asking them if they'd make you a one off. If you wanted to do a GB, which you don't, that'd be the same process. Just on a larger scale. And a side note, one off customs can be pricey.

3) Those have in switch LEDs and then either a clear case or holes cut into the case to allow LEDs to shine out of the sides or bottom. It's not a in-switch vs "side". It's inswitch + "side".

[whentheclouds]

2. i think "can be pricey" is probably understatement after all, you'd be owning the only model of it in the world. didn't know you could do this though, i very much appreciate the info

3. GON's MX-MINI board has options for either side LEDs or in-switch LEDs so i naturally assumed that they are independent of each other. the more you know~

[CPTBadAss]

2. i think "can be pricey" is probably understatement after all, you'd be owning the only model of it in the world. didn't know you could do this though, i very much appreciate the info

I think Photekq said his TEK-80 cost 500 pounds to machine total? If that helps give you a price range. I was given a quote of $3000 for a 60% aluminum case.

[Photekq]

2. i think "can be pricey" is probably understatement after all, you'd be owning the only model of it in the world. didn't know you could do this though, i very much appreciate the info

I think Photekq said his TEK-80 cost 500 pounds to machine total? If that helps give you a price range. I was given a quote of $3000 for a 60% aluminum case.

500£ including materials, laser cutting and anodising. The machining was £250 i think.

[Puddsy]

1. that's cool, but seems like GH doesn't have a lot of say there unless a creator comes here asking for feedback, which i've never seen happen before, and i've read a decent amount of old threads on this board

2. so it's like organizing an IC -> GB in a way? there's no way i can do that. i don't know much about 2TU except that it's a 60% board which doesn't interest me, but i'll check it out

3. by side LEDs i mean the light emanating from the 4 sides of the board, like Sifo's board, this NerD GON by yuiop with the green glow

1. we've done customs before but i think the skeldon had only 5 buyers (i think i can name all of them too...)

2. it's more than that, it's about communicating with a shop, knowing who's reputable in terms of PCB manufacturing/machining other things, and handling extra costs

3. ask GON in his forum, he's very active there

[Sifo]

No, side LEDs are either SMD (for NerD specifically it has SMD LED spots), or you hand wire LEDs and position them underneath the PCB, it's completely separate from in switch.

[CPTBadAss]

No, side LEDs are either SMD (for NerD specifically it has SMD LED spots), or you hand wire LEDs and position them underneath the PCB, it's completely separate from in switch.

Right, I just meant that you can use the same LED to create that effect. Like how you have 2x3x4 LEDs for your in-switch and then bent to create the side lighting effect on your GON.

[Sifo]

My GON is a horrible example that thing is so poorly done, if I ever get a chance to I will re do it now that I'm more experienced ;P

[Rena]

What's a good set of 104 pbt keycaps (for a filco mj2)? I'm just looking for something as cheap as possible but still good quality.

These look nice, but they're kind of expensive: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773

I was probably just going to get these, despite the ugly font: http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-Green-Double-Shot-Thick-PBT-104-Keyset-Cherry-MX-Keycaps-/231099852343

Any suggestions?

[CPTBadAss]

What's a good set of 104 pbt keycaps (for a filco mj2)? I'm just looking for something as cheap as possible but still good quality.

These look nice, but they're kind of expensive: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773

I was probably just going to get these, despite the ugly font: http://ebay.com/itm/Vortex-Green-Double-Shot-Thick-PBT-104-Keyset-Cherry-MX-Keycaps-/231099852343

Any suggestions?

The Vortex doubleshots are probably your best bet for cheap and still good. If you're willing to spend money, I suggest trying to find a set of BSP PBT.

[Rena]

Just searched those up and they do look nice. If I can find them for a decent price I'll consider them. Thanks

[swill]

What's a good set of 104 pbt keycaps (for a filco mj2)? I'm just looking for something as cheap as possible but still good quality.

These look nice, but they're kind of expensive: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773

I was probably just going to get these, despite the ugly font: http://m.ebay.com/itm/Vortex-Green-Double-Shot-Thick-PBT-104-Keyset-Cherry-MX-Keycaps-/231099852343

Any suggestions?

I agree with CPT. You can probably find some vortex doubleshots in the classifieds for 35-40$.

You might be able to find some thick cherry dye sub IMSTOs for 65-70$.

I am still using imsto pbt caps on my daily driver.

[Puddsy]

What's a good set of 104 pbt keycaps (for a filco mj2)? I'm just looking for something as cheap as possible but still good quality.

These look nice, but they're kind of expensive: http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=773

I was probably just going to get these, despite the ugly font: http://ebay.com/itm/Vortex-Green-Double-Shot-Thick-PBT-104-Keyset-Cherry-MX-Keycaps-/231099852343

Any suggestions?

The Vortex doubleshots are probably your best bet for cheap and still good. If you're willing to spend money, I suggest trying to find a set of BSP PBT.

he said for a filco 104

but BSP is still the best

[CPTBadAss]

he said for a filco 104

but BSP is still the best

What are you referring to? Don't both Vortex and BSP come in 104?

[Puddsy]

he said for a filco 104

but BSP is still the best

What are you referring to? Don't both Vortex and BSP come in 104?

what

BSP doesn't make 1.25x mods

this is common knowledge

[CPTBadAss]

BSP doesn't make 1.25x mods

this is common knowledge

I didn't know that.

[Photekq]

 )

[Dubsgalore]

What are you referring to? Don't both Vortex and BSP come in 104?

what

BSP doesn't make 1.25x mods

this is common knowledge

I though everone knew that  )

[CPTBadAss]

I figured there were older vintage boards that had BSP 1.25x mods. Guess not.

[intelli78]

What SA-profile sets exist that support ErgoDox?

[epzy]

What SA-profile sets exist that support ErgoDox?

23 Commando at least.

[swill]

What SA-profile sets exist that support ErgoDox?

Penumbra as well