Unfortunately the MTNU keycap sets are either sold out, or very specifiic color themes (not neutral). Besides, they are somewhat expensive, especially given that the included keys work for only the most popular layouts. 
I hope this changes, though, as I’m also looking to finally get my hands on MTNU.
3 Likes
This is why I wish someone would just stock blanks in black for MTNU
3 Likes
We pressed NK Mike about making some MTNU & CYL blanks awhile back. He did release that MTNU Granite set that was grey blanks with some accent colors, but nothing since then unfortunately.
3 Likes
I have been puttering around and doing my thing for a couple of years now, but I actually did not own any solid aluminum boards whatsoever. Not a one. Well, now I have one, a silver mechmarket Tofu that seems to have been put through the wringer by USPS, literally. There are a couple of small gouges on the right-bottom of the case that exactly match two small tears in the padded mailer. C’est la vie, and I’ll wipe my small number of tears with the $25 claim that the Post Office says they’re sending me on the $30 purchase. PCB is courtesy of @skwrl and has been tweaked just a touch in VIA (thanks!). Keycaps are the QX species of SA, these the translucent “klein blue” that are all over the various vectors for cheap Chinese caps. I like them, though admittedly I like almost anything taller than cherry and more or less spherical. The spacebar is a leftover RShift from a set of XDA blanks, and with just a hint of shimming, it is way less janky than I would have thought. Definitely got an R2-D2 look going here, and eventually I may just replace all the caps with my NK R2-D2 set. Switches are Gateron Pro Black 2.0 and I like them, though especially with linears I think I need heavier still. I might need to get the heavier bottom-out 1.0’s or (sigh… my last rubicon…) start opening switches up to do spring swaps and/or hand-lubing.
Since I’m living like it’s 2018, I figured I would cram this one in with all the mods I could. I did have it together just long enough to hear the infamous ping, and while in another universe I could imagine the right influencers at the right time deciding that was a good thing, I wanted to see what I could do to remove it.
First, I ran across @donpark’s old Tofu build with 7.75oz of steel wheel-balancing weights in the battery cavity and after hunting around I couldn’t find anything remotely approaching the value proposition, so I grabbed some and also put down a layer of painters tape so I could remove them later, but I can’t imagine needing to do that. What’s more “extra” than an aluminum brick with yet more metal taped inside? 
I also did 4 layers of super thin foam from cheap keycap sets to build that up to the height of the standoffs. Then I did a two-layer tape mod. Mounting wise, I considered a gummy o-ring mount, but figured I could get back to that later once I realized how dead simple disassembly will be on one of these. Instead, I used spare o-rings from the stabs (stabs lubed with silicone faucet grease) on four of the standoffs, and two of them have heat-shrink “socks” but no screws. The screws and washers weren’t suitable for a proper burger mount, so this is more of a rubber force-break than anything else. Bottom-out is firm but not the harshest thing I’ve ever typed on. I might change it up eventually, but I’m not worried for now. The little bit that I did, combined with an FR4 plate took enough of the edge off, I think.
After all that, I’d say the sound came out fine, a bit same-y but not unpleasant, towards the marble-y side as I understand that term. All that would kind of make sense with its being dense and firm and foamy and then using ABS caps. The thick PBT spacebar sounds noticeably lower, and the Enter key (the largest of the main keyset) noticeably higher. I am not sure if I made it sound “good,” but I succeeded at making it way less pingy.
After messing around in full DIY and vintage for a good while now, it was interesting to be reminded of the types of things other people are chasing. Not that a budget Tofu build is anywhere near “endgame,” mind you, just that it’s playing the custom keeb game in a way I sometimes ignore.
10 Likes
Love it! Clever use of wheel weights. Reminds me I gotta make a weight for my Rule60v2’s lol
3 Likes
Looks great. Classic Tofu was, in hindsight, the best value proposition for me as well. And surprising number of switches sounded the best in Tofu than others I had. 
6 Likes
wowie, very angelic pics
2 Likes
The mist filter did wonders with the sunlight, best purchase in a long time
2 Likes
oh nice - I love my burger-mounted e-white tofu. Classic! I had pennies in painter’s tape in battery cavity for a bit…I’ll need to dig that out and put it in rotation
1 Like
Coming back to this. I replied last time about 30 seconds before falling asleep.
Love how it turned out! So weird seeing my layout in the wild lol
I also burger mount my Redux, but have pretty good results with gummy oring on the Fjell–if you soldered switches it might be worth a try to see if that gets rid of pingy-ness. If you mill maxed, you can still gummy mount by snipping the oring in half and placing them top and bottom (R1 and R4) with the sides open. Tofu FTW.
1 Like
Got the Onyx delivered today. I know this is pretty old, but it was the first keyboard that I noticed in a small online shop as I got more into the hobby a few years ago. I couldn‘t understand the price at that time, but loved the design.
Built was a joy :), with GMK Muted, Cherry Nixies and aluminum half plate. I am really glad I chose the half plate, the board sounds already really deep and is quite stiff.
11 Likes
Nice, the Onyx is a super nice board! I skipped on it during the original GB & been kicking myself since I got to try one at a meetup. The board looks great with muted too!
1 Like
Thanks! Indeed it does. And with the half plate the stem issue with the “F” and “G” key is not that obvious. 
1 Like
Finally found a place for the PBS blanks with the Adalyn, really was not sure where I wanted to put them on. This feels so great, can’t wait to finish the FW.
14 Likes
- Looks great. Case and caps are very much in sync in shape and color.
- I haven’t had a chance to see G20 in person. I think it would be fair to say they’re “divisive” as to typing experience. How do you like them? I don’t mind something broad and shallow, but for full travel switches I’ve usually topped out at XDA.
- I know the tops are flat, but I understand they’re not parallel to the bottoms. It can’t be that significant from how the typical photos look, but how subtle is it?
2 Likes
Yea I’m surprised to see a full set of G20 in the wild.
3 Likes
I bought the G20 Semiotic set back in the day. I don’t use it much, but it’s bearable. It’s similar in feel to XDA for me. Both are a bit more challenging because of the larger dish area. I kinda like the way Granite looks on this profile. I didn’t know they offered it.
4 Likes
I love the look and the sound with Everglide Aqua King switches, but I’m not yet thrilled with the typing experience. I make more errors than with DCX, Cherry, and the Osume Marshmallow, which is also a flat profile, but the marshmallow key face is smaller and has a bit of a cup. I’ll give the G20s another month. Sadly, I can’t find a matching colorway in another profile.