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Handwired a custom layout TKL-like with elements inspired by various retro computers' keyboards
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this post was submitted on 05 Nov 2023
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Mechanical Keyboards
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Gallery.
GH post.
There are some fit and finish issues, but they'll require a full teardown to remedy, so I'm inclined to call this one done (for now). It might eventually get some little siblings, since it was barely any more expensive to have 3 plates cut versus 1.
Layout: Modified TKL with elements taken from HHKB (and therefore vintage Mac), BBC Micro, and (sort of) MSX and (if you squint) Amiga.
Guts: Handwired, connected to an RP2040 running KMK.
Keycaps: Main are "VSA" overstock from Aliexpress. Function keys are blank DSA, also from AE.
Switches: Kailh Box Navy.
Materials: lasercut aluminum and poorly cut red oak (not my best woodworking TBH, but sanding and oiling forgives a lot).
Navies are a good choice! I have a mix of navies and jades and love them.
I love clickies in general, though even I don't seek out generic blues anymore. I have a board with Box Whites that is lovely, but so very gentle it's almost like a linear. I had these Box Navies in another board that malfunctioned, so they got pulled for this project. They are my favorite switches so far, but I haven't tried a ton of different ones. Jades will probably be next. For super budget, I like Outemu Dustproof Green: heavier and more interesting than blues, but just as cheap and will fit in literally anything that describes itself as hotswap.
More generally, I find the community's rejection of click and ping and most other noises outside a couple of specific profiles, while perfectly reasonable, doesn't resonate (LOL) with me at all. I came of age with computer labs full of Apple II's and old PCs with Model F's and Model M's, and messing around with my Atari and and my buddy's C64. Being noisy, one way or another, is half the appeal.
I love the noise too, haha. They feel really haptically satisfying too. I kinda wanna try whites, but I don't really need more than one keyboard right now. Maybe someday :)