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Author Topic: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log  (Read 9373 times)

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Offline skipped

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GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« on: Mon, 11 January 2016, 18:22:57 »
Hello friends!

I'll be building a GON 60 Keyboard, with 65g Purple Zealios from R1 and the new Red/White keycaps from CtrlAlt as soon as they get shipped. This will be the second keyboard I've built after an ergodox so I'm pretty excited.

Timeline:
Sep:          Ordered Zealios
Oct:           Zealios arrived
Dec:          Ordered parts from GON and cable from Pexon
Jan:           Pexon package arrived
1/11:        My package from GON arrived today, I'll start taking pictures and work on building as soon as school allows
1/17:        Made lightbox
1/18:        Took initial Pictures
1/21:        Stickered Switches
1/28:        Pictures with new camera


Next Steps:
Take pictures
Sticker Switches
Soldering (diodes, resistors, and LEDs)
Clip Stabs
« Last Edit: Mon, 01 February 2016, 22:39:25 by skipped »
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Offline mashby

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #1 on: Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:12:13 »
Be my sherpa skipped! Looking forward to your build.
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Offline Brammm87

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #2 on: Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:45:45 »
Ooh, looks promising! Good luck. Do you plan any mods on the Zealios?
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Offline Happylomo

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #3 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 05:00:29 »
Looking forward to your build log, Skipped!  :thumb:
Just wondering, r u planning to put some LEDs on your build? Coz Im thinking to get a nerd60, and use the SMD LEDs in it. But im not sure how it's gonna look like with a non-acrylic plate..
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #4 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:04:41 »
Quote from: Brammm87 on Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:45:45
Ooh, looks promising! Good luck. Do you plan any mods on the Zealios?

So far I am only planning on stickers, but I'm considering lube based on some of the reviews given by people like zeal and jd.

Quote from: Happylomo on Wed, 13 January 2016, 05:00:29
Looking forward to your build log, Skipped!  :thumb:
Just wondering, r u planning to put some LEDs on your build? Coz Im thinking to get a nerd60, and use the SMD LEDs in it. But im not sure how it's gonna look like with a non-acrylic plate..

Yes, I have red side LEDs and a black top plate. I'm not a fan of backlighting, but from pictures of other GON boards I've seen the side LEDs are gorgeous.
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Offline Steezus

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #5 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:06:48 »
Quote from: skipped on Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:04:41
Quote from: Brammm87 on Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:45:45
Ooh, looks promising! Good luck. Do you plan any mods on the Zealios?

So far I am only planning on stickers, but I'm considering lube based on some of the reviews given by people like zeal and jd.

IMO stickers are a complete waste of time, however lubing Zealios makes them even smoother but quieter as well. Looks like a promising build, can't wait to see the finished product. Cheers :thumb:
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Offline mashby

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #6 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 14:29:34 »
Quote from: Steezus on Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:06:48
Quote from: skipped on Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:04:41
Quote from: Brammm87 on Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:45:45
Ooh, looks promising! Good luck. Do you plan any mods on the Zealios?

So far I am only planning on stickers, but I'm considering lube based on some of the reviews given by people like zeal and jd.

IMO stickers are a complete waste of time, however lubing Zealios makes them even smoother but quieter as well. Looks like a promising build, can't wait to see the finished product. Cheers :thumb:

Although I agree that stickers don't actually DO anything, I find it impossible not to do them if I'm opening up the switches to lube. I just stare at them and think "You already have the switch open... you might as well".
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Offline Steezus

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #7 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 14:37:03 »
Quote from: mashby on Wed, 13 January 2016, 14:29:34
Quote from: Steezus on Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:06:48
Quote from: skipped on Wed, 13 January 2016, 13:04:41
Quote from: Brammm87 on Tue, 12 January 2016, 09:45:45
Ooh, looks promising! Good luck. Do you plan any mods on the Zealios?

So far I am only planning on stickers, but I'm considering lube based on some of the reviews given by people like zeal and jd.

IMO stickers are a complete waste of time, however lubing Zealios makes them even smoother but quieter as well. Looks like a promising build, can't wait to see the finished product. Cheers :thumb:

Although I agree that stickers don't actually DO anything, I find it impossible not to do them if I'm opening up the switches to lube. I just stare at them and think "You already have the switch open... you might as well".

I don't know if it was just the stickers I just used or what but they never really seemed to stick all that well. Then when I would close the switch top some parts of the sticker were sticking out and looking like a mess.
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Offline Lpwl

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #8 on: Wed, 13 January 2016, 15:06:15 »
I know that this feeling is hard to resist, but don't rush to build it !  ;)
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 17 January 2016, 22:25:45 »
Minor Update:

Made a ghetto lightbox today. Tomorrow I'm going to buy some brighter light bulbs for my desk lamps to light it. I'll hopefully get some pictures of the parts tomorrow as well.

My one and only phone picture for this thread:
« Last Edit: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:31:09 by skipped »
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Offline Brammm87

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 02:24:21 »
Quote from: skipped on Sun, 17 January 2016, 22:25:45
Minor Update:

Made a ghetto lightbox today. Tomorrow I'm going to buy some brighter light bulbs for my desk lamps to light it. I'll hopefully get some pictures of the parts tomorrow as well.

My one and only phone picture for this thread:
Show Image


Did you use a guide or anything? I'm pretty interested in photography myself and would love to learn more about this.
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #11 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:23:43 »
Update: Took some pictures of the parts



- Pexon cable + goodies


- R1 65g Zealios


- GON Nerd 60 PCB


- GON Nerd 60 Housing


The lens I have has an incredibly small depth of field so the pictures aren't quite as crisp as I'd like but it's good enough honestly.

Next Step: start stickering

Edit: alright pictures were way too big so I downsized them...sorry to anyone who's internet I killed
« Last Edit: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:32:39 by skipped »
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Offline heedpantsnow

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:32:26 »
Nice!  What camera/lens are you using?
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:38:58 »
Quote from: Brammm87 on Mon, 18 January 2016, 02:24:21

Did you use a guide or anything? I'm pretty interested in photography myself and would love to learn more about this.

The goal is basically to have a well lit, uniform background. I used this wikihow guide to make it, and later found this trick for photoshop to help as well.

Quote from: heedpantsnow on Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:32:26
Nice!  What camera/lens are you using?

Nikon D7000 and a Tamron 18-270 mm. I'm pretty sure it's made for subjects at a longer distance based on its zoom capability
« Last Edit: Mon, 18 January 2016, 20:54:44 by skipped »
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Offline swimmingbird

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:04:35 »
Sexy housing you have there

If I have any regrets with my Nerd 60 I would choose to go with HHKB top row and right shift and go 7u on that bottom row
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Offline Steezus

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:14:14 »
Ooh a bare PCB, have you ever done SMD soldering before?
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Offline Zapheo

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:33:53 »
I love the photography, man! Can't wait to see the final product. :thumb:
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I need more keyboards to hold all of these keycaps.

Offline Brammm87

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #17 on: Tue, 19 January 2016, 04:27:14 »
That's one sexy case. Looking forward to the end result!
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #18 on: Tue, 19 January 2016, 11:25:30 »
Quote from: swimmingbird on Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:04:35
If I have any regrets with my Nerd 60 I would choose to go with HHKB top row and right shift and go 7u on that bottom row

Can you give some insight into the benefits?

I can see the use of the extra keys on the top row being good, the only issue I might run into is keycap compatibility. What do you use the fn next to shift for?

Quote from: Steezus on Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:14:14
Ooh a bare PCB, have you ever done SMD soldering before?

Yeah, I did SMD soldering for my ergodox so it won't be my first time.
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Offline Steezus

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 19 January 2016, 11:26:44 »
Quote from: skipped on Tue, 19 January 2016, 11:25:30
Quote from: Steezus on Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:14:14
Ooh a bare PCB, have you ever done SMD soldering before?

Yeah, I did SMD soldering for my ergodox so it won't be my first time.

Nice, SMD soldering can be a bit of a pain but once you get the hang of it then it's pretty easy to solder up a whole board. :thumb:
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Offline swimmingbird

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 19 January 2016, 18:19:45 »
Quote from: Steezus on Tue, 19 January 2016, 11:26:44
Quote from: skipped on Tue, 19 January 2016, 11:25:30
Quote from: Steezus on Mon, 18 January 2016, 23:14:14
Ooh a bare PCB, have you ever done SMD soldering before?

Yeah, I did SMD soldering for my ergodox so it won't be my first time.

Nice, SMD soldering can be a bit of a pain but once you get the hang of it then it's pretty easy to solder up a whole board. :thumb:

I think I easily spent more time soldering the side leds on my Gon than doing the switches and in switch leds combined

Just takes a lot of patience

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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 21 January 2016, 23:13:16 »
Update:

Finished stickering switches. I might take a picture tomorrow but for now I'm going to sleep.

Opening switches was much easier than I thought it would be. Once I got the process down it only took me a few hours to get all 70 switches stickered. I used a tiny flathead screwdriver to get the tabs, and tweezers worked great for handling the stickers.

Next Step: start soldering (diodes, resistors, and LEDs)
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Offline swimmingbird

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #22 on: Fri, 22 January 2016, 06:46:57 »
Quote from: skipped on Thu, 21 January 2016, 23:13:16
Update:

Finished stickering switches. I might take a picture tomorrow but for now I'm going to sleep.

Opening switches was much easier than I thought it would be. Once I got the process down it only took me a few hours to get all 70 switches stickered. I used a tiny flathead screwdriver to get the tabs, and tweezers worked great for handling the stickers.

Next Step: start soldering (diodes, resistors, and LEDs)

Nice work
I've seen people say they think stickering takes the longest but I find lubing to be the most time consuming process
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Offline skipped

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 28 January 2016, 21:13:30 »
Update: Pictures

My friend let me borrow his camera so I took some more pictures. I think these are a lot better at showing how the case looks.


- Stickered switches + tools used


- Better close up of case


- Case along with a switch


Camera is a Canon XC10, and the lens that came with it (Canon 10x Wide-Angle Zoom Lens). This one definitely has the focus that I was looking for
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Offline mashby

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #24 on: Fri, 29 January 2016, 14:23:05 »
Wow! These shots looks GREAT! I hope you'll do similar photos for the soldering pieces.

Really nice work skipped!
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Offline gabba-gool

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #25 on: Fri, 29 January 2016, 17:33:48 »
Nice pics! Excited to see the finished board.
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Offline xondat

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #26 on: Sat, 30 January 2016, 08:36:34 »
Quote from: skipped on Thu, 28 January 2016, 21:13:30
Update: Pictures

My friend let me borrow his camera so I took some more pictures. I think these are a lot better at showing how the case looks.

Show Image

- Stickered switches + tools used

Show Image

- Better close up of case

Show Image

- Case along with a switch


Camera is a Canon XC10, and the lens that came with it (Canon 10x Wide-Angle Zoom Lens). This one definitely has the focus that I was looking for

Great pictures. That case is really cool looking too.
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Offline Brammm87

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 02 February 2016, 04:54:19 »
Man, that top plate is gorgeous. Love the matte black. Really looking forward to the final result.
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Offline FoC_Tow

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #28 on: Sat, 06 February 2016, 07:57:11 »
Amazing Shots and great looking Build!
Love the unusual combination of purple and red combined with the black plate!  :)
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Offline pichu23

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Re: GON 60 w/ Zealios Build Log
« Reply #29 on: Sat, 06 February 2016, 09:03:02 »
That case looks amazing! your pictures too of course, really crisp and clear.
If I didn't have a spare alu 60% case, I would defo jump for GONs case.
Looking forward to the finish product! :)
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Collection(s) : Ducky Shine 2 TKL x Poker II x 62g FaceW x 62g Gateron Black GON NerD TKL x 65g Z GON NerD 60
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