TADA68 Minimal




What better way to kill time over the MCO period than to build some keyboard projects? It involves some experimentation of a new method to lube the switches without desoldering them. While it brings improvement over the stock switches, I still reckon properly desoldering, disassembling, and lubing before putting everything back together as the better way to lube switches. Also, only recommended to do this ghetto lube job for linear switches since you don't have full control over where the lube goes.

Meanwhile, in terms of looks, I just really like how clean and minimal the entire setup looks. Black case, Black-on-White keycaps. So clean you can eat on it.

Switches: Gateron Red
Keycaps: Black-on-White Cherry-profile PBT
Case: Standard TADA68 Black ABS case
Tuning:
- Clipped, lubed & band-aid mod Cherry plate-mount stabilisers
- Ghetto-lubed main switches (Dripped Dry PTFE lube onto the sides of the sliders without de-soldering, definitely not :3ildcat's somewhat crazy, spray-everywhere, mess-everywhere style)
- Stabilised keys lubed with Krytox 205g0 and switch-filmed (including right SHIFT, despite not stabilised, for a more uniformed feel between left and right SHIFT keys)
- Fully foam-padded case (multiple layers of anti-slip mat to make sure the entire space is filled, not just one single layer of foam)
- Stock firmware flashed to VIA firmware

Shameless plug: I build, customised, and repair mechanical keyboards. Contact me on FB Messenger if you had any questions.

This post has been edited by GRexer: Apr 29 2020, 09:29 PM

Clean AF.

once u go black, u can never go back.

eh?

anyway, just like u, i started to like black bcoz of the same reason. im still bad at touch typing, but for typing, it prevents me from bottoming out, and kinda type quicker if i hit the right key. i have bad finger coordination. and for gaming, feels more "ummpphh" hitting on heavier keys.

right or left?

Oops, typo.

so u need a better kibod?

lol right all this while it's just my typing habit that caused issues, never the switches hahaha (ignorance is really a problem. blame everything but not myself)

now i split my spring range (50g to 70g bottom-out) into half. if i wanted to have bottom-out, i use the lighter half (50g to 62g springs); if i wanted to have cushioned but stiffer feel, with no bottom-out, i just go for builds with the heavier half, i.e. 65g to 70g springs.

hi guys..

wanna ask..

worth changing keyboard from cm quickfire xti to cm ck550?

main reason wanna try RGB


http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/...ckfire/XTi.html

http://us.coolermaster.com/product/Detail/...ries/ck550.html

never really know my springs, but i like using my gat black(optical) n cherry black more than cherry red. all stocks thou.

honestly, no. it's better save the money, and get better stuff.

if you must try out rgb, you can try tecware phantom elite. it comes with gateron switches also.

it's fine. it's only useful when you start playing with custom switches, so that you know the right springs to get based on your preference.

a rough estimation of spring weight range can be done with common switches actually, e.g., typing on cherry mx red (60g), gateron yellow (65g), gateron black (70g), and cherry mx black (i think around 80g). (linear switches are good for this purpose, because they are the most direct, with nothing in the way)

from your descriptions, i think your range should be gateron yellow and up.

yep, now menabung wanting to try gat yellow.

owh ic..

so long no follow this thread... and why mechanical keyboard now cheaper?

last time buy mine around rm499

btw gateron switches > mx switches?

Due to competition between Cherry and the Chinese clone switch manufacturers (although the word 'clone' is doing these Chinese manufacturers a disservice mind you, as a lot of these clone switches are often on par, and in some cases superior to those Cherry ones)

Note though different people has different tastes when it comes to key switches really - I'm currently enjoying typing on a Cherry MX Brown keyboard despite many enthusiast says that MX Browns are one of the worst key switches you can get

That being said, you should try to get a key switch tester, or even start off by buying a cheap mechanical keyboard and see whether you like the feel of the switches, or otherwise

This post has been edited by chocobo7779: Apr 30 2020, 02:59 PM

same la..

i also using mx brown switcher..

ok haha

er.. imo mainly the cost for switches are cheaper for new models.

you can say gateron switches are slightly better than cherry mx in terms of values in general. imo this is because gateron covers better ranges that are more suitable for most people. however, tuned cherry mx red is still my all-time favorite.

imo, cn-made switches still have common issues in overall quality control. it's not hard to find this out, especially after you start playing with switch tuning.

right, we all have own preferences. just take user comments with a grain of salt, because they might mean something or nothing to you hehe

Mini review of this desoldering iron.
https://shopee.com.my/product/40205456/1568468273?smtt=0.0.9


It works! It really does. It doesn't really get hot enough to melt lead free solder, but there are ways around that:
1. Melt/reflow the solder joint with a normal soldering iron, add some leaded solder with flux to the joint.
2. Use the desoldering iron, it should be able to melt the joint now.
3. Suck!

Once I established my technique, I had about 12 switches left to do in the numpad, so 24 pins. All but 3 I cleaned out with a single suck. Just under 90% success rate. The other 3 I just added more solder and sucked it again.


My harvest this morning.


So happy with this very cheap tool!

This post has been edited by niakulah: May 1 2020, 02:31 PM

thanks a lot for the share, and tips. for better productivity, a tool like this should help

Guys, would this neoprene sheet be suitable to be put between PCB and plate?
https://s.lazada.com.my/s.b0KK4

I measured the gap to be about 3.5mm, if the product is OK, should I go for 3mm or 4mm version?

any good wrist rest to recommend? TKL size.

yes, there are people using it. 3.5mm is a good thickness so you should be good.

there are plenty of options at taobao/aliexpress. you should check them out first.

Yeah but they sell 3mm and 4mm. I haven't found any 3.5mm.

So is it better to go too loose or too tight?