Fully Custom Mechanical Keyboard

[Cereal5]

Hey LTT,

 

Im looking to get another mechanical keyboard. My current G710, while great, is a little big for the desk space I have, since I mostly play FPSs and need lots of mouse pad real estate. I would like a tenkeyless keyboard, but I would like to configure the keyboard such that there is a custom switch layout, not just a custom keycap layout. I’ve done some google searching but have not found anything quite like I want. Does anyone know of a company that lets you do this? Or would it be cheaper to build a keyboard (if there is such thing that isn’t like $500). Or am I dreaming and whatever it is will still cost me like $500?

 

Thanks

[seon123]

What do you mean by a custom switch layout?

[Cereal5]

3 minutes ago, seon123 said:

What do you mean by a custom switch layout?

Like you know how some sites allow you to make a custom keycap layout with different colors and stuff in different places, like red for WASD and black for everything else, or any other combination. Well I want to do the same with switches. Put Cherry’s MX Reds under WASD, Greens under the main keys, etc

[seon123]

Just now, Cereal5 said:

Like you know how some sites allow you to make a custom keycap layout with different colors and stuff in different places, like red for WASD and black for everything else, or any other combination. Well I want to do the same with switches. Put Cherry’s MX Reds under WASD, Greens under the main keys, etc

You can do that by just desoldering the old switches and replacing them with new ones. 

You can get parts to build a custom mechanical keyboard from places like Banggood or KBDFans. 

Here are a bunch of kits, and you can get the switches elsewhere. I think everything but the switches are included.its just simple through hole soldering. Or you can get hot swappable PCBs.

https://kbdfans.cn/collections/diy-kit

The switches can vary a lot in price. From my memory, 10x Gaterons for $2, 10x BOX switches for $3, 10x BOX Royals for $5, 10x Zealios for $9. And of course a bunch of other options. 

If you want to get Cherrys (they're not really considered to be good these days), they start at 10x for $3,90. They are considered to be comparably scratchy,  their tactile and clicky switches are considered barely tactile, and the sound of their clicky switches is considered among the worst on the market.

Switch testers are a thing, if you want to compare switches.