20
Looking for a truly DIY keyboard kit (feddit.ch)
submitted 11 months ago by achille225@feddit.ch to c/mechanicalkeyboards@lemmy.ml
16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I would like to build my first keyboard, but I feel like the DIY-kits available don't let you get your hands on the keyboard enough. For instance, I looked into the M1W barebone as it checks all the criteria I have (I would prefer a 75% board, with a knob, and wireless option), except the only thing left to do is to plug-in the switches and put on the keycaps.

For example, the Zoom 75 is something I feel would suit me, but it's 200$, not counting the 60$ shipping, and it's "only" the board, so I need to buy the switches and the keycaps as well.

I saw the "Practice 75" board, which is nice, but for example there isn't the knob and I would need to solder the switches to the board.

Is there a board out there that would ticks all the boxes ?

Thank you in advance for your answers !

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] achille225@feddit.ch 2 points 11 months ago

If i was to follow that intermediate road, what are the caveats I should avoid? I tried looking for a website like PCPartPicker, unfortunately it doesn't seem to exist And I'm afraid of picking up different pieces that will end up not being compatible with one another

[-] wfh@lemm.ee 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

PCB, top plate and case need to be compatible, so you need to pick ones made for each other, usually from the same vendor.

99% of the PCBs and plates out there are MX compatible, so you can consider switches, stabs and keycaps universal.

[-] achille225@feddit.ch 1 points 11 months ago

Thank you ! Could you point me in the direction of one you would recommend, if you know any? Do you advise against some of them?

[-] wfh@lemm.ee 1 points 11 months ago

I've built two XD64s from kprepublic, one with Box Jades for home and one with Boba U4s for work, because they perfectly fitted my use case: flashable with QMK, ISO layout compatible, bottom layout flexible enough to fit an arrow keys cluster despite being 60%. They're very good.

I don't have any experience with other vendors.

[-] asqapro@beehaw.org 1 points 10 months ago

Sorry to necro this thread a bit, but I saw your comment and wanted to recommend a site I recently found that’s exactly like PCPartPicker for keyboards: https://keyboardpartpicker.com/

I haven’t used it myself much, but it seems like exactly what you need.

this post was submitted on 21 Nov 2023
20 points (100.0% liked)

Mechanical Keyboards

8825 readers
3 users here now

Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

Banner by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

founded 4 years ago