My first “build” (Tokyo60 HHKB)

Submitted by WingedGeek t3_11wsv85 in MechanicalKeyboards

Be gentle :) It’s a kit (obvi), but it’s my first time assembling something from components like this. Started off with a “used – acceptable” Coyote Tokyo60 kit from Amazon ($90, free shipping). Added the Drop keycaps (which are perfect for a Mac HHKB layout, except they have “Super” and “Alt” for the meta keys; I’d love “◇  ^(⌘)” and “Alt ^(Opt)” legends; and, ideally, I’d love to have the Fn overlay legends, too, like the HHKB does). For switches I chose the Kailh Halo Clears, mostly because I kinda wanted to try them and they’re $41 for a set of 70 on Amazon Prime. (I might be a little impatient...)

The stock stabilizers suck, I’m going to order the NovelKeys kit that’s $10 on clearance, while I learn more about that component.

The Halo Clear switches might have been a mistake; I think I’m going to order a couple of boxes of Baby Kangaroos (which I know I like in the Halo 75) to have the option to swap, just in case. But I’m going to give these a real trial before I go changing things up.

It comes already setup with a Mac-friendly HHKB layout, with Fn+ASD being volume down/up/mute, Fn-/;'[ being the down, left, right, and up arrows (and Fn+.l being page down/up respectively), and the larger meta keys next to the space bar being mapped to Command, and the smaller outer meta keys being Option (Alt). Control is where "Caps Lock" normally is these days, and Fn+Tab toggles CAPS LOCK.

The only key I’m wrestling with muscle memory over so far is backspace, which is down a row. I’m sure as I spend more time in the terminal and hacking code, the | and ~ keys will challenge me a bit, too. But overall I’m digging this experiment (and won’t have to worry about anyone borrowing my keeb! At least not in this office!).

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CHuCK1277 t1_jczvu9i wrote

Came for the keyboard but stayed for the doggo. Is the doggo ok?

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Apprehensive_Park951 t1_jd0qcku wrote

If you’re gonna be replacing stabilizers then just buy TX. Incredibly easy to tune, literally miles ahead of competition. All and I mean All stabilizers can be made to be good, so swapping your bad stock stabilizers for another set bad to mediocre stabilizers is just a waste of 10$. If you really want to change them for whatever reason I’d buy cherry clip ins which are under a dollar a pop

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WingedGeek OP t1_jd0t9b4 wrote

I'm pretty sure the stabs in this kit were damaged by a prior owner. I've never used a board this crappy (the space bar is basically unusable, and I had to bend the 2U for the left shift key to get it in). So even $10 properly working stabs will be a huge improvement. I'll look at TX and Cherry clip-ins though, thanks! (Like I said, I'm totally new to all of this; all I've done to date was swap switches / keycaps, either hotswappable or through soldering. Oh, and bridge wires when I borked a solder point. But I know nothing about foam or lube or stabiliziers or ...)

TX: These? https://divinikey.com/products/tx-stabilizers?variant=39883460771905

Cherry... https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-Cherry-PCB-Snap-Stabilizers/dp/B085T8QZJC?th=1 ?

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Apprehensive_Park951 t1_jd0ug34 wrote

That link works for tx, here’s a better link for cherry clip ins. TX is SUPER easy to tune. Some lube on the wire and you’re done. Maybe some on the housing if you notice a scratchy sound coming from them, or if you just don’t wanna risk it and deal with disassembling to reach them. Cherry clip ins require the usual balancing, lubing ordeal.

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WingedGeek OP t1_jd0xjju wrote

This is part of why I have gone with pre-builts mostly ;) Your link has the 2U for $.90/ea, so, $1.80. The 7U (which I need for the space bar) is $1.45, but, out of stock. But let's use the 6.25U as a stand-in. $3.25. Shipping adds another $5.54, estimated delivery Friday, 3/24, for $9.12. If I go Priority Mail, I get 'em Thursday and spend $8.99 for shipping. $12.57 total (with tax). On Amazon, the total is $16.41 and I'll have them before noon tomorrow (4x 2U and 1x 7U, though I only need 2x 2U).

> TX is SUPER easy to tune. Some lube on the wire and you’re done. Maybe some on the housing if you notice a scratchy sound coming from them, or if you just don’t wanna risk it and deal with disassembling to reach them. Cherry clip ins require the usual balancing, lubing ordeal.

Sounds like I have some quality time to spend with Google ... I have never heard of tuning stabilizers TBH.

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Apprehensive_Park951 t1_jd0z1zm wrote

If you’ve never tuned stabs you’ve never used good stabs, you’re in for a world of wonder once you use some proper stabs for the first time

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Neoshooter t1_jd8qfp6 wrote

don't buy new stabilizers until you use some dielectric grease on the ones you already have.

Also you can reprogram or set function layers with VIA

Your PCB is supported

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