I finally committed the Bluish White switches to solder!
This is one of my two Gemini keyboards by Night Owl Keyboards. I was never able to get a top that supports the Novatouch, but it’s a lovely MX board. This one is cerakoted in a color-shifting Stingray finish. The most challenging keyboard I have had to photograph. Keycaps are GMK Thai Tea.
And I completely forgot to get a shot of the awesome copper plate it has for Instagram .
Building was more challenging than my polycarbonate Gemini. The tolerances were very narrow before cerakote. So with the paint, this sucker has TIGHT tolerances.
Being a Lego fan I finally broke down and bought the Adam keyboard. It’s definitely more of a novelty, but it’s not terrible either.
The board came with switch plate mounted stabs so I just used them. You could add some screw in stabilizers if you were so inclined.
The building blocks went together okay, but there’s a world of difference between the knock offs and actual legos. The tolerance on these blocks are such that they do make the case warp a bit. Once it’s all together it’s not that noticable.
Then because I had them, some SA Seafaring keycaps finished it off. I actually really like this set, but never had a place for it to land. So here we go.
I suppose the thing to do would be to completely remake it with actual Lego pieces and even augment it from there. What will likely happen is that it will go on the display shelf.
I started pricing. It’s doable, but pretty pricey. The big issue is that you can’t get the large base plate in very many colors. Such a fun keyboard. It sounds and feel really good too, don’t you think?
It’s really better than I would have thought. It kind of defies explanation too because there’s really not much going on here. Perhaps it’s just the simplicity of the whole thing?
Good to know about the prices. I probably have enough pieces to get reasonably close here, but then I’d be pirating a bunch of kits that the kids might build again one day. Buying a piece at a time sure does add up really quickly.
After lubrication and installation. They are very pleasant. No lubrication high pitched sound. Blow up, very loud, high pitched sound. Lube takes it out. But you need to lubricate very thinly. There is a very good body and stem.
There is an effect when someone is typing, then the sound of pebbles. Here the effect is similar to the sound of glass balls or a crunch when the board from fr4 is broken))))))
I’m done now, but I removed my TTC Aces from my Portico75 in preparation to use them in my Malicious Ergo, filmed the last of my Tangerines, and returned them to my Portico. In the process, I removed the standoffs and plate pad from the Portico. I feel that it indeed softens the bottom out somewhat and would have been a nice offset to the dual-stage springs in the Aces, but I’m going to reinstall it later to tighten up the sound and feel with the Tangerines.
Not exactly on the workbench, but - finally getting the collection up on the wall!
I’ve had this in mind for years. These are the first three of twelve I have on-hand, but I’ll probably grab more because they seem great for keebs, too.
I put a random assortment on this first set of shelves just to see what the jars look like up there - I’m really happy with these.
(If you're curious what's in these jars)
Left to right, top to bottom:
Gazzew × Smith+Rune U4Tx Plums (Outemu)
Durock Lilac Tactiles (JWK)
Matrix Lab × TTC 55g Wilds
Moondrop × G•Square Lunalights (HaiMu)
NK_ × RFP Silk Emeralds (JWK)
JWICK Nylon T1s
NK_ × RFP BOX Midnight Jades (Kailh)
TKC × C³Equalz 67g Tangerines (JWK)
DK Onis (Tecsee)
Cherry MX Blacks
Akko POM Browns
~
Prevail Epsilons (JWK)
Ajazz Sky Blues (Zorro)
Fekker Matcha Greens
Moyu.studio Queens (JWK)
Gazzew × Nixdork Boba LTs (Outemu)
ThicThock Marshmallows (JWK)
ULLIAM × Protozoa Studio Nightwalker Nightcalls (JWK)
Chitong × TTC Aces
HaiMu Heartbeats
Invokeys Black Sesames, factory lubed version (Aflion)
Sorted out the duds from the Aflion replacement switches the wonderful vendor sent. he sent more than necessary as he didn’t want to test himself, and so now I even have some extras! I’d say about 25% were DOA
Great service, no fuss and really quick!
Now I’m pleased to have a full Aflion Blue Sky filled Tata80
Got the rest of the shelves up… for now. The “Switch Corner” lives again, and quite a bit bigger than ever! Not organized at all yet - really just seeing how they look on the wall (and reclaiming some bookshelf space) - I’m going to enjoy arranging these like so many home-screen icons.
If you’re curious, that’s 132 jars on the wall there. Mostly TKL-sized sets, with a few smaller ones - and yes, there’s more - but this is the majority of my current collection.
wonderful work!