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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Searching for a Budget Numpad Kit (pawb.social)
submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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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] 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

https://mechwild.com/product/murphpad/

Or

https://mechwild.com/product/bbpad/

Cover shipping and I will solder it for you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for the offer, but if I have to solder, I would rather do it myself. Might be able to find someone at my college that I can borrow an iron from.

[–] iammayhem 2 points 1 year ago

Check your local libraries - several near me have makerspaces with 3d printers, laser cutters, soldering stations, etc. Everything is free with a card, you just may have to bring your own consumables (filament, solder, etc).

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

There are some smaller ones on aliexpress for reasonable prices, but still much more expensive per key than keyboards.

you can also get a pinecil soldering iron and some beveled tips (important for SMD soldering), some solder wire and some flux for about 50$ combined.

[–] [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.