Pepe Godzilla
this is only true before eight.
tbh, i think we reached a point where there are so many switches available, that cherrys are almost the worst price/performance product imho.
i think you might overestimate the building part.
If you get a barebones board with a hotwap PCB you have to screw in stabilizers for all keys larger than 2u (=2 keys) - Shift, Enter, Backspace and Space. Since you can’t be arsed, screw lubing them. Just screw them in, takes 3 minutes.
Then, place all the switches on Plate and PCB and since they’re hotswap you just press them in.
Then place like 8 gaskets or screws, drop on your PCB-Plate-Switch-Sandwitch, screw together top and bottom with 4 more screws.
When you’re done, mount the caps, also just pop them in place.
That’s it. I reckon it’s about as much work as a 10$ Lego set.
But going prebuilt is far easier of course: Unpack, plug in, done. If you get a hotswap you can change switches later on if you fancy.
that really is a nice typewriter. I wonder if that spacebar integration can be done on mx as well, because it’s looking really good.
good luck!
I’d love one, but my colleagues…
I just started soldering. It’s not too difficult and super useful. Also adds a lot of options that are usually cheaper than hotswap.
A pinecil is 25$. add another 25 for solder, flux, a pump and copper desoldering braid and you’re set up.
I found hotswap is increasingly difficult to get once you’re looking for non-massmarket stuff outside of 60 or 65 keebs with ANSI Layout.
It’s just faster to solder than to search for non-standard hotswap.
And with millmax, you can make any solderboard hotswap if you fancy.