https://ilumkb.com/collections/stabs-lubes/...s-in-stabilizer

These? Wow, the comparison pic is really convincing.

Limited quantities huh? I have an itch to buy a set or 3 while they're still in stock. Not that I have the plans or the budget to build anything any time soon...

MiTo himself has spoken!
https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboard...ad_bad_molding/
”What you are seeing are not cracks, but are flow lines, where the material flows onto the key. This is unfortunately an unavoidable process of insert molding and magnified by both color and the top texture of the SA keycaps. It has zero to do with pressure or cool down time. While we do what we can to limit the existence of flow lines, in most cases they cannot be removed completely.”

Melissa, Signature Plastics when I pointed this out on Pulse SA R1 back in 2014.


Well it popped out again, and back in by itself again...
I ordered a set of C3. See if I dare to desolder the whole board again and risk damage again.

This one.
#Aliexpress US $14.70 | xd84pro XD84 pro Custom Mechanical Keyboard Kit 75% Supports TKG-TOOLS Support Underglow RGB PCB programmed gh84 kle type c
https://a.aliexpress.com/_sacbak

I felt the same when I first got mine. I corrected my typing posture and now I'm used to it.
http://ergonomictrends.com/proper-ergonomi...re-at-computer/

New toy arrived.


Snug grip on the wire.

Shopee got.
https://shopee.com.my/product/31974753/845006980?smtt=0.0.9

IKBC boards are nice and solid.

PCB and case from Kprepublic. The XD84PRO.

Switches salvaged from an IKBC CD108 that I killed...

The form factor is called 75%, hence the caption.

There are lots of cheap prebuilt boards on Aliexpress if you search for it. If 75% doesn't work, try searching for 84 key as well. If you want to go custom, some shops also provide assembly service at additional cost if you buy all components from them.

If you want to find high quality prebuilts, I can only recommend the Vortex Tab 75, Vortex Race 3, and Drevo Excalibur.

Yup I did clip and band aid my Cherry screw ins when I built my board.

I might not use these C3s though. I have clipped the offending wire back in 3 times now. The second time I paid more attention to it. I noticed that it actually popped out immediately when I put on my walnut wood keycap. Because it had a tendency to be difficult to secure the stabs in the keycap, I would push it down and rock it left and right to get the stabs all the way in the keycap and that is when it pops out.

So I didn't rock my keycap on the third time....so far so good. Only time will tell.

Vortex can be bought on Taobao. Though with the current situation, it might take a while... I ordered something on Tuesday and it still hasn't been shipped. Taobao sellers aren't usually that slow.

Yes you can change keycaps, they all use switches with MX style stems.

None of the prebuilts I mentioned have hotswap PCBs, so you'll need to desolder and solder to change switches.

Custom is generally more expensive.

Current version of Vortex Tab 75 can do Bluetooth and USB C. IINM there was a first version that did not.

Ordered before the COVID-19 hoohaa I hope. My Taobao order from last week still hasn't been sent out.

Wow! That's an endgame level board right there. How much was shipping and tax?

You mean the U80-A? Preorder sold out already. Not that I'm willing to drop USD420 for one...
https://ramaworks.store/products/u80-a

When you said rusty, the GMK Forge IC came to mind.
https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=101948.0

Another rusty theme for you. GMK Copper. Only 7 days left to order.

https://en.zfrontier.com/collections/groupb...=31659454038094

A lovely new 75% IC from KBDfans.
https://kbdfans.com/blogs/interest-checks/b...board-rendering

Bella, 7V, Evolv, Satisfaction R2. It's gonna be a good year for 75% fans.

This post has been edited by niakulah: Feb 14 2020, 11:36 PM

So I done dumb dumb and bought the Hakko Presto and soldering tips, only to find that these tips do not fit this soldering iron.

I wanted to use a K type tip that is long enough to touch both switch pins at the same time so that you can easily remove them when desoldering. Turns out, there are NO K type tips for the Hakko Presto.

So what do you guys think?
1. Get the chisel tip for the Hakko Presto. Still way better than my current cheapo soldering iron. Both iron and tip will be Hakko! Spend another RM28. Give up on using a K type tip.
2. Get this cheapo soldering iron that accepts 936 style K type tips that I already have. Also just another RM28.
3. Get a cheapish soldering station that accepts 936 style K type tips that I already have. Spend another RM85.
4. Don't cheap out and get the real deal. Spend another RM585

This post has been edited by niakulah: Feb 18 2020, 05:46 PM

My current board? Yes.

My old board, to mod it, and eventually killed it

Thanks. Yeah I know it's cheaper than GMK, which is why I'm trying my best to monitor and eventually join a GB for EPBT or Infinikey or maybe even KAT.