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Author Topic: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?  (Read 3846 times)

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Offline GiraffePencils

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What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:18:25 »
Hey,

I'm Looking for some MX clear or brown switches to make a custom keyboard with.

Does anyone know the make/model of keyboards I should look out for to harvest these type of switches from?

Edit: I'm in the UK.
I would be fine with enough for TKL/60%
would prefer a TKL amount if not a full size for spares.
Thanks
« Last Edit: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:31:03 by GiraffePencils »
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Offline JaccoW

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #1 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:28:26 »
Depends on where you live. I ordered a Skidata from Germany for its Clears but since that board is enormous the shipping alone might kill it for you. How many do you need?
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Offline hwood34

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #2 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:28:50 »
Are you looking for PCB or pate mounted? Any keyboards you can get your hands on should be fine
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Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #3 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:31:20 »
I'm in the UK.
I would be fine with enough for TKL/60%
would prefer a TKL amount if not a full size for spares.
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Offline fohat.digs

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #4 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:36:40 »
In the US, the most common and cheap MX-brown board is the Cherry/Compaq G80-11800 which often sells in the $30 + shipping range.
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Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:51:25 »
If I go round the second hand shops etc
is there any way to tell without googling what switches a keyboard would have?
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Offline SpAmRaY

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:56:53 »
Quote from: GiraffePencils on Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:51:25
If I go round the second hand shops etc
is there any way to tell without googling what switches a keyboard would have?

get a key puller and pop a couple caps off is the best way to know for sure.
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:58:50 »
Quote from: GiraffePencils on Mon, 31 March 2014, 09:51:25
If I go round the second hand shops etc
is there any way to tell without googling what switches a keyboard would have?

If they're not Cherry boards, you'll probably have to Google while you're on the go. Second hand shops tend to carry vintage boards that are a little harder to find. Ray has the right idea for checking the switches when you're out in the field. For Cherry boards, you can refer to this page in the DT Wiki.
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Offline GiraffePencils

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:02:35 »
Alright, Might get some funny looks in the shop pulling caps  :p
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:06:49 »
Input Nirvana and I stopped at some random computer repair store when I was in San Francisco. We were really looking for a charger for my phone since I was dumb and forgot mine. However, as we were leaving, we spied what I thought was a mechanical Apple AEK. So I got super hype, ran to IN's truck, grabbed my puller, came back, and pulled a cap. We made this shop owner wait for us as we checked switches. #Switchlife. Let 'em stare :P

(The AEK had rubber dome switches :()
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Offline Daniel Beardsmore

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 16:19:09 »
There's an AEK with rubber dome switches ..... ?

Colour me confused.
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 17:37:01 »
That's very likely an AppleDesign Keyboard rather than an AEK then.
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Offline Pacifist

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 31 March 2014, 17:38:06 »
8113. ds+browns and super common
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Offline Input Nirvana

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #13 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 01:33:06 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:06:49
Input Nirvana and I stopped at some random computer repair store when I was in San Francisco. We were really looking for a charger for my phone since I was dumb and forgot mine. However, as we were leaving, we spied what I thought was a mechanical Apple AEK. So I got super hype, ran to IN's truck, grabbed my puller, came back, and pulled a cap. We made this shop owner wait for us as we checked switches. #Switchlife. Let 'em stare :P

(The AEK had rubber dome switches :()

What a day…East coast geeker, Pixar, GitHub, and that goofy computer shop with 100 year old computers. BUT, I found a Belkin 3.5mm-3.5mm cable just laying on the street. I used it for the first time last weekend as an AUX IN for music in my truck. #cable4phreeizbest
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Offline CPTBadAss

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #14 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 01:36:22 »
Quote from: jacobolus on Mon, 31 March 2014, 17:37:01
That's very likely an AppleDesign Keyboard rather than an AEK then.

Sure looked like an AEK and the back sticker looked exactly like the AEK I had.

Quote from: Input Nirvana on Sun, 01 June 2014, 01:33:06
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:06:49
Input Nirvana and I stopped at some random computer repair store when I was in San Francisco. We were really looking for a charger for my phone since I was dumb and forgot mine. However, as we were leaving, we spied what I thought was a mechanical Apple AEK. So I got super hype, ran to IN's truck, grabbed my puller, came back, and pulled a cap. We made this shop owner wait for us as we checked switches. #Switchlife. Let 'em stare :P

(The AEK had rubber dome switches :()

What a day…East coast geeker, Pixar, GitHub, and that goofy computer shop with 100 year old computers. BUT, I found a Belkin 3.5mm-3.5mm cable just laying on the street. I used it for the first time last weekend as an AUX IN for music in my truck. #cable4phreeizbest

That cable actually worked?? I can't believe it haha
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #15 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 02:09:59 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:06:49
Input Nirvana and I stopped at some random computer repair store when I was in San Francisco. We were really looking for a charger for my phone since I was dumb and forgot mine. However, as we were leaving, we spied what I thought was a mechanical Apple AEK. So I got super hype, ran to IN's truck, grabbed my puller, came back, and pulled a cap. We made this shop owner wait for us as we checked switches. #Switchlife. Let 'em stare :P

(The AEK had rubber dome switches :()

Have I read this exactly like that before, or am I having premonitions now?
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #16 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 02:45:20 »
Quote from: CPTBadAss on Mon, 31 March 2014, 10:06:49
Input Nirvana and I stopped at some random computer repair store ...
Quote from: False_Dmitry_II on Sun, 01 June 2014, 02:09:59
Have I read this exactly like that before, or am I having premonitions now?
Maybe you read it 2 months ago when it was first posted?
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Offline False_Dmitry_II

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #17 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 04:16:01 »
Okay good.
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Offline katushkin

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #18 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 05:56:47 »
Why don't you just order some switches from mechanicalkeyboards.com?

That's what I did and the shipping and customs charges weren't too bad.
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Offline user 18

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #19 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 19:17:41 »
Quote from: katushkin on Sun, 01 June 2014, 05:56:47
Why don't you just order some switches from mechanicalkeyboards.com?

That's what I did and the shipping and customs charges weren't too bad.

This is definitely the way to go if you want clears. Clears don't tend to be found on too many boards, and a box of switches is much easier to ship than a full board.
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Offline jacobolus

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #20 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 19:42:10 »
For MX clears, you could get one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221400471251
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Offline dorkvader

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Re: What're good keyboards for harvesting switches?
« Reply #21 on: Sun, 01 June 2014, 20:14:09 »
Quote from: Pacifist on Mon, 31 March 2014, 17:38:06
8113. ds+browns and super common
Less common in the UK, also many 8113's have clears, such as the 4 I recently desoldered from J&R.

Quote from: jacobolus on Sun, 01 June 2014, 19:42:10
For MX clears, you could get one of these: http://www.ebay.com/itm/221400471251
Shipping that to the UK would kill it for SURE
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If you are okay with cherry blacks, you might want to look into getting an access-IS keyboard: they are a UK company and the keyboards are much more common on the UK eBay. I have found several for cheap: you may want to try yourself.
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