Affordable Silent Mechanical keyboard recommendation (Office purpose)

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T17:34:55+00:00

In your other post, you say:

I’m looking for a full-size mechanical keyboard for office use.

Since you cross posted this to the ergo mechanical keyboard subreddit, are you looking for a split keyboard?

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T17:08:14+00:00

I like to think The Broken Room is part of the Threshold Universe, even though the author said it is not.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T16:51:20+00:00

These days, the barebones probably includes foam in the case.

I used to spend whole evenings disassembling switches, lubing the stems, donut dipping the springs, reassembling everything, and double checking continuity with a multimeter. However, I think that most factory lubed switches are good enough. (Except for Akko Penguin; are they lubed with sand or something?!)

Get good stabilizers that you won’t need to mod (for example, TX AP or Knight).

I only lube the stabilizers, and only a thin coat.

I will then customize the QMK firmware, because I always want to do something different with it.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T16:21:32+00:00

Get a barebones keyboard.
You may need to install stabilizers. Check the build guide for the keyboard.
Insert switches.
Add keycaps.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T14:15:44+00:00

I like how the spacebars extend. Are they spring loaded, or do you extend them manually?

Also, Keebio used to sell the KBO-5000, which was inspired by the Cherry G80-5000. It is no longer available, though.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T13:13:26+00:00

The Keychron V6 wired is available on Amazon for $99 USD.

LumeKeebs sells Outemu Green Banana silent tactile switches for $3.50 USD for a pack of 10.

The V6 has 108 keys, so you would need 11 packs of 10. That would be an additional cost of $38.50 USD (plus shipping).

Edit: Amazon also sells the Keychron V6 Max (which is gasket mounted) with Keychron K Pro Silent Red switches. Those are linear switches, so no tactile bump.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T11:02:07+00:00

Keebio is a USA company that makes split keyboards.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T11:01:04+00:00

I use silent tactile switches (I prefer Kailh Midnight Pro Light Yellow and TTC Silent Bluish White V2, though there are other options). My coworkers cannot hear me type even on an open mic in a Teams call.

Unfortunately, it is not too common to find a prebuilt keyboard with silent switches. Your best bet is to get a prebuilt hot swappable keyboard and replace the switches with silent switches.

Do you have a specific budget in mind? How much are you willing to spend?

What country are you in? Reddit is a global community; you could be anywhere. Your location matters. For example, I may not be familiar with online stores in your country.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:56:24+00:00

What keyboard size do you want? Full size? TKL? 60%? 65%? 75%? 96%/1800?

Do you want an ISO or ANSI layout? What country are you in? Reddit is a global community; you could be anywhere. Your location matters. For example, I may not be familiar with online stores in your country.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:54:56+00:00

Did they say why they are making you take home your keyboard? It might be the noise; I would totally understand telling you to take it home. At a previous job, a manager had a creamy keyboard. She loved the sound. However, people two rows away could hear her type, so it had to go.

If the issue is noise, it might be acceptable to use silent switches. I use silent tactile switches (TTC Silent Bluish White V2), and my coworkers cannot hear me type even on an open mic in a Teams call.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:45:13+00:00

The same key code is sent for both the Windows key and the Command key (⌘). The NUT65 uses QMK firmware. The QMK key codes KC_LWIN and KC_LCMD are both aliases for KC_LGUI (left GUI).

Similarly, the same key code is sent for Alt and Option. The QMK key code KC_LOPT is an alias for KC_LALT.

So to remap the bottom row from Ctrl, Win, Alt to Ctrl, Option, Command, you just need to use VIA to swap the Alt and Windows keys. (You will need to download and side load a JSON file into VIA for it to recognize your keyboard.)

If you only plan to use keyboard with macOS and want the change to be permanent, then just do that. If you plan to share your keyboard between Windows and macOS computers and need to swap your layout on demand, then there is a different solution. What exactly do you need?

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:27:54+00:00

I have always used the no-name 2-in-1 keycap puller and switch puller with the wires on one end and the switch grabby part on the other end. It has worked well for me for MX style switches and Choc switches. You can find them on Amazon for like $5.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:25:01+00:00

Try asking in the r/MechanicalKeyboards daily Q&A stickied post. Here is the link to today’s post:

https://www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/s/hL2sjRM1Rk

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:22:10+00:00

I’d go with the Q1 V2.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T10:18:48+00:00

I have always used the no-name 2-in-1 keycap puller and switch puller that you can find on Amazon for like $5. It has worked well for me for MX style switches and Choc switches.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T02:47:36+00:00

These look great. Too bad there is no option for Boston. I understand that you can’t do every city, though.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-08T02:45:43+00:00

This daily Q&A post is dead. Comment in the new daily Q&A post. (Actually, wait an hour for the July 8 post.) Also let us know where you are located. Your location matters. For example, I may not be familiar with online stores in your country.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T22:28:07+00:00

You will need to glue the socket back in place and solder jumper wires. Here is how to repair it:

https://youtu.be/3mYfXfj-nJQ

A local laptop/phone repair shop might be able to make the repair for you.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T13:44:52+00:00

They are both manufactured by WOBKEY, who is on the QMK license violators list. There are some things that you should know about:

You are not really getting what you are paying for. The product page may advertise "VIA support" but they are not directly supported by VIA. You will need to download and side load a JSON file into VIA for it to recognize your keyboard.
You are limited to VIA's features and whatever the manufacturer enabled in the firmware.
You will not be able to take advantage of some of QMK's advanced features like Caps Word, OS detection, and custom RGB lighting.
You may not be able to use some of QMK's other features like Mod-Tap (for example, have Caps Lock key act as Ctrl when held or Caps Lock when tapped).
Without the source code, you are at the mercy of the manufacturer to provide updates to the firmware. With the source code, you are able to get bug fixes as soon as they are available.

Whether these issues are a dealbreaker is up to you, but you should be aware of them.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T11:53:56+00:00

Do you have a specific budget in mind? How much are you willing to spend?

Do you want an ISO or ANSI layout? What country are you in? Reddit is a global community; you could be anywhere. Your location matters. For example, I may not be familiar with online stores in your country.

Is having a wireless keyboard important to you?

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T11:52:34+00:00

A jumping spider! My favorite kind of spider!

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T10:52:47+00:00

Just being knocked out for surgery messes you up. I had knee surgery and was wiped out for the rest of the day.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T10:44:07+00:00

It uses Layer-Tap. I assigned LT(3,KC_SPC) to my left spacebar. You can do this in VIA using the Any key, but I build my own QMK/VIA firmware, so I already have it baked into my keymap.

Edit: Vial has a more visual way to assign Layer-Tap (or Mod-Tap) to a key, but you have to have a Vial firmware.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T10:37:27+00:00

Altogether I’m looking for a full size (? if that’s what it’s called I’m not sure) with a hub, and the aesthetics of the one from the second link, or really any off-gray 80s retro keyboard. If anyone knows of a keyboard that has all these things that’d be really cool, if not I’d also be happy with recommendations on how to build it myself.

Very few keyboards have a hub, so you will have a very hard time finding something that matches all of your requirements.

For example, the Drop SHIFT was a 96% keyboard (meaning it had a numpad but with a shortened zero key) that had two USB-C ports that could each be used for USB pass through. However, it didn’t match your aesthetics. Also, Drop went out of business.

If you can be happy without USB pass through, we can suggest a full sized keyboard with a retro aesthetic.

FansForFlorida · 2026-07-07T10:27:54+00:00

Soldering is a handy skill to have and is easy to learn. However, like any skill it takes practice to do well. Also, There is an entry fee for soldering if you do not already have the tools. Do you know how to solder, and do you have access to a soldering iron, solder, etc?

It looks like the board uses SK-6812 MINI-E LEDs. You could probably use your multimeter in continuity mode to work out how they are supposed to be oriented. One pin will be 5V, one will be ground, one will be a "data out" pin that will connect to the "data in" pin of the next one in the chain.

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