Simple Questions, Simple Answers (FAQ in the OP)

[fohat.digs]

I do agree with all your points here, fohat (I always read your name as foghat),

The Northgate was white Alps. A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7208fohat.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foghat

[E3E]

I do agree with all your points here, fohat (I always read your name as foghat),

The Northgate was white Alps. A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

http://www.teosofia.com/Mumbai/7208fohat.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foghat

The gold label Omnikey 102s typically have blue alps, fohat.

Here's one and here's another.

Also, that must be where I kept getting "foghat" from, hahaha. Thanks for the clarification, as they are two very different things. XD

[fohat.digs]

The gold label Omnikey 102s typically have blue alps,

Your link is not gold label, and the seller even noted "white" Alps.

[trenzafeeds]

A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

Out of curiosity, what is so special about blue alps?

[E3E]

The gold label Omnikey 102s typically have blue alps,

Your link is not gold label, and the seller even noted "white" Alps.

It's not?



 Because it seems that way to me.



No mention of white Alps here. Perhaps the link got broken since it's a board I sent an offer on or perhaps you're looking in the wrong place.

A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

Out of curiosity, what is so special about blue alps?

A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

Out of curiosity, what is so special about blue alps?

Blue Alps, like most of the older complicated Alps varieties, have a long contact plate, which imo gives a more solid and stable feel to the switch. Blue Alps has a light-ish 65g actuation and a click that sounds very refined. 

Unlike Cherry MX, which uses a two-piece slider that slaps into itself to create the click, Alps switches use metal click leaves (leaf springs). Blue Alps combines a light actuation with a solid feel, nice tactility and clickiness. It somehow just got it all right.

They're very popular for those reasons, I guess. I haven't found another Alps clicky switch that quite matches blues.

[HoffmanMyster]

A blue Alps under $200 would be a good deal.

Out of curiosity, what is so special about blue alps?

As E3E said, they're really solidly built and smooth-operating clicky switches so they're nice.  CPTBadAss also accidentally hyped them up a bunch after he tried some, which raised people's attention to them.  akimbo also hosted a tour for a blue alps board, which got them into people's hands to try.

quality switch + exposure + hype = high demand

[trenzafeeds]

As E3E said, they're really solidly built and smooth-operating clicky switches so they're nice.  CPTBadAss also accidentally hyped them up a bunch after he tried some, which raised people's attention to them.  akimbo also hosted a tour for a blue alps board, which got them into people's hands to try.

quality switch + exposure + hype = high demand

And I'm guessing also lack of supply?

[HoffmanMyster]

As E3E said, they're really solidly built and smooth-operating clicky switches so they're nice.  CPTBadAss also accidentally hyped them up a bunch after he tried some, which raised people's attention to them.  akimbo also hosted a tour for a blue alps board, which got them into people's hands to try.

quality switch + exposure + hype = high demand

And I'm guessing also lack of supply?

Yep, that too.  They're not a super common alps switch and they're snatched up pretty quick.  IIRC, going rate is $1+/switch.  Getting a board to harvest switches from for $100 is a good deal.

[E3E]

Yeah. They're not exactly the most uncommon of the Alps switches, but they are probably the highest in terms of demand, so it makes it even harder to get one if they do pop up. Bidding wars are fierce and people are quick to snatch up BIN deals.

They do come around pretty often though, you just have to keep an eye out for them. Talking with people who have gotten boards from e-cyclers, it seems they tend to find more blue alps than green alps for whatever reason. This coming from two US haulers and one from Australia. No idea why green Alps seem harder to find out in the wild offline world.

[Vozella]

What is Satan GH60? I can't find any information on it.

[davkol]

What is Satan GH60? I can't find any information on it.

Try to google "satan gh60 site:geekhack.org". One of the top threads here.

tl;dr It's an actually available Asian implementation of GH60, the DIY 60% keyboard, that originated here (thus the name) and became infamous for group-buy length (competing with 7bit's GBs).

[mashby]

What is Satan GH60? I can't find any information on it.

Try to google "satan gh60 site:geekhack.org". One of the top threads here.

tl;dr It's an actually available Asian implementation of GH60, the DIY 60% keyboard, that originated here (thus the name) and became infamous for group-buy length (competing with 7bit's GBs).

However, I believe that it is one revision behind the production GH60.

[tofgerl]

It is also not stictly software compatible with the normal GH60 TMK repo, so you need to tweak a few things.
However, I think it has the same features, though not the same layout.

[nubbinator]

I remember someone swapping their screws on their Kingsaver from this site, but I forget what size/length screws they were.

[alienman82]

removed.

[Jixr]

cheapest place to get 100 mx blues ( or gaterons, don't care )

[CPTBadAss]

cheapest place to get 100 mx blues ( or gaterons, don't care )

MK.com or Amazon for Gaterons.

[E3E]

cheapest place to get 100 mx blues ( or gaterons, don't care )

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=56

I can't seem to find any Gateron blue switches on Amazon atm. It's like the only one they don't have in stock. No browns either!

[Sifo]

Any one know what size the bolts are that screw into blockers such as KMAC 1.2 and Duck boards?

I believe it's M3x6mm but I just wanna double check. I'm not sure if it's M2 or M3.

[tofgerl]

For Pok3r-compatible cases it's usually M2x6, but those spacers are built into the bottom of the board, so I'm not sure those are the same as the ones you mean.

[ika]

cheapest place to get 100 mx blues ( or gaterons, don't care )

https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_list&c=56

I can't seem to find any Gateron blue switches on Amazon atm. It's like the only one they don't have in stock. No browns either!

normally Corus-KB stocks them but I guess they're out of stock. The latest massdrop is going to land within the week though so there will probably be some people selling theirs soon.

[tofgerl]

I wonder if Gateron are running into supply chain issues due to success...

[Jixr]

I'll just pick up some cherrys, i really just need them for the stems and springs.

And while gaterons feel better out of the box, broken in cherry housings are much nicer to me.

[jonathanyu]

Any one know what size the bolts are that screw into blockers such as KMAC 1.2 and Duck boards?

I believe it's M3x6mm but I just wanna double check. I'm not sure if it's M2 or M3.

i believe it's m3

[xondat]

Is there a database for all keycap sets and/or sold artisans?

[Blaise170]

It would be an impossible task to maintain a list of every keycap set ever but you can check the DT wiki and retailers.

[byker]

Is there a database for all keycap sets and/or sold artisans?

There is this site, not sure how comprehensive it is though. http://keypuller.com

[trenzafeeds]

Is there a database for all keycap sets and/or sold artisans?

There is this site, not sure how comprehensive it is though. http://keypuller.com

They're working on it. Pretty solid for your basic cap sets, I think artisans are coming along, but nowhere close to the individual catalogues you might be able to dig up on GH if you search hard enough.

[nmur]

Is there a database for all keycap sets and/or sold artisans?

there's no giant list with all artisans, but some particular designs/makers have pretty extensive catalogues, eg this awesome BBv2 catalogue

[xondat]

Didn't realize there were so many V2s never mind other ones. Just thought it'd be a fun Christmas project but seems more than a months work. I'll do some more research before I build anything

[Sifo]

Any one know what size the bolts are that screw into blockers such as KMAC 1.2 and Duck boards?

I believe it's M3x6mm but I just wanna double check. I'm not sure if it's M2 or M3.

i believe it's m3

yeah I ordered m3, that's what I thought as well. Thanks yo

[ideus]

Does someone know which set is this one? and if there is something similar that is comercially available in double shot? In particular I am interested in that caps lock style with 1.5u step.

Show Image

That's an Alps keyset, ideus. Those are caps from the SGI Granite. I call that style of stepping "Alps stepped," since it is different from Cherry's kind of stepping and is only seen on OEM Alps boards. You won't see Cherry-stepped caps on any Alps boards and vise versa, as far as I know.

The Duck Mini allowed either Alps or Cherry MX.

Thank you for the feedback. Someone offered me a set but I do not have any ALPS keyboard anymore, but I like that type of stepped capslock with 1.5u top.

[tofgerl]

I have a switch on a homemade board which I've assembled, but not used much since I (STILL) don't have the stabilizers.

The switch doesn't activate when I press the button normally, only when I first press it all the way down, THEN push really hard. Does that sound like something that can be fixed without soldering, or should I replace the switch right away?

I'd just replace the switch.

I finally got around to it, and it turns out it was a bad soldering job. The solder hadn't covered the pin, but was aaaaaaaaaalmost touching it. Every time I pressed hard down, I also pressed the PCB down since the board is plateless, and the solder touched the pin.

Anyway, I didn't have to replace the switch

[BlueNalgene]

Has anyone taken a custom board in carry-on luggage before?  I'm going out of the country for a week+ with only a tablet.  I'm worried that TSA might give me grief for having a suspicious bare circuit.

[alienman82]

removed.

[swimmingbird]

Has anyone taken a custom board in carry-on luggage before?  I'm going out of the country for a week+ with only a tablet.  I'm worried that TSA might give me grief for having a suspicious bare circuit.

I've carried both a Gon Nerd 60 with my terrible soldering and an HHKB in the same carry on bag and didn't experience any problems

[BlueNalgene]

Thanks.  I didn't want to lose one of my babies!

[Melvang]

Worst case, they make you take it out and price it is a functioning keyboard.

[jdcarpe]

I carried 3 custom keyboards with me to Keycon this year. And several bare PCBs. And some switches on the way home. I never check luggage, and I didn't have one problem.

[hwood34]

Has anyone taken a custom board in carry-on luggage before?  I'm going out of the country for a week+ with only a tablet.  I'm worried that TSA might give me grief for having a suspicious bare circuit.

I actually did get stopped at the airport with my massive xerox board. But I'm sure just carrying any small regular board you'll be fine; frankly I just think I got a bit unlucky.

[CPTBadAss]

For full keyboard backlighting, what is the common implementation of resistors?  What I mean is each led has its own, one resistor for a group, one for the entire board.

Does the common convention from mass produced boards follow into custom community driven boards or does it change?

Does anyone know about how much current a USB teensied board with mx switches draws?

Does the layout size affect current draw?

Simple questions man...

== == == == ==

Has anyone taken a custom board in carry-on luggage before?  I'm going out of the country for a week+ with only a tablet.  I'm worried that TSA might give me grief for having a suspicious bare circuit.

I have yes. It wasn't an issue. The Xray guy just gets confused.

Mod Edit: Fixed a double post.  Hi CPT.

[tofgerl]

I confused the hell out of them once by carrying an old pendulum clock through customs. They couldn't make heads or tails of it even after I took it out and showed it to them. The insisted I put the pendulum and weights on it before they understood it.

I think it would have been faster if I just said 'it's a bomb, here's 20 bucks'.

[Bromono]

Any of these worth considering?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/5336906689.html

[CPTBadAss]

Any of these worth considering?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/5336906689.html

As a keyboard nerd? Meh. The switches kinda feel like variants of MYs.
As a vintage computer nerd? Yeah
As a retro game enthusiast? **** yes

Edit: I got so excited when I looked over the haul again. That's vintage computing and video game gold.

[Bromono]

Any of these worth considering?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/5336906689.html

As a keyboard nerd? Meh. The switches kinda feel like variants of MYs.
As a vintage computer nerd? Yeah
As a retro game enthusiast? **** yes

Hmmmmm... Noted...

What would be the most valuable thing in the lot? the Commodore looks cool

[Dernubenfrieken]

Any of these worth considering?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/5336906689.html

The TI-99/4A Might have T-Stem Alps which are pretty nice.

[Blaise170]

Any of these worth considering?

http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/sys/5336906689.html

The TI-99/4A Might have T-Stem Alps which are pretty nice.

They used too many switch types in them though, I have six of them; three with Alps SKCC, two with rubber dome, and one with Mitsumi.

[Vozella]

Before I start a dedicated thread, I must ask. Is it possible to cut off the numpad of a membrane keyboard and have it still work?

[alienman82]

removed.

[CPTBadAss]

Before I start a dedicated thread, I must ask. Is it possible to cut off the numpad of a membrane keyboard and have it still work?

hmmm....I know with like a Model M you can fold the membrane back and with keyboards with PCBs, you can rewire them to work. I don't see why it wouldn't but I don't know 100%.