So I'm a beginner at customs and just joined a group buy for an entry level custom keyboard kit.
The costs really add up! Got to buy the switches and the keycaps.
Anyone else just started on the "hobby"?
Custom Keyboards Are Crazy Expensive!
NotAnAudiophile on 13/04/2022 - 21:30
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You can go as budget or full-out as you want; you can build a decent custom mech for under $300 easy, with nice switches, keycaps, stabs and what not. You can also go the other end and spend over $750 if you really want to. There are so many different options; if you don't want to spend a whole lot, you don't need to to get a decent end product.
I just bought a G915 and called it a day.
So I'm a beginner at customs
Just like BewareOfThe Dog, I too thought you have just started working with Australian Customs.
Either that or they were building their own Synth Rack etc
BTW I probably stole JV's thunder. ;)
It was coherent and there wasn't any bold, you have a clear conscience.
What kit did you end up buying? I got pulled into the rabbit hole last year and spent way more I originally budgeted :/
I bought into the Zoom65 essential edition.
Solid choice man, I love the product offering by Wuque Studio :)
Also time to get some custom cable (ˉ﹃ˉ)On the cable front, check out MeowCables on discord. Does some cheap custom coiled cables.
Also, no, I am not Meowcables.
Im too impatient for group buys to really get into it despite how cool some of them are.
Bought the KBDfans KBD67 R3 kit in Transparent Dark Purple, Gateron Silent red switches and GMK Mitolet Keycaps set from Drop in January
Nothing crazy but it's exactly what i wanted, around $450 total it cost me.
Banggood AU warehouse have Gateron switches for reasonably cheap if you're not after some fancy switches.
https://au.banggood.com/70Pcs-or-pack-Gateron-Optical-Switch…
Just avoid GMK and ridiculous switches and you'll be fine
Built my KBD67 Lite for something like 300 total
Got the Boba U4t switches used for like 70 bucks and just bought some clone switches off aliexpress for 40 bucks.
Budget switches are also pretty good. Things like Akko CS, JWK Black, Everglide switches, Ajazz Bananas/Kiwi they all do a pretty good job with some lube
And you dont need that 1000 dollar keyboard group buy, something like a Keychron Q2 or whatever is just fine with a few mods.
IBM Model M
Apple 109 key keyboard from about 15 years ago is my favourite. Of course you can only buy it used nowadays. The current Magic Keyboard has probably caught up in quality but it's not cheap. I don't really understand the appeal of mechanical keyboards. They are so big and loud and expensive.
ignorant statement, but i guess you can only talk from experience. you're probably talking about a razer or other gaming keyboards, which isn't what a custom keyboard is. let me drop some knowledge to help you understand.
big? the most popular size custom keyboard is a 60-65% so it's actually smaller then what you think.
loud? what you are probably thinking about is a razer or other gaming keyboards that are clicky. clicky is the least popular option. the more popular options are linear, and tactile. these aren't loud. there are also silent switches available. that is part of the beauty of custom keyboards. if you get a hot swap keyboard you can change your switches all the time and anytime. you can mix it up too, linear switches on the alphas, and tactile on the modifiers, or whatever you like.
expensive? you can go really cheap, and you can go stupid expensive. the expensive ones are from group buys do to there rarity. they might only make 500 in the world. they are made out of metal instead of cheap plastic and also have a brass weight. also have gasket mounts so the typing experience is amazing, instead of typing on a tray mount that has zero flex. its like typing on concrete.
apple keyboards are nice too, but you can't customise them. but you can build a custom keyboard to perform like it with short travel tactile switches.
The appeal of custom keyboards is that you make it unique, you make it yours. you buy an apple keyboard and it looks and feels exactly like the other million keyboards that others have. custom keyboards you can build it to be perfect for you. i started with a 60%, and grew my collection to having 65%, 75%, TKL, etc… the switches and keycaps pretty much last forever, so initially it cost a lot, but when you factor in that you will never have to replace it, its actually cheaper in the long run. also its a lot of fun. its kinda like customising your car, bike, house, etc… it is pretty much limitless with more companies making more keyboards it actually bringing the price down due to competition.
It just seems like yet another gaming PC fad for people to dump money into. Some people here talking about spending $500 on a custom keyboard, and presumably there's boutique components and it's possible to spend thousands.
that's where you are wrong again. this has nothing to do with gaming. people are using these more for work, personal use, coding, streaming, etc…
I actually built my 1st cheap 60% keyboard for gaming. loved having all the desk space vs a huge full keyboard. also it is to pack up and carry around because its small. then i built my 65% for daily use because i needed dedicated arrow keys for surfing the web and such. still a very small footprint on my desk. I never had so much space on my desk. at work i use a 75% for iMac so i have the apple multimedia keys at the top / f row. i don't need the number pad, and now feels more balanced since my mouse isn't so far away anymore.
the question really is why don't you have a custom keyboard yet? you should invest your money on things that you are mostly on. great bed for sleeping, great pair of shoes for when you're not on your bed, and a great chair and keyboard to use during the day for leisure and work. For me i spend a minimum 8 hours a day on a keyboard.
in this hobby you can build a custom keyboard to your custom liking and still build it cheaper and better then nice prebuilt keyboard. you can also go crazy and spend thousands. the choice was yours. just like you can buy a toyota camry or a rolls royce. both are going to take you from point A to point B, the difference is the experience getting there.
@Hugh G Rection: Right, in the same way people could in theory buy gaming chairs to write the great Australian novel, or conduct cancer research, or broker peace in Ukraine.
@AustriaBargain: I mean you’re passing judgement on something you know literally nothing about. You are talking about apple keyboards and shit, and stereotyping how all mechanical keyboards are big and loud when custom keyboards can be silent tactiles.
Who cares what ppl spend their money on, if they can afford it? Esp when its something they use for multiple hours everyday?
You can buy a nice Keyboard for $20…
What's the application process like?
I've always fancied being one of those guys who catches smugglers at the airport.
Which Airport?