mech kb community = ripoff

[DigDog]

Does anyone here build their own keyboard?

Ive been looking to build myself a couple of keyboards because i wanted to test some new switches, Zealios, Kailh box, maybe Matias. Man the prices on these things are insane.

I can see why a low-production-number switch can cost $0.65 each (tooling, R&D, although it does need to be said that these are just glorified Cherry MX clones), but $140 for a case??

The cheapest tenkeyless PCB i can find is $50. And ofc it needs to match the mounts on the case so you need the propietary case for $130. This is before the controller, and without the switches, stabilizers, wiring, not to mention $80 for a set of keycaps.

What the hell??

I own a lovely metal-chassis, pcb mount 87- mech keyboard whose sole crime is to ship with Outemu Blue switches, and i paid £27 for it.
NOT £270, but just £27. The same, rebranded, in on Amazon US for $39.

These are no-name brands, so it's not Corsair shipping a million units, surely if they have a standardized 87 case with standardized pcb mount holes, the mech kb community can source the same??

Hey maybe just visit the VicTsing factory and get them to STAHP assembling this $40 kb before the switches go in. Maybe that would cost even less ????

I cant even. Between stabilizers, pcb, keycaps, case, cable, controller, pins solder and switches, you're looking at $400 for a keyboard. That's just insane.

Im seriously considering buying another victsing and desoldering the switches off, and adding my own.

Moved from OT.
admin allisolm

 

[bononos]

Maybe its because of the growing demand and its still a small niche thing. I'm using a cheap keyboard with replaceable switches and I'm looking for spare switches and some new ones to test (just for fun) like the Kailh box you mentioned. It needs to be smd led compatible though.

 

[DigDog]

Whats the name of the kb you use ?

 

[bononos]

Whats the name of the kb you use ?

This one. I stumbled on it by accident, was actually looking for other brands like the Redragon Kumara or Magicforce which was reviewed quite favorably but I couldn't find the specs I wanted in stock. So far I've had one switch (outemu brown) die on me and replaced it with one from the supplied spares. Despite that, I would say its a solid board overall. I opened up the faulty switch, blew some compressed air and tested it with a multimeter and it seems to be working.

 

[DigDog]

Good, ill look into that to use as a base for the Zealios build.

 

[VirtualLarry]

https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=9SIAF026NY1480

I just unboxed one of these, they are fairly decent, especially for only $29.99 USD. I bought the wrong one, though. I wanted the "Blue Switch" variety, and I saw "Blue" in the title, and the price of $29.99, and ordered a few. Turns out, that one has the "Black Switch"(s) on it. Still getting used to them, but they're making my fingers kind of tired, compared to a membrane or mem-chanical keyboard, or one with actual Blue Switch(s) in them. Ah well, live and learn, that's the "Hot Deals Reflex" in action. Should have paid more attention, thought that they would sell out.

 

[DigDog]

Have you ever used a mx blue switch?? They are ... different.