Careful, like all good hobbies it's incredibly addictive. I'm building my 8th keyboard this calendar year alone.
I don't build em but I have 6 mech keyboard so far. Just been trying different switches over time per model. 65% gang
Building my first mechanical keyboard
11–20 of 114 posts
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#12Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.
But split is not the single most important ergonomics aspect IMO. A planck-like ortholinear keeb is more ergonomic than those "alice" splits that have staggered-row-layout, for me at least.
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#13Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't build em but I have 6 mech keyboard so far. Just been trying different switches over time per model. 65% gang
I love my 65% but having esc and ` on the same key is annoying.
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#14Earlier quoted context omitted.
I don't build em but I have 6 mech keyboard so far. Just been trying different switches over time per model. 65% gang
I love my 65% but having esc and ` on the same key is annoying.
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#15Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#16Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's a trap for sure. I built two 45%s and one 120% in the past year or two. Already planning the next one...
Do you do your own designs? While I'm not exactly sure what a 120% is (macro keys?) I've been looking for something like a gaming model with macro buttons on the left and / or on top, but otherwise 75%. Ideally split but single piece. Think MS Sculpt with extra buttons on the left. Haven't found one. So I was contemplating building one, but I'd have no idea where to start. I've quickly browsed the reddit page, but in…
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#17Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#18Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#19Careful, like all good hobbies it's incredibly addictive. I'm building my 8th keyboard this calendar year alone.
I don't build em but I have 6 mech keyboard so far. Just been trying different switches over time per model. 65% gang
Re: Building my first mechanical keyboard
#20Great intro. One thing I don't understand about the mechanical keyboard community is how the vast majority (like well over 95%) are not split keyboards. You'd think keyboard enthusiasts that sweat the details would also be obsessed with ergonomics. But no, I suspect that they are more concerned with aesthetics, which are arguably worse with a split keyboard.
I'm mostly-maintaining a mechanical split keyboard gallery [1] to help with this. There are a lot of options, from keyboards you can buy from a major retailer (or easily get your IT department to buy), to hand-soldered kits where you need to 3D print the case.- [1] https://aposymbiont.github.io/split-keyboards/