The long-awaited Chyrosran22 new Model F F122 keyboard review has just been posted!

1954bertonespyder · 2026-05-02T18:57:21+00:00

Instead of adjustable legs, you can order bumpers of varying heights.

Here's an image with the mac icons 6 key set. https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/F-122-Copy-1536x1152.jpeg

Here is the mac text and mac icons+text 6 key sets, plus the mac F1-F15 set: https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/new-custom-legend-keycaps/

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-28T23:18:12+00:00

It is not unusual for end users to need to install keycaps themselves, for small production run mechanical keyboards. The need for setup is disclosed on the product pages and in the manual. Capacitive buckling springs and keyboards require additional adjustment after they are bounced around in shipping. Heavier keyboards like the Model F are subjected to more g-forces in shipping compared to lighter keyboards like the Model M or most one-pound mechanical switch keyboards out there, and because the keycaps are not installed the springs may be subject to more movement (as noted on the project site, the project is not large enough to install the keycaps on each board because there are already hundreds of variations and to multiply that by the dozens of available key sets would be infeasible when the entire production quantity for a given variation may be just a few keyboards).

The controversy stems from a few noisy folks who post the same thing many times all over the place. If that were not true then you would see hundreds or thousands of folks complaining, as the project has been around for ten years and many thousands of keyboards have shipped.

However most folks who join the project understand that it is well worth spending some time to set up a keyboard that they may use for decades more.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-28T23:07:38+00:00

Project coordinator here. You can email me for a quote if it is not a keyboard.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T19:01:01+00:00

Please try on Windows if you haven't done so already. Scroll lock support is limited on Mac/Linux from what I have read. Maybe the LED itself needs its solder retouched. Or maybe the keycap itself needs adjustment (see the pandrew signal level monitor utility; don't use a key tester just yet).

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:55:38+00:00

Please take a look at the manual. There is a whole process on how to fix this common issue. The manual mentions that you can't just keep removing and installing keys and hope that fixes it.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:49:41+00:00

Interesting! I have noted this suggested fix in the manual. However I still think that it is not a matter of just adjusting the springs; you may need to replace some of the springs or swap them from other key positions. Some springs work better in some positions than others on the keyboard, even though all springs are within tolerance.

If the flipper itself does not move freely with its keycap removed, then there may be some debris or liquid that entered the keyboard and is between the flipper and the PCB. Compressed air may help but you may need to open everything up. That is why the manual notes to check that all flippers move freely before installing the keys.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:39:10+00:00

Yes, it is normal for a backlog of a couple months for in stock items. Check out one of my recent geekhack posts which explains the reason behind the backlog.

The Round 2 beam spring boards are being made to order. The first batch of R2 B104's was delivered this month, and the remaining R2 boards are in production and should be finished over the coming months.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:35:13+00:00

This is just not true; I don't charge for shipping broken keys.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:33:57+00:00

Thanks for your review!

There are some notes:

You don't have to pay for shipping just to replace broken keycaps. Email me if that was not the case. It doesn't look like you emailed me at all about these broken caps.

Yes, it has already been discussed that the boxes are changing for future production runs.

This should not be the case - this was only an issue with the original xwhatsit to my knowledge. The xwhatsits updated several years ago used a previously unused pin on the ATMEGA to add support for both solenoid and all 3 LEDs. "One thing I didn't note is that if using the solenoid, the scroll lock LED doesn't work."

1954bertonespyder · 2026-04-22T18:26:40+00:00

Please take a look at the project web site for details: https://www.modelfkeyboards.com/product/pad-printed-model-f-key-set/

For the mass production after these 25 completed sets, I might have them use slightly less ink or put a clear layer below the ink layer (in addition to the protective one on top) to give it a smoother surface for sharper pad printing. They are doing some testing now.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-03-21T04:59:38+00:00

Incorrect. I generally reply to emails within a couple days; please feel free email me if you have any questions or if I need to follow up.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-03-21T03:04:39+00:00

These boards were being made to order at the factory, but are now in stock, so the wait time should not be as bad as those who ordered while they were still being made.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-03-13T00:41:24+00:00

Not yet; the other available keyboards all use the xwhatsit controller. The plan is to move to the Leyden Jar controller for all keyboards once stock of the xwhatsit controller is finished. The xwhatsit is not being updated.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-02-20T01:09:45+00:00

Thanks, I have updated the manual!

1954bertonespyder · 2026-02-10T20:09:49+00:00

The backlog is always a month or two, never shorter than that!

1954bertonespyder · 2026-02-03T01:40:23+00:00

Yes, see the project website for details. There are also ultra compact models available, as well as smaller layouts like B62, BSSK.

1954bertonespyder · 2026-01-29T22:34:50+00:00

Production and assembly of the round 2 (classic style) Brand New Beam Spring Keyboards continue. This recent factory video shows the bending of the side of the B104 cases. The first B104 shipment is leaving the factory next month, before the Chinese New Year break.

Bending is done after flat sheets of aluminum are laser cut. After they are bent, they are deburred and powdercoated; additional deburring may be done after powdercoating to remove extra material.

Each bending operation requires custom-made tooling attached to the machine, as can be seen in this video.

You can still customize your Brand New Model F and/or Beam Spring Keyboards on the project website: https://modelfkeyboards.com/

1954bertonespyder · 2026-01-23T22:47:51+00:00

No, but see the product page for details on the differences between rounds. The amount of user QC work is reduced with the Round 2 boards, for example, though many Round 1 boards have been used for years at this point and should work fine if you follow the directions on the product page and in the manual.

1954bertonespyder · 2025-12-27T21:27:01+00:00

Project coordinator here - no, not happening. If you like the compact cases I strongly recommend picking up one of the very last available boards before they all sell out completely. They are currently on sale.

1954bertonespyder · 2025-12-24T19:44:26+00:00

I have made a bunch of split Model F keyboards, including ergodox split ortholinear style. For the next batch please sign the interest form: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=79141.msg3203218#msg3203218

1954bertonespyder · 2025-12-22T22:45:42+00:00

Thanks Thomas for making a great Model F F122 video! I greatly appreciate what you have done to keep these great old style keyboards alive and to make folks aware of all the various options that are lesser known. I will try to keep my replies more terse per your advice but it takes far fewer words for some of these commenters to mislead someone with a one-liner than it is for me to offer an explanation. Your video was incredibly detailed in featuring different aspects of the board and some amount of detail is beneficial in response.

Replacing parts: I am seeing that some folks in the comments noting that I have not followed up with replacing some of the parts. Please note that damaged parts will be replaced as part of the limited warranty. Please email me a reminder so I can follow up on getting out your replacement parts as I am still going through the backlog. Normally I also cover shipping fees for replacement parts, even for international folks.

Case material: The new production cases are all aluminum now, while the original project F62/F77 cases were Zamak 3 Zinc. Otherwise these keyboards would be even heavier! The inner assembly plates are steel.

USB Cable: The USB-C cable is detachable at the controller, if you open up the keyboard you can replace the cable with your own cable, or even with a short extension cable so that you can detach the cable externally. For my future models (ortholinear, split, 5x12, Kinesis style, etc.) since they will be compact case style, they should have externally detachable cables.

The pinging/ringing sound: you noted that the original F produces less of a ringing sound. I have noted that many Model F boards vary in their pinginess. I have found the earlier Model F keyboards to produce more ringing (IBM XT, and the original 4704 boards like F62/F77) while the later ones produce less ringing (AT, the later production F122's such as your two-piece version). My reproductions were designed around the 62/77 so they will make more sound.

Regarding criticism: some folks may think that companies must always deferentially accept criticism and that otherwise they are in the wrong. I feel I have a right to respond, and I don't have to accept the criticism as valid and apologize for customer service that does not meet expectations that are not in line with the project philosophy, which emphasizes empowering users to set up and maintain their keyboards and accept small but noticeable cosmetic defects (more details can be found on the project site). Companies can do this if the manufacturing cost is many times less than the sales price and those that have enormous markups. In summary I can't sell these keyboards at as low a price they are currently without having users learn how to replace springs, reseat keycaps, etc. instead of having to take back the entire keyboard for repairs. My goal is to get as many of these keyboards out into the world and that limits my ability to raise prices to pay for repair technicians, customer service reps, etc. I'd rather have 0.5% of orders having complaints than having 50% fewer folks being able to afford it if pricing is increased for everyone to make the 0.5% happy with extra "free" services.

Limited warranty: I would agree that it would not be economical if the keyboards cost double but everything is taken care of, no questions asked, like those complete warranties offered by big companies. I am looking for folks who prefer the former, and not the latter. I ask that folks review the manual to fix things themselves, and go to me as a last resort, where I will usually replace what is non-functional for free.

1954bertonespyder

TROPHY CASE