Building my first Keyboard and I need some advice.

[B1zzy]

I currently use a SteelSeries MX 750 and it has served me well. However, I would like a less bulky keyboard. I still want a good amount of functionality because I type a lot of essays and play a good amount of games. I'm stuck between TKL and 75 right now. I would do 60 however I need the arrow keys and numbers for what I plan to do. 75% is looking pretty good rn. I also would enjoy switch recommendations, I want something relatively quiet but what some good resistance to it. And if you guys could recommend any kits, aluminum cases, or soldering gear to buy as well I would extremely appreciate it. (For the switches I don't really enjoy Linear or Cherry MX Reds.) Thank you so much and I'm super thankful for the help!

[Slottr]

Gateron Blacks, but lube them.

I like a good tactile switch like the pandas, but lubed linears is a completely different feel and sound

[DailyProcrastinator]

13 minutes ago, B1zzy said:

I currently use a SteelSeries MX 750 and it has served me well. However, I would like a less bulky keyboard. I still want a good amount of functionality because I type a lot of essays and play a good amount of games. I'm stuck between TKL and 75 right now. I would do 60 however I need the arrow keys and numbers for what I plan to do. 75% is looking pretty good rn. I also would enjoy switch recommendations, I want something relatively quiet but what some good resistance to it. And if you guys could recommend any kits, aluminum cases, or soldering gear to buy as well I would extremely appreciate it. (For the switches I don't really enjoy Linear or Cherry MX Reds.) Thank you so much and I'm super thankful for the help!

What is the budget you have in mind? Custom mechs can get up there in price.

 

I find that 60% loses a lot of functionality but 65% layouts are much better, the extra few keys and arrows make a big difference. If you want more keys and less bulk get a 75%.

 

MX Reds really only serve one purpose IMO, gaming, the actuation force is so minimal that for typing they bottom out easily and therefore are not favorable.

 

For a premium typing experience I would recommend a mid to heavier tactile switch, or a heavy linear. 

[B1zzy]

1 minute ago, DailyProcrastinator said:

What is the budget you have in mind? Custom mechs can get up there in price.

 

I find that 60% loses a lot of functionality but 65% layouts are much better, the extra few keys and arrows make a big difference. If you want more keys and less bulk get a 75%.

 

MX Reds really only serve one purpose IMO, gaming, the actuation force is so minimal that for typing they bottom out easily and therefore are not favorable.

 

For a premium typing experience I would recommend a mid to heavier tactile switch, or a heavy linear. 

Ah my budget is around 200, i can go a bit over but not by too much, I was thinking about going for the Kalih Speed Copper Switches,

[DailyProcrastinator]

3 hours ago, B1zzy said:

Ah my budget is around 200, i can go a bit over but not by too much, I was thinking about going for the Kalih Speed Copper Switches,

Speed switches require less travel for actuation, switch preference is personal, but for a typing experience I would probably go for something else. I like a 62-67g tactile or 65g+ linear for typing. For the price the Kailh Box Heavy Dark Yellow is really nice, that and Gateron Blacks, or Kailh Pro Purples, all these are good, and well priced options. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/6dozps/kailh_speed_switch_review_gold_copper_bronze/

 

Honestly for the price the upcoming GMMK Pro could be worth waiting for, you would still need caps and switches though, so you may stretch on budget.

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/blogs/news/introducing-gmmk-pro

https://www.pcgamingrace.com/products/glorious-gmmk-pro-75-barebone-black-reservation

 

The KDB75 is also very good, again you would need caps and switches, it also requires soldering. Case quality is very good though.

https://kbdfans.com/collections/75-diy-kit/products/kbd75v2-custom-keyboard-diy-kit

 

You can also get the KBD75 assembled, so all you need is caps.

https://kbdfans.com/collections/75-fully-assembled/products/fully-assembled-kbd75-v2-mechanical-keyboard

 

KPRepublic also offers the XD84, a 75% layout.

https://kprepublic.com/collections/xd84

[geo3]

I 2nd the KBD75. But you could wait for the GMMK Pro also.

1 hour ago, B1zzy said:

(For the switches I don't really enjoy Linear

Perhaps Glorious Panda switch's, Kailh BOX Tactiles or Zealios if you have deep pockets. 

 

 

 

[ProBottler]

15 hours ago, geo3 said:

I 2nd the KBD75. But you could wait for the GMMK Pro also.

Perhaps Glorious Panda switch's, Kailh BOX Tactiles or Zealios if you have deep pockets. 

 

 

 

I would like to add Durock T1 and Halo True sells on Amazon (not Drop)

[Dr0y]

The kailh speed copper are really nice to type on, they have a good tactile point place kinda high and after the it's about nothing until you bottom them.  They are light switches but the tactile bump provide some resistance that helps counter that low spring.  The travel is short so it makes them kinda fast to type on.  Way better than the cherry brown but not as good as the kailh box burnt orange. 

 

As for the board suggestion I have the gmmk and really enjoy it. 

[geo3]

14 minutes ago, Dr0y said:

The kailh speed copper are really nice to type on, they have a good tactile point place kinda high and after the it's about nothing until you bottom them.  They are light switches but the tactile bump provide some resistance that helps counter that low spring.  The travel is short so it makes them kinda fast to type on.  Way better than the cherry brown but not as good as the kailh box burnt orange. 

 

As for the board suggestion I have the gmmk and really enjoy it. 

I don't think any of the Kailh metal themes switches are any good, TBH. The QC seems pretty poor on them: inconsistent activation points, and tactility or click not lining up with the activation either.  Though my experience was with the earliest batch, maybe they've improved them since, but I've heard similar things from other people. 

[Dr0y]

32 minutes ago, geo3 said:

I don't think any of the Kailh metal themes switches are any good, TBH. The QC seems pretty poor on them: inconsistent activation points, and tactility or click not lining up with the activation either.  Though my experience was with the earliest batch, maybe they've improved them since, but I've heard similar things from other people. 

Got mine like less than a year ago and I've never noticed any of those problem so they might have corrected those ... the tactility is the same across all the switches I have used in my gmmk, the actuation point is a bit below the tactile bump but it's consistent across all switches.