Learning to Build. Place to Get Parts to Start?

[OnTheBrink]

So I always wanted to build a keyboard myself especially with all the custom switches I'd like to try and the fact that there are awesome custom parts being sold here all the time. The thing is, I don't want to try to build my first board with expensive stuff. I want to save that for when I know what I am doing.

I plan on going to the hardware store this week to pickup the tools I would need. I also have a 2nd gen Razer Blackwidow Ultimate I can strip for Cherry MX Blues and even LEDs but does anyone know where I can pickup a PCB or some of the other parts I would need that isn't super custom or expensive? I plan on following WhiteFireDragon's YT guides of course.

Any insight would be appreciated. I know I am going HAM with the thread starting today. Sorry lol.

[Pacifist]

My all time favorite recomendation for first customs

PHANTOM

Why? EZ soldering. No SMD required, just solder on the teensy and everything else is through hole too

All hardware can be bought from mk.com(sans soldering iron, solder, and in your case, desoldering pump)

PCB, teensy, case, plate (coming soon i think) and switches (you don't need to buy) can be bought there

Iron, solder, and pump can be bought from the new geekhackers.org site

[GhostofHarry]

or some cheap pcb from china?

cheap enough that you wont even care if its broken..

[OnTheBrink]

My all time favorite recomendation for first customs

PHANTOM

Why? EZ soldering. No SMD required, just solder on the teensy and everything else is through hole too

All hardware can be bought from mk.com(sans soldering iron, solder, and in your case, desoldering pump)

PCB, teensy, case, plate (coming soon i think) and switches (you don't need to buy) can be bought there

Iron, solder, and pump can be bought from the new geekhackers.org site

Is there a teensy you recommend that allows for a removable USB cable or are they all the same? I'm sure that's a super newb question but I am not hiding I am one. Lol

[dook0]

My all time favorite recomendation for first customs

PHANTOM

Why? EZ soldering. No SMD required, just solder on the teensy and everything else is through hole too

All hardware can be bought from mk.com(sans soldering iron, solder, and in your case, desoldering pump)

PCB, teensy, case, plate (coming soon i think) and switches (you don't need to buy) can be bought there

Iron, solder, and pump can be bought from the new geekhackers.org site

Is there a teensy you recommend that allows for a removable USB cable or are they all the same? I'm sure that's a super newb question but I am not hiding I am one. Lol

Every teensy USB cable are removable

[SpAmRaY]

My all time favorite recomendation for first customs

PHANTOM

Why? EZ soldering. No SMD required, just solder on the teensy and everything else is through hole too

All hardware can be bought from mk.com(sans soldering iron, solder, and in your case, desoldering pump)

PCB, teensy, case, plate (coming soon i think) and switches (you don't need to buy) can be bought there

Iron, solder, and pump can be bought from the new geekhackers.org site

What about diodes? And stabilizers?

And for those who don't know mk.com is lazy typing speak for www.mechanicalkeyboards.com

[minho]

Phantom can be a bit of an investment though, and cases/plates for it are hard to find AFAIK. mk.com is out of stock for cases, and i flat out don't know where to get plates for it.

If you buy on Taobao, you can get cheap ones that might be good to practice on. Ghostofharry is running a groupbuy for one of those later this summer if you're willing to wait that long.

[OnTheBrink]

Phantom can be a bit of an investment though, and cases/plates for it are hard to find AFAIK. mk.com is out of stock for cases, and i flat out don't know where to get plates for it.

If you buy on Taobao, you can get cheap ones that might be good to practice on. Ghostofharry is running a groupbuy for one of those later this summer if you're willing to wait that long.

I might not have a choice. It would be foolish for me to buy custom parts from one of these group buys and have no room for error. :/