Day 1 — 3 Reasons Why I Love Custom Mechanical Keyboards
Roughly one year ago, I discovered this perfect hobby for me, custom mechanical keyboards. Here I would like to share reasons why I love it so much and hopefully, you can learn something about this awesome hobby and discover some new interests.
So, what are custom mechanical keyboards?
There are a couple of things you should know to start:
- There is a rapidly growing community of enthusiasts, designers, and vendors all around the world, sharing passion and creating new and cool designs for all kinds of custom keyboard components i.e. keyboard cases, PCBs, switches, and keycaps.
- Custom mechanical keyboards are NOT pre-built keyboards that you can just buy from a hardware store. You generally have to purchase different components separately on the internet and assemble them in DIY style.
Here are some photos of components that you will need in a typical keyboard build:
Picture 1) Installing the switches on the PCB/plate;
Picture 2) Installing the keycaps onto the switches;
Picture 3) Build complete.
Now that you have some basic understanding of a custom mechanical keyboard, let dive into the 3 biggest reasons why I love them.
1. They are Beautiful
The best way for me to show how beautiful they can be is with images.
One of the most fun parts of this hobby for me is to take photos of the keyboards I have built and I have been sharing my work on my Instagram profile (@kenny.is.board) dedicated to keyboards and toys. Here are some images of the custom keyboards that I have built:
Building and collecting custom mechanical keyboards provide a unique experience that allows me to exercise and express my creativity by putting together different beautiful components freely based on my taste. Taking fun photos afterward is the cherry on top.
I hope these photos can give you an idea of how beautiful keyboards can be but there is still a whole amazing world of cool and exciting custom keyboard designs and builds content out there for you to explore on internet platforms i.e. Instagram, Reddit, YouTube, Twitch, and more. That’s another rabbit hole all by itself for another day.
Speaking of cool and exciting keyboard designs, here is my second reason.
2. They are Highly Customizable
With enough time, effort, and money, you are almost guaranteed to be able to build a custom keyboard that you like because they are simply so customizable. Among the other easily disposable monotonous technology that we use daily such as smartphones and laptops, custom keyboards add vibrant varieties to our daily work and leisure by allowing us to express our unique character and personalities through customizing different keyboard builds.
Here is a nerdy list of things that you can choose or customize based on your preferences and tastes:
- Case design/color/material
Here a some of my favorite designs.
- Keycaps profile (shapes and height of the keycaps)
- Switch feel (Linear, Tactile, etc.)
There are hundreds of different switches in the market today that offer different feel and sound that can be a huge customizable part that affects your keyboard builds. One of the best ways to find which switch suit your preferences is to get a switch tester or if you are lucky enough, you can go to a local custom keyboard store that has an in-store switch tester.
- Typing sound and feel (depending on the designs and materials of each component and how you customize the whole keyboard)
- Accessories i.e. artisan keycaps, custom cables, and desk mats to complete the whole setup.
With all these options (there are most likely more), it’s extremely fun for me to research keyboards which are constantly making the hobby exciting for me, in the journey of trying to achieve better looking, feeling, and sounding keyboard builds.
Here is the third reason.
3. They are Functional and Fun to Use
For me, the experience and satisfaction of building a custom keyboard are very similar to building a Gundam, a jigsaw puzzle, or a Lego set, but instead of just displaying them afterward, you can actually use the keyboard functionally on a daily basis for both work and leisure.
One of the best things about custom mechanical keyboards is they are highly customizable and functional art pieces that you can actually use practically every day. If you can build one with not just looks and designs that you enjoy looking at, but also the sound and feel that you enjoy hearing and typing on, they can be amazingly fun to use, adding enjoyment to both work and entertainment, like how I am enjoying writing this blog typing on one of the keyboards I built (actually more like switching between multiple keyboards).
The Journey Continues
Even after a year of dwelling in this rabbit hole, my passion is still strong and I am very excited to closely follow and see what are the latest and greatest creative designs and innovations in the custom mechanical keyboards world.
Thank you very much for reading and perhaps I will see you again next year.
Merry Christmas! Here is a duck keycap.
This article is part of the 2021 HENNGE Advent Calendar. An Advent calendar is a special calendar used for counting down the days till Christmas. 2021 HENNGE Advent Calendar presents one article by one HENNGE member per day for 25 days until Christmas, 2021.
