this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2023
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Mechanical Keyboards

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Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

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I've been interested in trying a custom mechanical keyboard, but I already have a 60% (maybe 65%?) keyboard that I don't have any issues with, so I thought making a numpad or macro pad would be a good (and maybe cheaper) alternative. I've been having a hard time finding any that don't require a soldering iron and are less than $70ish.

Any good budget suggestions? I am up for assembling or disassembling things (or even programming), I just don't have a soldering iron.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I just started soldering. It's not too difficult and super useful. Also adds a lot of options that are usually cheaper than hotswap.

A pinecil is 25$. add another 25 for solder, flux, a pump and copper desoldering braid and you're set up.

I found hotswap is increasingly difficult to get once you're looking for non-massmarket stuff outside of 60 or 65 keebs with ANSI Layout.

It's just faster to solder than to search for non-standard hotswap.

And with millmax, you can make any solderboard hotswap if you fancy.