3rd day at work with this keeb. I'm struggling.

I'm truly ffffed. After the first few hours on the first day, the switches/lube broke in and it became dramatically lighter than at the start of the day.

My head is spinning thinking how I can salvage this without killing the PCB. I seriously don't want to desolder these myself. I wonder if those handphone repair shops have a proper desoldering gun, the type with the electric pump. So far I don't see one on their workbench.

I'm going to stubbornly try to get used to it for now. I'm also thinking it might be just too many firsts here, struggling to type because of the ortho layout and light springs.

But the occasional ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss as I rest my hand on the keyboard is definitely the springs. Lol.

I am constantly refining my keymap last few days, I don't even bother to close QMK any more.

Edit: well at least it's a very pretty board and sounds fantastic with EVA and PE foams.


This post has been edited by niakulah: Jun 30 2022, 12:16 PM

Well...after 4 days at work, I am making less and less mistakes on this board. The light springs are still a problem, but bearable. Some habits need to change. I'm getting decent typing speed already.


And after 4 days of refinement, this is the keymap I've managed to come up with to survive this change. Hardcore fullsize fan going from 110 keys and 1 encoder to just 68 keys and 1 encoder.

Since this was a brave new world, I decided to give Cherry-profile another chance. Popped on my DMG clones and it was....not bad.

A few more things after a second week of using this new keeb:

1. I tried my old ikbc with 67g Cherry MX Browns and I feel it is heavy! Oh how humans can adapt to new things

2. These are the best stabs I have ever used bar none. And yet...with these smooth linears, stabilized keys sometimes feel tactile. I guess you can say less than perfect stabs are much much less forgiving for linear users. Coming from tactiles, I am surprisingly annoyed by the feel, when compared to the rest of the board.

3. RGB without any sort of diffusion is effing useless. Can't be seen in anything but the darkest conditions.

Will put this up for sale on mechmarket soon.

PM me if anyone interested. For LYN only, RM670 which is slightly lower than my cost. Knob not included.

Keebio fold KB with FR4 plates.
Gazzew LT 55g
TX/C3 frankenstabs



This post has been edited by niakulah: Jul 14 2022, 11:43 AM

I think there's a very low chance that I'll be able to sell this. So desoldering is probably in my future.

One thing that I have noticed before, most of the time when I don't get a clean desolder, it is because I have solder stuck down the hole with the pin and even on the other side of the PCB beneath the switch.

Is this just because my desoldering skills suck? Or I need a better pump? I have typically used a Pro's Kit pump (the big and long blue and yellow one that you can't prime with just your thumb, very strong when new) I get from my local store. I have ordered a Goot in anticipation of not being able to sell this board.

Could it be I am feeding in too much solder when soldering it in, causing it to flow down and to the other side? Or does that not matter, a good pump should suck it all out?

Hmmm. You mean discord? Didn't post there. Reading up on the format now. Need to take a Timestamp.

I already posted on r/mm

Edit: posted on both MYMKB and Keebmunity discord servers. Still not all that hopeful. A split ortho is pretty niche.

This post has been edited by niakulah: Jul 23 2022, 12:51 PM

Ah ok. I hate FB. I only log in when I absolutely have to...and even then only on my PC in incognito mode.

Materials for my next case and plate are here. This one will be just under 2cm, about 4mm thinner than the last case I made.


Whether I desolder and reuse my existing PCB or buy a new one will depend on whether or not I manage to sell it.

I could. That would certainly be the safer option. But if I don't manage to sell it I'd be down RM700++. At least if I manage to sell (asking for 650 now btw) I'd cut down on my loss.

My plan now is to wait for all my purchases to come in (new T12 tips, desoldering pump, tip tinner), then declare last call. If no one makes an offer, I will desolder. Slowly.

demmit

I was going to go for TX long 65g to switch out the gazzew 55g that I found a bit light

Now I don't know if I'll still like it as much since the characteristics are different

Or hope I get a buyer for my built board and buy brand new Gazzew LT with 65g. But way longer wait times for PCB and all other components.

Arrgggh.. decisions decisions

Just remembered I have a pack of unused Thic Thock Shogoki switches. I could harvest the 65g DL springs from them. Some money saved there.

Just curious, I think you mentioned you also use T12 soldering iron. Do you go for original Hakko tips? I'm currently using KSGER, and the new tips I ordered are also from KSGER. But I just remembered reading somewhere it's worthwhile buying Hakko tips to use in cheapo Chinese soldering stations.

New tips are here. Started desoldering last night. Got so excited forgot all about my plan to do last call for sales.

Got about 8 switches out. Spoiled 1. Accidentally touched the switch housing with the iron. It's slow moving. And not clean. Using a combination of pump and wick, whatever works best for any given hole. I don't know is it my Mechanic solder is old or the flux is weak or what, but after the initial suck, I really need to use some form of extra flux otherwise it doesn't really melt properly. It melts to become more like a powdery paste than liquid solder. I'm pretty sure my tip temp is OK coz I can melt new solder. I've just ordered some liquid flux, will see if that helps

About this. I read this recently:
https://www.keebsnstuff.com/blog/stabiliser...in-depth-review
He mentioned this:
" Testing the Staebies and TXs side by side, the interaction of these two stabs with slight oddities such as a warped spacebar, misaligned switch or just slightly crooked wire led to tangible and at times, audible friction. This is the caveat of these very fine tolerances, they are not nearly as forgiving as the other stabs in this review"

I think this is probably what I experienced. It is mostly the full size right Shift that I am hitting with my pinky. I hit it at an odd angle and with significant force. This is also the reason why I am determined to rebuild my FoldKB. I hate me Sinc's (and practically all 75% boards) 1.75U right shift. At the angle and force I'm hitting it, this unstablilized key just sounds annoying. The full size right Shift sounds so much better. Silver lining, I get the rebuild it with C3s which have slightly looser tolerances than TX/Staebies. Lol I remember when people complained that C3 tolerances were too tight. They fixed that in the V2 and V3. Not sure if TX/Staebies will take a similar direction.

Oh ok. Before this I was using the needle type which was even smaller. I went as big as I dared, as I know I tend to hit other stuff, like the switch housing I partially melted last night...

Wow you pulled out the TX stabs? Were you using the stopper?

Tecware?
https://shopee.com.my/product/59277182/7809...17-1659601124.9

Another good brand I'd recommend is IKBC, but over your budget.

Ta da! One half done. No lifted pads. Just the 1 switch casualty I mentioned before.


The Flux really helped. Thanks to Shopee for getting it here early.


Transferred some into that needle tipped bottle for easy application.

Unfortunately I've just about run out of wick. I might just try to use just the sucker on the other half tonight and wick up the balance when I manage to get some more. Hopefully Shopee can pull off another miracle.

PSA - zfrontier just did a huge inventory (extras) release.
https://en.zfrontier.com/collections/invent...ase-august-2022

Highlights (to me) are
KAT Atlantis
KAT Hyperfuse
GMK Thinkcaps
GMK Serika

Yeah....when I placed my order, the promo code was live but they didn't say there was a 120 minimum. I was too scared the things I wanted would run out of stock so I just placed my order first, then emailed them to ask why the code didn't work. After that they replied to me there was a 120 minimum, and soon after my email they added the minimum to the text on the product pages.

Yeah I thought about that too. But they too efficient already ship. I think they're scared I would ask for that. Lol.

Edit. Just checked my email. 2 minutes in between their response to my question and receiving the shipping notification. Lol

This post has been edited by niakulah: Aug 19 2022, 01:57 PM

Anyone have any experience sanding box stems? Or any stems for that matter? I'm trying to reduce this height difference.



My concern is that the stem will mushroom and make it difficult to install and/or break keycaps.