Hello from London

[seb9191]

Hi all -
I'm fairly new on here and reasonably new to the mechanical keyboard world. Here's my story:

I had been considering buying a mechanical keyboard for a while - and after receiving £30 in Amazon vouchers - decided to try out the magicforce to see how i got on with 'clicky' switches before dropping a lot on a keyboard.
The magicforce has blue OUTEMU switches on them which were certainly loud!
I bought a cheap set of Olivette ABS caps from UKKEYCAPS and this was my set up for a couple of months......

But i kept on watching videos and reading reviews - and boards with Cherry mx blues seemed to have a better sounding click to them and visually looked more fluid/easy to press down than my OUTEMU switches.
For a while i was considering selling the magicforce (if possible) and dropping over £100 on a new 'proper' TKL board - but with no shops i'm aware of to try out different boards/switches i was unsure between blue/brown switches and various keyboard brands.

At the beginning of June i saw a Filco Majestouch TKL (ISO - which i prefer as lazy little finger) on eBay and in the UK going for a decent price at auction..... the only issue being the right arrow key wasn't working which the seller clearly explained. I thought this through - and for the chance to try out the board/switches it was worth the risk - i would either love the board/switches and keep it/try and fix the switch - or if it annoyed me - sell it and buy a new board having tested i like the combination. Or just sell and try again.
In the end, i managed to win the filco for £40 including postage!! bargain i think.
Not sure what the issue with the right arrow key is; the 'click' sounds like a rattle - i feel like if i de-soldered the switch and put a new one in it might fix it. But atm, i'm fine with it broken.

But - i love this keyboard - and the right arrow key missing hasn't really affected me; i don't game, i only use it when i'm working at home 'coding' and by that i mean SQL so not really coding at all. The switches seem so much better than OUTEMU, the Filco is solid build, doesn't move at all on the desk and a dream to type on + i like having the function keys as i use f9/f10 a lot in a day!

I'm also getting hooked on Artisans - i've read a number of tutorial/progress blogs from members on here, some true inspiration! might have to have a go myself!
Currently i have 2 Artisans, both from HOTKEYSPROJECT - it's a shame the filco isn't backlit as i think the transparent red 'TROOPER' would look awesome.

I've attached some photos so you can see my Filco and some closeups of the troopers - apologies for the ABS caps

[joey]

Welcome fellow UK GHer!

The board looks good! I would suggest opening it up and having look at the right arrow switch, you might just be able to re-flow the solder and get it working again.

If not, you can buy some cherry blue switches here: http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_30250.html

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Filco is a great keyboard - strange about the right arrow though.  Perhaps it is a faulty switch - maybe the previous owner accidentally dribbled something sticky therein.

margo baggins used to do keyboard repairs in the UK, but he's been MIA for more than a year.  Still, replacing the switch would be a good first step, and if you're not comfortable soldering it yourself there's probably someone else in the UK who could assist.

The keyboard repair wiki page is so out of date I won't even bother posting it here.

[seb9191]

Welcome fellow UK GHer!

The board looks good! I would suggest opening it up and having look at the right arrow switch, you might just be able to re-flow the solder and get it working again.

If not, you can buy some cherry blue switches here: http://www.kustompcs.co.uk/acatalog/info_30250.html

Hey! nice to meet a fellow UK GHer! Despite working in IT, i find it quite rare people sharing an interest in keyboards, most just see it as a tool...
Thanks! i'm pretty pleased with it tbh, the filco seems really solid and i'm loving the mx blues 'clickyness' - don't think i could take it into work however maybe i need another with browns

You're right, i need to open it up and take a look at it, i have a strong feeling that it's the actual switch that's dead since it sounds completely different to the rest - almost no click, just a faint rattle like it's been mashed really hard by the previous owner.
Appreciate the link to new switches - might be my best bet

[seb9191]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Filco is a great keyboard - strange about the right arrow though.  Perhaps it is a faulty switch - maybe the previous owner accidentally dribbled something sticky therein.

margo baggins used to do keyboard repairs in the UK, but he's been MIA for more than a year.  Still, replacing the switch would be a good first step, and if you're not comfortable soldering it yourself there's probably someone else in the UK who could assist.

The keyboard repair wiki page is so out of date I won't even bother posting it here.

Hey, and thanks!
Agreed - the Filco seems like a really solid keyboard, i watched a load of review videos on youtube and it seemed to be a good choice.
Yh, strange about the right arrow key - i think the previous owner used that key a lot and maybe was heavy handed. It sounds like the key has been pressed really hard loads of times and has lost it's clickyness almost completely. Only way of knowing i guess is to open it up and take a look, but i've been hesitant to do so since the rest of the keys work fine and i rarely use this key.

Ahh, shame about margo baggins being MIA - i'd definitely rather give it to someone to de-solder / re-solder since i've not used a soldering iron since school. I'm a dab hand at repairing smashed phones screens and fixing laptops/computers so i'm not afraid to have a go - but knowing my luck i'll mess it up! haha!

I think you're right, a new switch is highly likely to fix it, maybe i'll have a go next month. For now it's not really been much of an issue - but if you know or hear of anyone that might be able to help i would love to know - appreciate you insight and thanks for the welcome to the community

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Filco is a great keyboard - strange about the right arrow though.  Perhaps it is a faulty switch - maybe the previous owner accidentally dribbled something sticky therein.

margo baggins used to do keyboard repairs in the UK, but he's been MIA for more than a year.  Still, replacing the switch would be a good first step, and if you're not comfortable soldering it yourself there's probably someone else in the UK who could assist.

The keyboard repair wiki page is so out of date I won't even bother posting it here.

Hey, and thanks!
Agreed - the Filco seems like a really solid keyboard, i watched a load of review videos on youtube and it seemed to be a good choice.
Yh, strange about the right arrow key - i think the previous owner used that key a lot and maybe was heavy handed. It sounds like the key has been pressed really hard loads of times and has lost it's clickyness almost completely. Only way of knowing i guess is to open it up and take a look, but i've been hesitant to do so since the rest of the keys work fine and i rarely use this key.

Ahh, shame about margo baggins being MIA - i'd definitely rather give it to someone to de-solder / re-solder since i've not used a soldering iron since school. I'm a dab hand at repairing smashed phones screens and fixing laptops/computers so i'm not afraid to have a go - but knowing my luck i'll mess it up! haha!

I think you're right, a new switch is highly likely to fix it, maybe i'll have a go next month. For now it's not really been much of an issue - but if you know or hear of anyone that might be able to help i would love to know - appreciate you insight and thanks for the welcome to the community

I nearly had a Filco once.

A few years ago I was trying to get hold of one with yellow keycaps.  I had an order placed, and waited and waited and waited.  Eventually I rang them only to discover that they had upgraded their computer system and not migrated the orders.  They promised to follow up on my order.

So I kept waiting, and eventually they said they couldn't get that model keyboard in any more.  I eventually managed to get a set of just the keycaps a while later (splitting a purchase with someone else who wanted just the keyboard).

Why did I tell that story?  I can't remember now.

Anyway, a good way to practice soldering is to find an old electronic device, like a DVD player, that is broken and been thrown out, and practice desoldering and resoldering components onto the PCB.  Replacing a switch is pretty much the same - two contacts to desolder, then solder the new switch in.

Feel free to ask in, er, maybe the simple questions thread (seeing as how the wiki is out of date, to ask if there is anyone in the UK who can replace a switch for you.  I suspect there is - quite a few of our more enthusiastic members are UK-based.

[PollandAkuma]

A bit of a late reply, but hello fellow Londoner! I recently started to love the look of Filco, especially their doubleshot white-on-black caps.

I wanted to ask whether you've searched London for vintage keebs before? I have a feeling the UK has many vintages in good condition!