Mech keyboards

[Handruin]

Any of you get into mechanical keyboards at all? I've had a few over the years like a Duckyshine 3 and a DAS keyboard 4 pro, both with Cherry-MX brown switches. They've been good keyboards over the years but I recently decided to try a Keychron Q3 custom TKL to see what all the noise was about with higher end custom keyboards. Well, I'm really sold on the quality difference so far. The feel of the keys when typing and sound of the keypress are so much nicer than the other two keyboards I own. I'm pysched to try customizing this down the road with other switches and keycaps along with other damper boards and insulation to change the sound. I never thought I'd enjoy a custom keyboard like this but it's been a real joy to use so far.

 

[sedrosken]

I've been into this hobby for, oh, the last 5-6 years or so. I'm pretty much at the endgame where I know what I like and how to get it.

I daily-drive a custom Melody96 build with Kailh BOX Navy switches, some DSA profile keycaps, and Durock stabilizers. I tapemodded the PCB and finished the project roughly this time last year. Total cost of ownership so far has been around 300 bucks, and learning a little bit of C to customize the QMK firmware to control the backlighting LEDs to show lock states on each end for Caps and Numlock. I used the QMK configurator online tool to make the base firmware with the keymap I wanted, though. I did all the soldering myself and you can tell because some of the keys are slightly crooked!!



Pardon the dirt. I didn't bother to clean it specifically for this thread and I'm past due to give everything an alcohol bath. As you might be able to tell, the source file was bigger but I cropped out the elements of my workspace I'm ashamed at the current condition of. And the more I look at this the more keys I notice are off-kilter! Augh! If only a company mass-produced 1800-layout keyboards in a switch variety I liked. I consider genuine Cherry switches to be cheap garbage -- clickjackets vs clickbars IS a holy war I'd fight in. On the superior clickbars' side of course.

I like this layout because it offers the desk-space savings of the TKL layout while still including a numpad. My retro setup's keyboard is of a similar layout, being a Cherry 1800-layout board with an integrated touchpad rescued and cleaned from a stint in a hospital. It uses (vintage!) Cherry MX Black switches, so it's definitely no Model M, but it also didn't cost nearly as much or take up nearly as much room.

 

[Handruin]

I'll definitely be exploring various lubed switches to try out and some new stabilizer bars down the road. This keyboard is really heavy and solid and I'm getting used to the tkl size versus a full size I've used for years. I have my eyes on some GMK key caps and maybe a few other sets to try out.

This Q3 keyboard offers QMK/Via also and I plan to play around with it to customize a few macros. I am also considering playing around with a Megalodon Triple Knob Macro Pad. I picked up a Keychron K7 ultraslim before this Q3 to use for travel and also with my Steam Deck but I found the cramped layout a bit to difficult to use during work.

 

[Chewy509]

I'm still using my Das Keyboard 4 Pro (MX Brown) that I bought 7.5 years ago... Haven't felt the need to change.

 

[Handruin]

I decided to do a couple mods to my keychron. I swapped out the included Gateron red pro switches with Gazzew U4 Boba Silent Tactile switches. I also did the tape mod on the back and also added in some neoprene foam to the back of the case. I need a few days to get used to the changes in the switches but so far they are dramatically different in sound, tactile, and force required to press. They are considerably quieter than the Gateron Red Pros.

 

[Newtun]

At the other end of the spectrum, decades ago, I got an IBM KB-3923.

I liked it so much, I bought a second one as backup. It's still up in the attic.

The old one continues going strong, after a few (±) spills, and a lot of fur and dust to vacuum up occasionally.

​

 

[sedrosken]

I was quite partial to my Dell AT101W before in an ill-advised attempt to linearize the switches I lost a ton of bits to it. I'm still kicking myself for that one. I'd like to track down another one but prices have gotten completely insane. I had a model M for a time, but it was rubber-dome and while it was quite nice for a rubber-dome, it still was just kinda meh. I'm eyeing up a spacesaver M from Unicomp for my retro stuff one day, but for right now my Cherry 1800 board does fine albeit its Black switches are a little scratchy. Ironically a new Model M is a more reasonable buy than the AT101W because Unicomp still manufactures them, although clearly quality is down from the 90s since they're using the same old equipment since then. I've seen pictures suggesting the lettering is a lot fuzzier than it used to be.

 

[fb]

I bought a Varmilo with their EC Sakura switches a while ago. They click and requires mute during Teams meetings, but I like the feeling of both the keyboard (heavy+dampened) and the switches. My only other experience with mechanical switches is with MX Red + the IBM in 1987 or so.

 

[Santilli]

Been having a lot of fun with this one.
Have 4 keyboards. 3 are Cherry red silents, the other is a Unicomp.

Unicomp, Inc.: New Model M

I've been tempted to buy a Drop, hot swap keys, 200-250 keyboard.

https://drop.com/buy/drop-shift-v2-mechanical-keyboard?defaultSelectionIds=984932%2C984935#signupv2

Wondering if the above board is worth the money? Never heard of Holy Panda Switches?
I do wonder if I would try different switches if I could swap them.
Cherry offers really good keyboards.

Cherry KW X ULP Ultra Slim Wireless Mechanical Keyboard. Multi Device Function MX Ultra Low Profile Switches.​

200 bucks. Wonder what these new switches are like?
Alien is using these switches on their laptops.
I'd love to try one, but seems a bit much.

This board is still in it's box:

Cherry MX RGB Mechanical Keyboard with MX Red Silent Gold-Crosspoint Key switches for typists, Programmers, Creator, Coder, Work in The Office or at Home G80-3000N RGB (Full Size) 85.00​

Typing on the Corsair right now:

CORSAIR STRAFE RGB MK.2 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - USB Passthrough - Linear and Quiet - Cherry MX Red Switch - RGB LED Backlit-17.6 x 6.61 x 1.57 inches​

It's just fine. I put rings on some keys to quiet it down, and a rubber desk matt, along with a rubber glue on matt on the bottom of the board. Quiet, but not silent.
I bought these, since I need something to work on when I spill something on my Unicomp/IBM/copy, and it needs to dry out.

The only board I have with swapable switches is this one:

Redragon Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, Wired Mechanical Keyboard with 11 Programmable Backlit Modes, Hot-Swappable Red Switch, Anti-Ghosting, Double-Shot PBT Keycaps, Light Up Keyboard for PC Mac​

Under 40, and still in box.

 

[Santilli]

Does anyone have a way to compare switches, without buying a whole set?

 

[Santilli]

The only problem with the Strafe is it doesn't work to get into the bios. Have to use Unicomp for that...

 

[Santilli]

Just got diagnosed with carpal tunnel, in both arms. I use an ice pad in the morning, since my fingers are usually numb after sleeping.
Funny, since it hurts enough to keep me up.
Anyone else have it?

 

[jtr1962]

Just got diagnosed with carpal tunnel, in both arms. I use an ice pad in the morning, since my fingers are usually numb after sleeping.
Funny, since it hurts enough to keep me up.
Anyone else have it?

I've had it badly since my late 20s, to the point I was no longer able to work full-time from that point on. It runs in the family. My mother had it, my sister has it. I think my maternal grandmother may have had it also.

 

[sedrosken]

I haven't been diagnosed, but I certainly feel wrist strain day in and out.

Holy Panda switches, from my friends that have them, are good but overhyped and typically overpriced. Cherry is bottom of the barrel these days, typically you'll want GMK or Kailh BOX switches if you're not going with good old buckling spring. Modern Cherry switches are scratchy and very plasticky feeling especially on the clicky switches since they use a clickjacket design rather than the clickbar Kailh switches do. Even lubed Gaterons, long considered a mere Cherry clone, feel better to me now -- I have a 20 year old MX Black board from Cherry that still feels worse than the modern Gateron Reds I have in my K4 Pro, though I've been considering moving to Ink Blacks there as I require a heavier switch. I actuate the Reds far too early -- I bottom out every key.

I have a BOX Navy board that is the best sounding and feeling clicky board I will likely ever see in my entire existence. It rivals the Model M in my opinion, and you even get full NKRO.

I'm partial to the 96%/1800 layout. It offers most of the desk space savings of the TKL layout but retains the number pad, which I use heavily.

You can get little swatches of switches to try out and see how you like them. Failing that a hotswap board would be great as I think the return policy on switches is typically pretty okay if you don't like them.

As far as keyboard firmware, keep an eye on QMK. They're the leader in the field at least for right now. I think Keychron uses modified QMK firmware that you can configure through a webapp using Chrome's USB support? I love mine.

 

[Handruin]

I just built out a new keyboard with the Nuphy Gem80 and paired it with KTT Sea Salt Lemon Linear Switches and this has been my favorite keyboard so far. It's also a VIA/QMK as Sed mentioned. I was very impressed with the quality of this keyboard and everything it included in the package. Highly recommend checking this one out if you like the TKL size. The board has an awesome sound to it and it has all the features I would want in a quality keeb. You can also customize the plate type to change the sound if you prefer something different.

As for testing switches, I just buy a bunch of different ones after reading reviews and finding what may fit my style and weight preference. I have a bunch of different switches but most are linear as that's my preference. I do have a set of Gazzew U4 Boba Silent Tactile Switches that work really well but I missed the sound after a while so I swapped them out for Gateron Ink Switches V2 in my Keychron Q3 keyboard.

 

[Handruin]

I forgot to mention I also bought an Epomaker Galaxy80 and I also think it's an excellent quality keyboard for the money and it's a hot swappable board with the preferred south-facing LEDs, comes with tri-mode wireless options, aluminum chassis. I think it's a really good budget custom keyboard and offers a lot for the money.

Even the bone stock fully assembled kit sounds thocky/marbly right out of the box and I enjoy using it. I use my Nuphy gem80 mainly for work and the Epomaker when gaming on my other system. I will often swap them between my work/gaming systems just to change things up and they both work great at either use case.

 

[Santilli]

I'm jinxed. You all got me going, and I decided to swap back to the IBM/Unicomp Model M.
First thing:
Warm beer almost lands on it: WTF? I'm jinxed.
My fiancee comes in and says I'm using her friends keyboard from 30 years ago. It's noisy, but I LOVE the feel.
Think I'll put neoprene on the back and see if it's a bit more quiet.
Anyone ever put rings on the keys on a Model M?
Handurin: I've added Epomaker to my list of things to look at in keyboards.
Sedrosken: thanks for the feedback. Saved me 250 on a Drop Holy Panda board.
Even though I tried to get a quiet keyboard, Cherry switches don't feel anything like these.
With CTS, I have a hard time even feeling the keys sometimes.
These give me great feedback.
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/16h7sz Intresting perspective, that kind of just wants to make me stick with this keyboard, and the new Model M.
Kind of have to ask is it real, in my life time, this keyboard will ever change, or wear out?
I did loose one to beer, a long time ago, and Unicomp was unsympathetic, and expensive to fix.

.https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/16h7sz/cherry_mx_and_buckling_spring_how_do_these/2
Just put rubber on the bottom of the keyboard, and I think it cut the noise in half.
Feel still there.
I guess I'm just buckling spring guy...

 

[Santilli]

My only gripe about Unicomp is the plastic keyboard cover, with shipping, is still 42 dollars here. Heck, thats 30% or more, of the cost of the keyboard, and, generally, they suck, typing wise.

 

[Santilli]

I've had it badly since my late 20s, to the point I was no longer able to work full-time from that point on. It runs in the family. My mother had it, my sister has it. I think my maternal grandmother may have had it also.

Have you had surgery? What treatments?

 

[Santilli]

Thinking of using these on my Model M:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N75JL0F/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Anyone try em?

 

[Santilli]

Used to type 80 words a minute, on my little Panasonic laptop, when going to work in 2001, at the SFDA's office, last year of law school.
Haven't used Mavis Beacon in a long while.
My average on the Corsair was in the 40-45 range.
Using the Model M, I just did 55, after too many beers....;-)
Just feels right...

 

[jtr1962]

Have you had surgery? What treatments?

My mother and sister both had the carpal tunnel release operation. It's not a permanent solution for everyone. Often, it comes back after a while, although maybe not as severely.

I haven't had medical insurance since I was kicked off my parent's plan in college, so I haven't even had the condition properly diagnosed by a doctor, never mind treated. My solution is to just limit my activities to keep it from getting worse. I can do anything a person without it can, just not as much of it.

 

[sedrosken]

I could be wrong but I don't think you can put o-rings on a Model M @Santilli. The way the caps work is the caps fit over a smaller plastic keycap that is, to my knowledge, attached in such a way as to make adding noise dampening to the stems impossible. You might try putting in a sheet of foam backing in between the bottom case and backplate of the membrane, but I don't know how that'll change the acoustics precisely or even introduce other issues.

I also think it's a crime to want to quiet a Model M, but that's a personal belief, not one that I'll try to foist on you here.

 

[Santilli]

Noted.
I did put neoprene on the back, but that didn't do much.
I do enjoy the noise, not sure my roommate does.

 

[LunarMist]

Speech to text is good nowadays and vastly cuts down on typing.

 

[Santilli]

If I wake up, and my hands aren't numb, and my back is ok, it's a good day...

 

[Santilli]

I could be wrong but I don't think you can put o-rings on a Model M @Santilli. The way the caps work is the caps fit over a smaller plastic keycap that is, to my knowledge, attached in such a way as to make adding noise dampening to the stems impossible. You might try putting in a sheet of foam backing in between the bottom case and backplate of the membrane, but I don't know how that'll change the acoustics precisely or even introduce other issues.

I also think it's a crime to want to quiet a Model M, but that's a personal belief, not one that I'll try to foist on you here.

Plan B is to take the dampeners and put them on the Corsairs Cherry Red silents (which aren't) and see what that does.
Needed a puller first, to take the caps/keys off.
Finally getting everything I need for that project.

 

[Santilli]

Working off a Panasonic CF-53 with a Reddragon K671.
Red switches, swapable.
Amazing for 25-35 dollars.

 

[sedrosken]

Redragon boards are a case of you get what you pay for. I had endless key chatter problems with mine when I was a penniless teenager. My friends with them reported similar things.

 

[Santilli]

Redragon boards are a case of you get what you pay for. I had endless key chatter problems with mine when I was a penniless teenager. My friends with them reported similar things.

Suspected as much. I'm just using it as a backup.
Just put donuts on the Corsair Strafe, and it actually works to quite the keys down a LOT!
The Cherry Reds are now nearly silent.
Feels a little mushy, but liveable.

 

[Santilli]

Has anyone tried these switches, or keyboard?
https://www.cherry-world.com/kw-x-ulp

 

[Handruin]

No, I've not been intrigued enough by Cherry products to try them. There are so many fantastic options out there that are better products. Cherry reds just aren't my person preference of switches either. You can get silent switches without needing O-rings or mods which is my preference.

It's worth exploring the mechanical keyboard world to see what else is offered even if you enjoy their products.

 

[Santilli]

What switches do you like, H, and why?

 

[Santilli]

By the way, the Corsair with Cherry reds, and the donuts are growing on me.
I also love my Model M, but, some of the switches feel like they need lube, and they could be slightly quieter.
What would you suggest.?

 

[Handruin]

I mentioned a few with links in my post earlier.

Mech keyboards

Any of you get into mechanical keyboards at all? I've had a few over the years like a Duckyshine 3 and a DAS keyboard 4 pro, both with Cherry-MX brown switches. They've been good keyboards over the years but I recently decided to try a Keychron Q3 custom TKL to see what all the noise was about...

www.storageforum.net

I usually prefer linear switches with around 55g-58g of force for my typing style (you'll need to figure out what works best for you). Generally firmer springs help typing accuracy but at a slower pace where as lighter springs may reduce accuracy but you can type faster. So the preference really is up to your typing skills and comfort.

I've had good experiences with Gateron, KTT, Gazzew for example. I typically get prelubed switches. The Gazzew switches I linked to are dead silent if that's something you prefer.

I've also tried Gateron reds, milky yellows, Ink black V2 for example.

 

[Handruin]

As to why I like them, they are smooth and offer a sound I enjoy on each keystroke. The plastic does not bind up and it is a linear experience

 

[Santilli]

How about Glorius Pandas., clear?

 

[Handruin]

I haven't tried any of their switches so I can't say. The pandas are tactile from what I read and would be in the same realm as the Gazzew U4 Boba I mentioned earlier. The difference is the Bobas are silent.

If the specs interest you on the Glorious, try some and see if you like them. That's really the only way to know.

 

[sedrosken]

I think I've already said this, but I like Kailh BOX switches personally if you're after clickies. My BOX Navy board is thunderous and meaty and I love it. However I think the actuation force on those is like 95-110g? That's fine for me, but that's a remarkably heavy switch for anyone else and can make you fatigue pretty quick. The BOX Jades I think are the same deal but with looser springs, so they actuate at I believe 65-70g. That's still a bit heavy for someone used to Cherry switches IIRC.

I've bought a set of JWK Ultimate Blacks off Amazon for my K4 Pro on recommendation from one of my friends deeper in the hobby than I am. I mistyped earlier when I said I wanted Gateron Ink Blacks, I meant these. They're 63.5g and lubed, which should be a bit better than the Gateron Reds this board came with. Not that there's anything outright wrong with them, they're just far too light for my typing style. In fact, if you want them after I've got them out, let me know and I'll send them your way. I don't think there's enough switches there to populate a 104-key keyboard, though, I think an 1800 layout only has, like, 98 keys?

 

[Handruin]

Wow 95-110g force, your fingers must be buff. That's some serious switch force