Keyboard Storage Solutions

Yea I printed this guys files he made for a keycap tray, I havent populated it yet so idk what the max amount it can support it but it seems to be big enough.

Keycap Case by oriolmachin - Thingiverse (Keycap Tray)
Keycap tray + larger enter key hole + 1 slot box by GG89434 - Thingiverse (This link is just a remix of the tray for ISO support)

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Ohh, interesting. Did you mod it at all? Post some pics if you do end up using! :smiley:

Didnt really mod it unless you count slicing it in half so it fit on my printer lolol.

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I dont have any experience with the harbor freight version but the only reason I got the pelican case was because of its measurements. I had to fit a giant Rama u80 in there and that determined how deep I needed a case to be. Pelican is top quality but also much more expensive

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I moved into a new apartment across the country and built myself a couple cabinets and a desk. Now I can finally unpack and sort my keyboard things. I also have 2 box shelves to put up on the walls.

Still have to unpack my keyboards into the top drawers and print more switch containers. Everything’s still a mess but it’s getting there…

Also, apparently I have 14 GMK sets

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I can’t quite tell from the pics, but did you spring for Baltic Birch on the plywood?!??! In this market?!?! :rofl:

Regardless, nice job!

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Thanks! Haha yeah, baltic birch mills nicely and has some of the best consistency and strength. It’s not too bad actually, about $111 a sheet locally, but I did use some leftover that I got for $95/sheet.
Small investment compared to the keyboards :sweat_smile:

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Very nice storage solution! This is exactly what I need to do, build myself at least 2 big dressers like that. One for caps & parts & another for KBs. My collection is way to big nowadays & has basically spilled all over my hang out room. I do have things organized but it’s mostly in stacks of boxes which isn’t the most aesthetic solution, & they’re starting to take up too much space.

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Thanks! I love seeing collection photos too, if you ever do get that sorted!
My stuff was all in uhaul boxes and a big pelican hardigg case and I couldn’t stand it anymore.
Still have so much sorting to do lol I basically just dumped everything into the drawers. Well, most, I still have like 15 boxes of keycaps to figure out. Wondering which sets to keep in original packaging and which to transfer to the 5 pbtfans trays

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Could also utilize tool storage boxes. Something like Milwaukee PACKOUTs:




They stack too.

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Being a painter & carpenter by trade I have thought about using some of my old toolboxes for KB parts storage. I really need to clean them out good to do that though & keep getting lazy about it. Something like this that I can get multiples of & that stacks is ideal though! Thanks for the heads up!

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I totally use something like this for switches… I’ve got enough stacked now that it’s like a big, cube-shaped rain-stick >.>

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Between you and @pixelpusher , you could probably open up a museum and showcase your boards and bits.

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Working on some more storage. I have a number of keyboards that are lightweight plastic or wood that need storage solutions but do not need a large, hard storage case.

I’ve been looking for an affordable solution and I think I may have it.

The newer Cannonkeys medium neoprene cases are nice and don’t take up too much room. I’ve found at least 20 of my keyboards that will fit in that case. Likewise, if I add a shelf to my storage closet, I should be able to stand 20 of these upright.

Similar in concept to @Manofinterests originally shared storage photo below:

The big problem here is that it would set me back $350 for the sleeves. Ick. No.

So how could I do this cheap and have it look decent?

Here’s the idea:

First of all, I don’t need a ton of protection on these boards. Just something to keep them from scraping against each other and accumulating dust.

So what if I just use fabric? Here’s a sample with a keyboard cloth that I have in one of my cases.

how I wrapped it quickly and neatly





I’m fairly sure it would be cost prohibitive to buy 20 cloths from Cannonkeys ($100). But I should be able to get 2 wraps out of each 44in yard of fabric (cut in half would be 22x18 which is good for all of these smaller boards).

So I need 10 yards of fabric, which is less than $50. They even sell precut pieces that are 22x18 at Walmart that are 10 for $12.50. So that’s just $25!

Then I could secure it with this nifty Velcro strap system
https://a.co/d/1jcCu48

I’m not sure how much I need but I’m thinking about 3 feet per board
And I could add one of my cheap ID tags on the metal loop

I could even use thick rubber bands for super cheap.

I’m looking forward to figuring this all out.

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Ooh. I just had another good idea. Instead of buying fabric, I’m going through my closet. I can get a 22x22 square from the backs of old shirts. So that’s free and cleans up clutter :+1:

Unfortunately my fabric scissors have been used for paper cutting in recent years and they are garbo now. So I’ll have to invest in a new pair or attempt to sharpen them. Probably a new pair :joy:

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Waiting on straps now. Total money is $5 for scissors and $12 for straps.

Plus I’m organizing my wardrobe. :grinning:

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Really slick ideal here! I’ve been slowly trying to get hard shell case for all my boards, but vintage boards have proven to be problematic. There is no hard shell cases designed specifically for keebs that fit most vintage boards & other options are super expensive. This might be the perfect solution for all but the heaviest of my vintage boards! Since most of my vintage boards are all plastic, I have the same needs you’re trying to address here. Gonna copy your homework if you don’t mind bud!

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I got 10 done today. I’m not super happy with it, but it works. At most I would only put 8-10 max in a row without a divider. I didn’t want to spend money on something like a book end or file divider, but the thinner cloth wraps lack structure, making it difficult to pull cases out quickly once you reach that 8-10 number.

Even though they are light and plastic, putting several together does start to build up a bit of pressure on the boards.

Need to wait to see how straps change the feel before I change course. But not much money invested so far so I’ll keep an open mind. Also, bonus points for reusing old clothes. I hate donating them because I feel like there are piles of unwanted used clothes at most donation stores.

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I feel this deeply.

Most of my vint boards are awaiting some kind of stand so I can display it since storing them is a PITA.

I still need to figure out how to have a keyboard display stand for a freakin’ beamspring though

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It’s not the fanciest and is definitely more of a storage than traveling solution, but would something like a cardboard laptop/keyboard mailer work?

There are some other sizes of padded shipping boxes that include foam as well.

Could also pick a cardboard box size that fits all your vintage boards and use pick and pack foam or cut thick foam sheets to size to pad out the inside to the needed dimensions.

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