Even though the community has become more welcoming to curious onlookers, it’s not easy to find basic information about the hobby. This is especially true if you haven’t given much thought to your keyboard in the first place, or if you still think the flimsy and unresponsive membrane keyboard on the MacBook Air is not that bad. So before you fall down an internet rabbit hole trying to figure out what the colors on switches mean, let’s talk about what you really need to know about getting or building your own customizable mechanical keyboard. Maybe you’ll figure out why people are spending hundreds of dollars on them—and even decide they’re totally worth it. “Keyboards have never been considered something to invest in, but with the help of everyone staying at home, people are starting to understand that you can make a keyboard a nice tool to work with instead of something that you buy off the shelf for very cheap,” says Taeha Kim, also known as Taeha Types, a custom mechanical keyboard builder and content creator. In one of his videos, Taeha also points out that if we’re already spending money on more powerful machines and bigger, better displays, it makes sense to have a nice, comfortable keyboard to use with them. Especially if we’re typing most of the day, every day. You can even remap your entire keyboard by erasing the default functions of any key and assigning it a completely different task. On top of that, you can include layers upon layers of macros and key combinations specific to you and your needs. For remapping and creating macros, you’ll need an open-sourced program called Via. This free, easy-to-use software will give you access to your keyboard’s keymap, as well as information about everything each button does. Keep in mind that you can’t use VIA without a customizable keyboard, so make sure yours is compatible. Finding the right set of switches for you might take a while, and it’s critical that you try them—you can learn so much more from a hands-on experience than by reading any review. But before you order a couple sets, you might want to get a switch tester. These small boards come with different types of switches for you to try, and you can find them for as little as $7, depending on their size and where you buy them. “These are tools to get a certain task done. And everyone has different preferences. It’s just about finding the one that fits your needs,” he says. Still, testers won’t give you the full experience, so going to community events is a great way to get to know and try what’s out there. Taeha recommends you search for local groups of enthusiasts around you and check for any upcoming meetings. Keep in mind that these gatherings have become more and more scarce due to COVID, so you may have to wait a bit. Changing your keycaps may be the easiest customization you can do to your keyboard. They’ll change its look, provide a new tactile experience, and different profiles can even change the way you type. To swap out your keycaps, you’ll only need a tool called a keycap puller. And don’t forget to take a picture of your keyboard’s original layout before you start yanking it apart—it’ll help you immensely when you put your board back together. It all starts with the type of keyboard you’re dealing with. There are two options available: hot-swappable and soldered. The former allows you to swap switches easily with only a switch puller, whereas the latter requires a soldering iron and some advanced skill to make any significant customization to how your keyboard feels and sounds. “That’s how you have access to more intricate and nuanced designs that might not be possible with mass production,” he says. “But you’re going to need a lot of patience.” Still, he stresses the importance of research and recommends taking advantage of the current boom of mechanical keyboard content on platforms such as YouTube and TikTok. “Anything between $150 and $200 is a great budget for your first build,” Taeha says. “You can end up with a nice keyboard you can upgrade later if you want.” “The best way to get into it at the moment is to just consume a lot of content,” he says. He also recommends diving into the r/MechanicalKeyboards subreddit and the old-looking but still fully functional geekhack.org. There you’ll find more nuanced information and details on parts and building, and even get in on the crowdsourcing, kick-starting, group-buying fun.
