this post was submitted on 21 Mar 2024
14 points (100.0% liked)

Mechanical Keyboards

311 readers
5 users here now

Are you addicted to the clicking sounds of your beautiful and impressive mechanical keyboard?
If so, this community is for you!

Here you can discuss everything about mechanical keyboards (and only mechanical keyboards).

Banner by Jay Zhang on Unsplash

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
14
submitted 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) by wgs@lemmy.sdf.org to c/mechanicalkeyboards@lemmy.ml
 

Hi everyone! I'm planning on getting a split keyboard to replace my planck, but I don't have a soldering iron.

What are my options ? Ideally I want:

  • DIY, no soldering involved
  • QMK firmware
  • 40% format

The keyboard I'm leaning toward is the let's split as it's a planck split in two halves, but it seems that you need to at least solder the keycaps yourself, which I can't.

top 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] Spoodle 5 points 11 months ago

Keeb.io should have you covered here with the Nyquist - 60% ortho split

If you want an ergo layout and can stick with a 40 they also have the Iris - 40% ergo split

I suggest you poke around their site. They have a couple other unusual split boards too.

[–] Midnitte 3 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Could always buy a soldering iron - it's not like they're extraordinarily expensive (but pre-built is...)

[–] wgs@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

It's not about the cost, it's more about my current situation, storage space, and besides this specific use-case, I have no use for it (and I dont like buying stuff I don't use).

[–] Midnitte 1 points 11 months ago

Well, that's fair!

[–] algernon@lemmy.ml 1 points 11 months ago

Or one could buy any of the existing pre-built splits. Which might be more expensive, but it does not involve something one very explicitly said they don't want to do.

I'd rather spend twice as much on a well built keyboard with warranty than trying to solder one together myself and botch it up, and then it suddenly costs more than if I just bought a pre-built one.

[–] Malix@sopuli.xyz 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

but it seems that you need to at least solder the keycaps yourself, which I can’t.

solder ... keycaps? Surely you mean switches :D

Anyhoo, Moonlander? https://www.zsa.io/moonlander/ - hotswappable switches, ortholinear-ish, split and qmk support

edit: or bit more minimal: https://www.zsa.io/voyager

[–] wgs@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Switches indeed ;)

Both voyager and moonlander are prebuilt, right ? I like the voyager, but might like just a few keys under the thumb compared to my current planck layout.

Thanks for the suggestions !

[–] Malix@sopuli.xyz 2 points 11 months ago (1 children)

they're prebuilt as in: no soldering iron needed. I'm unaware if the switches/keycaps are on out-of-the-box, but that's like 15min of "keeb hobbying" to put them in.

[–] Kiloee@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 11 months ago

Bought a moonlander about 2 months ago. It comes fully assembled, there are multiple switches to choose from and blank or qwerty style keycaps. It is hotswap and comes with a tool for pulling caps and switches included, so you can change things up as needed. Iirc you can buy it barebones without switches if none of the ones they have are right for you.

It runs on QMK but they have their own configurator which is super handy imo.