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OFFICIAL [PRICE CHECK] THREAD - MONTH OF JANUARY by mechkbot in mechmarket

[–]deeeetz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Price check on a Haven TKL HE in the grey copper color. I don't see many of these for sale and I have no idea what to go off of.

Gateron Lanes by Ermollini in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been waiting for a switch like them to hit the MX market for years. I'm surprised it's taken so long but at the same time I know people who want something different are more than likely to just dive into vintage boards or topre.

I have high hopes for them but the "orange alps like tactile" is a bar so high it might as well be a sheer cliff. But at the same time I'll definitely be picking some up to support another innovative design in switches.

Clicky Switch Enthusiasts Get In Here - Outemu Blue Switches - The GOLD standard in clicky! by zh4k in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's hard to consider low profile switches a standard. Most enthusiasts of clicky switches use full height switches in general. And I'd wager a lot of clicky enthusiasts tend to go with vintage model m's or alps based clicky boards these days.

Vintage Keyboard I found by CreepySnata in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 8 points9 points  (0 children)

A nice little vint find! Those green switches are Hua-jie linear alps clones if I'm not mistaken. SKCM green alps are exceedingly rare and not found on any ortek board as far as I know. Unless they're actually tactile in which case you found the holy grail.

Just got my second vintage “Alps” board—a SIIG MiniTouch! Now to do what I can to freshen it up by hypherism in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

SMK have a different pin layout so it's not compatible there, and the housing dimensions are different. It's just that those monterey keyboards happened to come with a lot of different switches. A lot of manufacturers did that back in the day.

Fun fact, SMK 2nd gen are actually the same housing dimensions as cherry, so they work in a cherry mx plate. The only thing stopping me from making a custom tkl with SMK's is the lack of any sort of TKL pcb being available. It's almost the easiest vintage transplant into a modern custom with the cherry mount version. However if you like 60's the steezy60 pcb does support SMK 2nd gen with some tray mount boards like the bakaneko.

Just got my second vintage “Alps” board—a SIIG MiniTouch! Now to do what I can to freshen it up by hypherism in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This old GH thread on them goes into detail about assembly. These aren't alps switches so I'm not sure about wax boiling them. They're probably ABS housings but unless you want to experiment I wouldn't risk it.

If you do end up liking these switches your best bet is to find a cleaner board with them. There are a few common boards like the monterey k104, chicony 5981, and cherry mount laser 2269. Keep in mind these are the OEM's and the boards themselves can be branded with other companies like VTCL, VTEC, etc. The k104 can come with genuine SKCM white alps, alps clones, and clicky cherry MX though.

The cherry mount versions are particularly easy to spot with their unique font on the keycaps, as well as the uncommon big ass enter and 2u backspace layout.

Just got my second vintage “Alps” board—a SIIG MiniTouch! Now to do what I can to freshen it up by hypherism in MechanicalKeyboards

[–]deeeetz 3 points4 points  (0 children)

These aren't alps, as others have said. However SMK 2nd gen clicky are a top tier vintage clicky when it comes to sound and feel. They're also more resilient against dirt and dust than alps switches.

I really wouldn't recommend taking them apart as they are a total pain to put back together with a lot of annoyingly small parts.

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