The Plot Thockens: Mechanical Keyboard shenanigans

[CommanderJameson]

I thought a thread to just generally yack about mechanical keyboards, keycaps, and etc. would be nice.

So a month or so back, my Apple Magic Keyboard died after an angel sighed on it. Long story short, I won’t get fooled again, and I’ve got a Keychron Q6 Max now. It shipped with Gateron red switches, which I’ve replaced with Akko Penguins for even quieter typing with a firmer feel (tactile 60g vs the reds’ linear 40-ish g).

I’ve got a new set of keycaps coming, going for an old-school late 70s/early 80s mainframe/mini vibe:

Tell me your keyboards! Tell me your switches! Tell me your keycaps!

(Also tell me storage solutions for the switches and keycaps you’re not using)

 

[Wheels Of Confusion]

(Also tell me storage solutions for the switches and keycaps you’re not using)

Remember those vacuum-molded clear plastic dust covers that keyboards used to have? Turn one upside down. Bingo, instant key tray!
Now you just need to track down some 25-year old trash to find one...

 

[timezon3]

I'm pretty sure I've posted these in other threads, but these are a couple I built during pandemic lockdown. The first is a keebio viterbi that I built because I wanted to try thumb activated layers but also I wanted to keep a number row, and I thought the extra columns would be helpful for programming keys. But once I started using layers, I didn't use the number row or the extra columns, so I built the second one, which is a keebio levinson. The levinson also has a trackpoint attached to the right hand side (just to the left of the h). It's somewhat useful, but I've not been able to switch to using it as a primary pointing device, still use my thumb trackball most of the time. Both have Cherry MX Clear switches. The viterbi has MDA Big Bang keycaps, and the levinson has KAT Cyberspace keycaps, for an obvious Matrix theme.

 

[whoisit]

My keyboard is nothing special. A Logitech G513 with Romer G Blue Switches.

 

[CommanderJameson]

I’ve never been much of a one for ergo/split layouts. But I remember back when they really started gaining traction with the MS Natural Keyboard. We deployed lots of those circa 1998/99, and for 90% of people, they were insta-hate.

But for the other 10%? Let’s just say that if you tried to take their Natural Keyboard away, you were choosing violence.

 

[steelghost]

Sigh. I had a Corsair K70 RGB with Brown switches that I bought in 2015, which just ... stopped working overnight a year or so ago. I still have it in my cupboard in the vain hope I will be able to take it apart and somehow resurrect it.

I found a lightly used replacement (sadly with only red backlights) because the new ones look too "gamer" and I didn't want to disturb my typing flow. I get on with it fine, but I do keep thinking I should look into a proper replacement. I don't want any more expensive rabbit holes to jump down but I wouldn't say no to a less rattley typing experience...

 

[Nauls]

Posted this one recently. WOBKEY Rainy 75 Pro (anodized silver). KAILH Cocoa Switches (linear, 45g). Swapped in Keychron KSA keycaps.

This was my first dive into the world of custom keyboards, having come from a Razer Huntsman Mini 60% and a Corsair K70 100% before that. The Huntsman was a perfectly fine little keyboard, but I really started to miss the Arrow and F keys, so I’ve finally settled in on a 75%.

The aluminum case is really nice. The Pro version comes with a 7000mAh battery (vs 3500mAh for the other versions). Add to that the aluminum case and the steel weight and this thing is a rock. I don’t ever see it leaving my desk so not a big deal, but the Pro is not a traveling keyboard by any means. Haven’t messed around with any VIA mapping yet, but it’s got it should I need it, which is all I care about. The sound is also great and has a slightly different tone with the KSA caps installed.

Only minor downsides are the physical side of the wireless functionality. There is no onboard storage for the USB dongle like in some other keyboards, so you either need to affix it to the side somehow or be prepared to simply lose it. Additionally, the mode switch is under caps lock, which could be a minor annoyance if you find yourself needing to access it a lot. I use it wired anyway, so these are minor quibbles.

All in all, I’m really happy with it; it’s a great keyboard for around the $100 price point. The case, gasketing, and VIA support make it a nice solid platform for future modding if I ever feel the need.

 

[Ardax]

But for the other 10%? Let’s just say that if you tried to take their Natural Keyboard away, you were choosing violence.

That sounds just about right.

As for myself, the only dedicated keyboard I use is on my work PC. I'm not about to go all out down the custom KB rabbit hole for that. So I recently enabled myself into a Logitech G413 SE TKL. It has brown style switches and is lovely enough. Nice little tactile bump, white backlight, has the most important features I wanted and none I didn't. Happy desk.

 

[Oddabe19]

I had a Corsair K70 RGB with Brown switche

I have the K70 Vengeance Red, with Cherry MX Reds. I think from 2013? Still love it and it is my primary.

 

[steelghost]

I have the K70 Vengeance Red, with Cherry MX Reds. I think from 2013? Still love it and it is my primary.

Yeah, they're a very "comfotable" board to type on (compared with my old Model M which was ace but hilariously noisy for late night use or when on work calls). I'd happily still be using mine if it still worked. Quite a few on the used market so I'm probably just going to end up picking up a couple to have on hand as spares... The combination of media keys, full size keyboard, full travel keys, and an attached wrist rest is one I've not really found elsewhere without getting pretty spendy.

 

[Nauls]

The K70 is an awesome keyboard and I still have mine as well. I’ve got the rapidfire variant with Cherry MX Speed switches (1.2mm actuation). The switches claim to be 45g operation, but in practice they felt much lighter. I used it primarily for gaming and resting my hand on WASD would often register errant keypresses. No issues with that on the Rainy so far, but that's probably more attributed to the 2.0mm actuation, so my apparently fat fingers can sink a little more into that sofa.

 

[CommanderJameson]

Well, bugger. The keycaps arrived, and in my excitement, I didn’t carefully check the listing or pictures to check whether they included Mac-specific keycaps. Which they don’t.

This is a problem especially for two specific keys here - the key to the left of the “1”, and the key between left shift and Z. No appropriate keycaps in the set

Silver lining!

I’ve got a full set of 104 Gateron red switches, and now I’ve got a full set of Windows/PC keycaps, so I might as well go right ahead and build a new keyboard, right?

In the meantime, enjoy my Q6 in all its original-keycapped glory.

 

[steelghost]

Um, do you have a Windows machine to attach it to?

 

[CommanderJameson]

Um, do you have a Windows machine to attach it to?

Yes, the one I’m playing Call of Duty on right now. Or I’ll just give it away as a nerdy Xmas present for one of my neices.

 

[Oddabe19]

The combination of media keys, full size keyboard, full travel keys, and an attached wrist rest is one I've not really found elsewhere without getting pretty spendy.

The main reason why I still have mine. The dedicated media keys and wrist rest seem to be a rarity anymore (Fn+key not withstanding).

Plus, it's built really well, I've had zero issues with it. A few of the keys are starting to "ping" a little, but doesn't bother me in the least.

 

[HiroTheProtagonist]

I can't speak to their actual ergonomics, but I've got CloudNines at work and home (TKL at work because I bought it off a coworker, FS at home because I like the TK). Work one has Cherry Browns (not necessarily choice, bought it from a coworker at a discount) home one has Kalih Box Whites because clacking makes me feel good. Plus having the volume/scroll wheel knob in the middle is very convenient.

I've thought about getting some legit ergo-split boards, but it's incredibly hard to stomach dropping $350+ for something like a Glove80 or Advantage360 or Ergodox.

 

[Papageno]

Remember those vacuum-molded clear plastic dust covers that keyboards used to have? Turn one upside down. Bingo, instant key tray!
Now you just need to track down some 25-year old trash to find one...

I just picked up an Aula F75 Pro (the Pro being the one with the side-printed keycaps which I can't believe haven't been a thing till now, and look amazing with the light shining through the legends on the front of the keys) today and it came with one of those! Now if I can develop the self discipline to use it...

I got it principally to have something smaller* as my daily driver and make mousing more ergonomic now that I'm not a teenager anymore (not since April 1981!). It looks sweet, sounds great, and has RGB. Less than 70 bucks, same day delivery with Prime. Linear Leobog Reaper switches-- a bit stiffer feeling than the Cherry MX Browns I've gotten used to. It supports USB wired, Bluetooth and 2.4 GHz wireless modes too. Has a plastic case but feels weighty and substantial. BTW this keyboard has its USB wireless dongle (for 2.4 GHz use) ensconced in a little magnetic slot on the back of the unit.

*smaller than the SteelSeries Apex 7 with Cherry MX Brown switches I got a year and change ago.
Oh, I also have a Corsair Gaming K95 RGB with Cherry MX Red switches that I got as a warranty replacement for the classic K95 of yore. The last mechanical keyboard I owned before that one was a (very spendy, over 100 bucks back then) Keytronic? one for a Mac I bought back in the early 1990s. I remember having to replace a keyswitch in that one, so that was a thing then.

 

[Papageno]

BTW @CommanderJameson I was just looking for this sort of thread a few days ago. Thanks for creating it!

 

[Aeonsim]

I've a couple of low profile ones with gateron brown switches.
Nuphy Air 75 v1
Nuphy Air 96v2 x2

Ended up with two of the 96v2 as the first one they sent me had broken wireless could get it to connect to anything. The result of which was they sent me a new board/base with no switches or key-caps to replace to semi functional one. My original order had also had a second set of key-caps (see through) and I had some spare switches sitting around. So once I confirmed the new board worked I assembled it with the spare key-caps and switches ending up with a wired only version and a wireless version, so now use one at work and one at home.

 

[CommanderJameson]

So a couple of keycap sets are catching my eye right now. At £120-ish they’re not cheap, so I won’t get them all. Probably. Maybe. Yet.

GMK Mars Cadet
GMK Extended
GMK Dolch

 

[Papageno]

ssss

attached wrist rest

I hear you on this becoming a rarity. My Corsair Gaming keyboard from at least eight to ten years back still has one of those actually attached with hardware, but the SteelSeries one I bought last year, while having a wrist rest, only has it "attached" magnetically so if you pick up the keyboard itself the thing falls right off.
For the Aula F75 Pro I just bought today, I busted out an old CompUSA* branded rubber wrist rest from over 25 years ago that I still had lying around the house (I'm a terrible pack rat).

*insert Obi_Wan_Kenobi_Now_that's_a_name GIF here.

BTW the only niggle with the new F75 is that a couple of times when I've pasted something in or quoted a post on forums I get a string of lower-case s characters thrown in that I never typed. What's up with that? Anyone know what that's about? Using the keyboard in wired mode only.

 

[CommanderJameson]

BTW the only niggle with the new F75 is that a couple of times when I've pasted something in or quoted a post on forums I get a string of lower-case s characters thrown in that I never typed. What's up with that? Anyone know what that's about? Using the keyboard in wired mode only.

If it’s got VIA firmware you can twiddle the debounce parameters. That might help.

 

[Papageno]

If it’s got VIA firmware you can twiddle the debounce parameters. That might help.

Thanks for the reply. I don't think it does*, so if I see it more in the next couple of days, should I get a refund/replacement?

*the software you download to tweak the RGB and stuff is proprietary per reviews. Plus I have no idea what that means nor how I'd do that...

 

[Papageno]

Ah, okay, I found the debounce setting in the keyboard's software. It's set to "2 stage" by default. I haven't observed the weird behavior again.

(or maybe Stage 2)

 

[Papageno]

Okay, this is kind of crazy: this new 75% keyboard I got on Friday (Aula F75 Pro) is heavier than the SteelSeries full-sized Apex 7 keyboard, at least without the wrist rest. Both have plastic bodies but obviously they weighted the Aula one somehow internally, and as a result it's a more stable one to type on*, and doesn't end up wandering all over the desk as I found the SteelSeries one does, even with the wrist rest stuck to the latter. Annoys me a bit that the Apex 7 was about twice as expensive too.

Has anyone here found a good way to attach a weight of some kind to a keyboard, or at least affix it (temporarily) to a glass desktop?

*although the Apex 7's Cherry MX Brown switches are tactile and thus generally better for typing.

 

[Ajar]

After a few others, I settled on a Filco Stingray Ninja, which is low profile with Cherry reds. I wish it was quieter and had Mac keycaps, and lighting would be nice for the occasional time I need to look at it while gaming in low light, but... it's absolute bliss to type on.

If I get a new one at some point, it'll likely be either a Keychron low profile, or split / ergonomic.

 

[Papageno]

BTW on Reddit someone replied that the solution for a "wandering keyboard" as described above is to get a desk mat (essentially a giant mouse pad).

 

[steelghost]

You can probably get thin anti slip self adhesive pads for this sort of thing?

 

[Papageno]

You can probably get thin anti slip self adhesive pads for this sort of thing?

Something that would stick to the keyboard's feet, then? Are they called the term you used? I'll look for them. I was thinking of maybe the stuff you use to stick posters on the wall but what you mentioned sounds better.

 

[CommanderJameson]

Something like this would seem to be the ticket:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Adhesive-Keyboard-Laptops-Cabinet-Drawers/dp/B09LCHHF4D/

 

[CommanderJameson]

BTW on Reddit someone replied that the solution for a "wandering keyboard" as described above is to get a desk mat (essentially a giant mouse pad).

Hard recommend for this. Get the biggest one that will fit on your desk, and get two.

They get a bit manky over time, and you want one to use whilst the mucky one is in the washing machine and subsequently drying.

 

[cogwheel]

Okay, this is kind of crazy: this new 75% keyboard I got on Friday (Aula F75 Pro) is heavier than the SteelSeries full-sized Apex 7 keyboard, at least without the wrist rest. Both have plastic bodies but obviously they weighted the Aula one somehow internally

Looks like the Aula has almost the entire internal volume filled by various spacers and pads to deaden sound (not just a slab of metal at the bottom to increase weight), while the Apex 7 is just a thin aluminum keyswitch plate, a PCB, and a plastic bottom cover.

Neither have the old-school-style thick steel keyswitch plate (perfect for GATTACA re-enactments).

BTW on Reddit someone replied that the solution for a "wandering keyboard" as described above is to get a desk mat (essentially a giant mouse pad).

Absolutely. I've been using 36x18" mousepads with my keyboard on top for years. There's no left edge for the mouse to fall off when you get near your keyboard, and the keyboard stabilizes the mousing area so it never shifts around.

They get a bit manky over time, and you want one to use whilst the mucky one is in the washing machine and subsequently drying.

I just get relatively cheap ones and toss or re-purpose them when they get cruddy. I'd still have at least one extra around, since they're shipped rolled up tightly and it takes a while for them to relax when unrolled.

 

[Papageno]

Hard recommend for this. Get the biggest one that will fit on your desk, and get two.

Absolutely. I've been using 36x18" mousepads with my keyboard on top for years. There's no left edge for the mouse to fall off when you get near your keyboard, and the keyboard stabilizes the mousing area so it never shifts around.

Any particular recommendations in terms of brands/models? My desk here at home is kind of a pigsty so I'll have to clear some stuff off but that sounds like a plan.

 

[Nauls]

Any particular recommendations in terms of brands/models? My desk here at home is kind of a pigsty so I'll have to clear some stuff off but that sounds like a plan.

Amazon has some decent cheap options depending on how fancy of a mat you're looking for (cloth, pleather, real leather, hard plastic). And they come in a variety of sizes to fit your space. I've got a couple simple black pleather mats at work that are easy to wipe down, since I tend to eat at my desk (when I'm not spilling chili oil all over myself - but that wipes up too!). A 36x17" and a 31.5x16". The mouse glide isn't as smooth as on cloth, but it's good enough for work, and I could always add a separate mousepad if I wanted.

For home I've got a giant Razer pad (link) in off-white, which I'm much more careful with.

 

[CommanderJameson]

Any particular recommendations in terms of brands/models? My desk here at home is kind of a pigsty so I'll have to clear some stuff off but that sounds like a plan.

I’ve got one of these, and another one I was bought as a gift.

I don’t see the point in spending Grovemade money on a desk mat. I’m only going to spill my coffee on it.

 

[Papageno]

Thanks, all, for the advice. Ended up buying this one--classic design and black.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CBCH1JMR

 

[cogwheel]

Thanks, all, for the advice. Ended up buying this one--classic design and black.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0CBCH1JMR

If I wanted a Hokusai-inspired mouse pad, I'd probably go with this one. The extra 10cm of width isn't that big of a deal, but the extra 10cm of depth is huge (~33% more depth), and it's only ~$2 more.

The last time I bought mousepads, I got a 2-pack of 90x40cm ones for $22, with a basic psuedo-topographic design in white on black and black on white. The exact pack isn't available on Amazon any more, though.

My preference is 90x45cm ones, but those seem to have become rare these days.

 

[CommanderJameson]

I like to go wide - 1600mm

 

[Papageno]

I like to go wide - 1600mm

Wow, your desk must be super wide. Even with the one I ordered I'm going to have to move some stuff.

 

[CommanderJameson]

Wow, your desk must be super wide. Even with the one I ordered I'm going to have to move some stuff.

1800mm. Bigger is definitely better.