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Keyboard Nut Thread

Hey all! I am new to the forum and kinda wish I had discovered this community before I embarked on my mechanical keyboard adventure. If I am posting in the wrong area of the forum, my apologies.

I just recently (this weekend) finished this build.

Tofu65 keyboard case
with copper weight and plate
KBD67 Rev2 soldered PCB
Cherry MX Browns lubed with 205g0
Durock V2 stabilizers lubed with 205g0 and band-aid mod
PBT Retro 80s Keycaps

Most of everything came from KBDFans except for equipment and lube which I sourced from the states.

I realise I chose pretty noob switches but my lord they feel better than anything I have ever typed on. Nevertheless, the bug has bitten and I am planning my next build.

Are there better ways to get parts to South Africa? This exercise was incredibly expensive, with just under 50% of the costs going to shipping and customs.

How are enthusiasts enjoying this hobby in South Africa without taking out a second morgage?

Also is there a second-hand market for this level of custom mechanical keyboards? I see a bunch of commercial mechanical boards on here being resold, but is there a market for luxury boards?
Howsit and welcome! These are the droids you are looking for.

Firstly, there is nothing wrong with MX Browns. If you enjoy using them, that is all that matters.

To address some of your other questions. The keeb community in south africa is small and limited. The only real places you can get parts locally is Control Shift Escape and Keyn Keyboards | DIY Mechanical Keyboard Kits. Warren and Vincent are great gentleman and a godsend for the community.

We all cry and struggle with shipping and getting more unique parts here. We try and organise group buys (buy together) now and again to share some of the shipping, but it is tedious and takes quite a bit of time from whoever is running it. I don't want to know how much I've personally spent on shipping for switches. Regardless of the shipping, it is an expensive hobby. Some components are expensive due to artificial scarcity, others are expensive due to their manufacturing process. It is what it is unfortunately.

To avoid disappointment, consider the used market non-existent for the most part.

Welcome to the group of degenerates. Don't forget to pay your photo tax with a picture of your new build.
 
Howsit and welcome! These are the droids you are looking for.

Firstly, there is nothing wrong with MX Browns. If you enjoy using them, that is all that matters.

To address some of your other questions. The keeb community in south africa is small and limited. The only real places you can get parts locally is Control Shift Escape and Keyn Keyboards | DIY Mechanical Keyboard Kits. Warren and Vincent are great gentleman and a godsend for the community.

We all cry and struggle with shipping and getting more unique parts here. We try and organise group buys (buy together) now and again to share some of the shipping, but it is tedious and takes quite a bit of time from whoever is running it. I don't want to know how much I've personally spent on shipping for switches. Regardless of the shipping, it is an expensive hobby. Some components are expensive due to artificial scarcity, others are expensive due to their manufacturing process. It is what it is unfortunately.

To avoid disappointment, consider the used market non-existent for the most part.

Welcome to the group of degenerates. Don't forget to pay your photo tax with a picture of your new build.
Hey man don't chase them away from the used market, I'm trying to sell my stackyboi
 
Hey everyone and thank you for the warm welcome!

Thank you for all the advice. Despite the hobby being expensive, I can't stop typing on this keyboard and the process of building it was just totally satisfying. Worth it!

Oh man, I wish I had found Keyn while I was doing research. Their SEM isn't too strong, and I was looking at the Lily58 too!

I'll definitely be checking in on this forum more often. I'll have a look at the used market too.

Here's the photo tax:

5eGsVm7.jpg
 
Finally finished up my choc sofle!! Mostly good, the inner-most thumb buttons are mostly useless, which is a shame, but there are enough to bet by with anyway! Waiting on some more switches and keycaps that are stuck in customs, then I can get building another one for my brother

20220306_103823.jpg
 
Finally finished up my choc sofle!! Mostly good, the inner-most thumb buttons are mostly useless, which is a shame, but there are enough to bet by with anyway! Waiting on some more switches and keycaps that are stuck in customs, then I can get building another one for my brother

View attachment 61232
On my MX sofle I normally use the edges of my hands to press the innermost buttons, but they really are a bit difficult to press, so I put my Super keys there usually
 
On my MX sofle I normally use the edges of my hands to press the innermost buttons, but they really are a bit difficult to press, so I put my Super keys there usually

Currently running it like this,

1646556938647.png


layer 1

1646557106687.png


layer 2 is [{(-_+=)}] so that I can stay on home row while dev-ing. and layer 3 is navigation and media keys. And 4 activates a qwerty layer for games, which I realised was a massive oversight when I was considering a 40%

I still need to sort out the rgbs, because the secondary side isn't controlled by primary and I'm not able to get the matrix stuff working, but besides that, this little keeb has been a blast. Took all of 5 minutes to bet my speed back when swapping from my alice-style.
 
Currently running it like this,

View attachment 61233

layer 1

View attachment 61234

layer 2 is [{(-_+=)}] so that I can stay on home row while dev-ing. and layer 3 is navigation and media keys. And 4 activates a qwerty layer for games, which I realised was a massive oversight when I was considering a 40%

I still need to sort out the rgbs, because the secondary side isn't controlled by primary and I'm not able to get the matrix stuff working, but besides that, this little keeb has been a blast. Took all of 5 minutes to bet my speed back when swapping from my alice-style.
I'm not 100% sure, but I *think* you can solve the RGB issue by using I2C instead of Serial, which is the default, but I've never used RGB on a split, maybe check the Corné firmware
 
I'm not 100% sure, but I *think* you can solve the RGB issue by using I2C instead of Serial, which is the default, but I've never used RGB on a split, maybe check the Corné firmware
I think I'm gonna need serial for when I add the screens, just don't trust myself not to break them before I have a more secure case 😬😬
 
I think I'm gonna need serial for when I add the screens, just don't trust myself not to break them before I have a more secure case 😬😬
Excellent choice, that was the exact issue I had on my V1
 
I received Akko Starfish switches today. They're brilliant, especially so for their price. Factory lubing is pretty decent. Just need the springs need some lube.

I also got some Durocks stabilizers (finally!). Im still undecided on whether to file down the alu plate on my GMMK Pro to fit the stabs or wait for my AVX Works FR4 plate.
 
I received Akko Starfish switches today. They're brilliant, especially so for their price. Factory lubing is pretty decent. Just need the springs need some lube.

I also got some Durocks stabilizers (finally!). Im still undecided on whether to file down the alu plate on my GMMK Pro to fit the stabs or wait for my AVX Works FR4 plate.
Do you have the AVX plate on the way or are you planning on getting one?
 
I'm still waiting on better shipping (courier) quotes. Initial quote wasn't too bad though for the size/weight (FR4 plate + 90 switches + Krytox XHT-BDZ).

Assuming this doesn't violate reseller rules, do you want to get one too and split costs?
 
Just received the AVX plate with some Tribosys and XHT-BDZ. Will report back on them all, but first impressions are that the fit and finish is impeccable on the plate.
 
Some quick feedback.

Thanks to XHT-BDZ, I can finally end my abusive relationship with the holee mod. It's really easy to apply this lube. You basically paint it onto your stab wires as if you were applying a slightly thicker and less glossy version of Tippex. I can't comment on longevity, but my stabs are crisp and fast now. I got 5g and I'd advise getting 3g or less. A little goes a very long way.

On to Tribosys, I feel it's better than Krytox 205G0 and 204G2. It's harder to overlube with 3204. So it doesn't make different switches feel similar as with the Krytox range.

Finally, the AVX FR4 plate for the GMMK Pro. No fitment issues with switches or stab housings. It works fine with 3 pin switches (I'm using Akko Starfish) but it does allow a slight amount of switch rotation in the socket if you apply force on the switch directly. Not noticeable in practice. Stock foam doesn't align with the additional cutouts in the plate. Just a cosmetic issue, which I'll live with as I'm not gonna place an overseas order just for StupidFish foam. In terms of feel, it's ever so slightly softer than the alu plate. Not a major difference, but I guess every bit helps as keyboards are more than just the sum of their parts on paper. I'm really happy with the sound of it. So much so that I have no intention of trying the PE and tempest mods again. It also has much better sound consistency across keys than the alu plate. I had a slight/occasional binding issue on my left shift key with the alu plate because the plate would bend my PCB slightly. No such issues with the FR4 plate.

I'd say it's totally worth it on the GMMK Pro. At least in the current market environment. It's now a great keyboard that's readily available and offers an exploded 75% layout, a rotary encoder, side lighting, and clean looks with no visible seams between the top and bottom housings.
 
finally i have moved on from my trusty GK61 that i got more than a year back from @Keyboard Kulture

Say hellow to the new new
Gamakay LK67
Tai Hao Miami lights
NK Creams
Ink blacks on stab keys
Lubed and foamed and everything
And still Keyboard KulturenWristwrest #0001

Only reason for the move was i wanted good wireless and the lk67 offers 2.4ghz wirelss via usb instead of the bad bluetooth the gk61 had
D08E23A3-9163-4D4B-8785-7D6695E8D7B3.jpeg
11A10D49-F956-4086-8762-31440F521154.jpeg
 
I just got a Keychron K4 and like it a lot. I was looking into customizing keycaps, but the selection of backlit novelties is... I didn't find anything reasonable. Especially since I don't want a full set, I just want to replace specific keys.

Looking around I found an article on adafruit on 3D-printing your own keycaps and then some designs on Thingiverse. The advice is to 3d-print with resin for a smother finish. The quality is obviously not going to be as good as artisanal or professionally made keycaps, but given how cheap it will be (I hope) I think its worth a try.

Has anyone tried this?
I found a few shops from Google near me in Sandton, will see if I can get something done. Will post again if it works.

If it has worked or not for someone else, then it would be great to hear your experience.
 
I just got a Keychron K4 and like it a lot. I was looking into customizing keycaps, but the selection of backlit novelties is... I didn't find anything reasonable. Especially since I don't want a full set, I just want to replace specific keys.

Looking around I found an article on adafruit on 3D-printing your own keycaps and then some designs on Thingiverse. The advice is to 3d-print with resin for a smother finish. The quality is obviously not going to be as good as artisanal or professionally made keycaps, but given how cheap it will be (I hope) I think its worth a try.

Has anyone tried this?
I found a few shops from Google near me in Sandton, will see if I can get something done. Will post again if it works.

If it has worked or not for someone else, then it would be great to hear your experience.
Doesn't work very well at all. The tolerances are too tight and the resin is way to brittle. The best option to do this, and you see online, is to actually create a mold and then cast the keycap, as soon as you have a working mold, you can then start playing with different resins etc.
If you are looking to do intricate designs, you need to first create a master keycap from clay, then create a mold, then paint the casted molds.

It an extremely time consuming and difficult process. There is a good reason their is no one selling 3d printed keycaps online.

PS I've been going down this road for nearly a year, trust me, you end up pouring thousands and thousands of rands down the drain!!
 
Hey guys, thought Id just make a post to let you know that Evetech is now stocking GMMK Pros: Evetech

They also have various Glorious plates, switches, keycaps etc. I dont like supporting Evetech, but If you've been wanting a GMMK Pro or any 75%, its a nice option to have. 👌
 
Hey guys, thought Id just make a post to let you know that Evetech is now stocking GMMK Pros: Evetech

They also have various Glorious plates, switches, keycaps etc. I dont like supporting Evetech, but If you've been wanting a GMMK Pro or any 75%, its a nice option to have. 👌
They’ve had them in stock since October last year 😂😂
 
They’ve had them in stock since October last year 😂😂
lmao well Ive just exposed how little I check their website. 😂 The only reason I checked their site was because I heard they redid the website and I just assumed that the stock was new since I hadent seen anyone talk about it yet.

I guess take my foolish post as a reminder that they do infact have stock of GMMK Pros 😂
 
lmao well Ive just exposed how little I check their website. 😂 The only reason I checked their site was because I heard they redid the website and I just assumed that the stock was new since I hadent seen anyone talk about it yet.

I guess take my foolish post as a reminder that they do infact have stock of GMMK Pros 😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂

Yeah, Evetech is a touchy subject on this forum, actually on most forums!!!
😂😂
 
Hi everyone soon I will be launching my own after-market pc peripherals store in Cape Town, South Africa. We sell everything from Custom keyboards, Gaming mice, Mouse feet, and mousepads!

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How would you guarantee the FM products given how they sell their own products?
FM? if you mean how I guarantee these products, I already am getting a bunch of stock on the skates and lube. the mousepads are on there way as well as the starlight 12 my buddy in Sweden are supplying me with the mice and mousepads.
 
FM? if you mean how I guarantee these products, I already am getting a bunch of stock on the skates and lube. the mousepads are on there way as well as the starlight 12 my buddy in Sweden are supplying me with the mice and mousepads.
FM- Final Mouse, as these are drop products most of the time without resellers globally, there have been some but most of the time they all sent out from 'Murica.
 
FM- Final Mouse, as these are drop products most of the time without resellers globally, there have been some but most of the time they all sent out from 'Murica.
I can def guarantee them since my friend is a Finalmouse seller on eBay and I sent him money for about 4 Poseidon's and 4 Phantoms (2 small and 2 medium each)
 
I can def guarantee them since my friend is a Finalmouse seller on eBay and I sent him money for about 4 Poseidon's and 4 Phantoms (2 small and 2 medium each)
Ah ok, so they are being resold, sealed items.
 

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