Chronic overthinker builds her first custom mechanical keyboard | Guide for beginners

I might've spent more time picking my keyboard parts than on this video 😅
Also a new PC video is coming . . . it's just taking a while lol
💛Products mentioned:
The white pre-built mechanical keyboard ➡︎ amzn.to/3R9UsTX
EPOMAKER. x Feker Galaxy80 keyboard (fully-assembled-honestly the best value if you don’t care about picking your own switches/keycaps) ➡︎ amzn.to/4clnPLm
^Same keyboard but the barebones kit, WIRED ➡︎ amzn.to/4ckOlEm
^Same keyboard but the barebones kit, WIRELESS ➡︎ amzn.to/4bZpNkO
LEOBOG Reaper switches ➡︎ amzn.to/3RhK10J
Panda MOA keycaps ➡︎ amzn.to/3XofYID
📖 Chapters
0:00-0:47 Intro
0:48-1:13 Budget cuz im poor
1:14-3:27 Keycap nonsense
3:28-6:26 Switch shenanigans
6:27-8:41 Finally the actual KEYBOARD
8:42-9:44 ASSEMBLY!
9:45-10:19 Bf rates my keeb
10:20-10:45 Sound test etc.
👍Socials
IG: @catcertino
TikTok: @catcertino
🎶Music
"Artificial.Music - And So It Begins [Lo-fi]": • [No Copyright Music] A...
Sakura Girl - Fresh Air: / sakuragirl_official
Sakura Girl - Peach: / sakuragirl_official
Lohfi - Ginger: thmatc.co/?l=3F9688C0
Conceptualization, film, edit, art time: 25-35 hours?
Disclosure: Some links above are affiliate links. We will receive a commission from eligible purchases, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the channel!
mechanical keyboard, keyboard tutorial, custom keyboard, keyboards explained, cute keyboard, MOA keycaps, mechanical keyboard beginner, budget keyboard, mechanical keyboard build, mechanical keyboard for mac, mechanical keyboard guide

[@HipyoTech]

Fantastic dive into the hobby! Congrats on making it thru in once piece! Skipping lubing in this case was probably a great choice anyways, as switches in the last year (like the ones you bought) are already 85% of the way there!

[@catcertino]

Thanks, Hipyo!! Your videos have definitely helped me a lot in my research process too :D

[@wes.9353]

This is great. I was *just* thinking today that I haven't seen a video giving people a real, thorough rundown on the keyboard hobby, and then here you are. As a fellow chronic overthinker, I planned on making a video a lot like this too, but was feeling ambivalent since I'm unlikely to get any eyes on my content. It'd be a lot of fun to see a redux at some point! Going into excruciating detail about the history of keyboards, legendary keyboard models, different switch types like Alps, more in-depth explanations on keycap profiles, how to tell when switches are or aren't per-key-led compatible, the difference between north-facing and south-facing PCBs, different keymaps and layouts, mounting types, etcetera. Having a video, or series, as a one-stop-shop for anybody curious about the hobby would be a dream come true for me. I've wanted to do it ever since taking a deep dive myself and realizing just how much is missing from the content creation space.

[@KL-uv3ts]

I fell down this rabbit hole myself in January, where at the time I had only experimented with a mechanical keyboard I found in a thrift shop. (Very cool, typewriter style, WAY too loud for me.) Less than six months later and I own three keyboards (two budget pre-built modded and switch-swapped, one built from a barebones kit) and planning a fourth. It's kind of ridiculous how much joy the hobby brings me, and this was a great reminder of how it all started. I'm really glad to see you figured out how much softer they sound on a deskmat, because I had the same regret/disappointment for the same reasons arc. (Also, not to encourage needless spending, but if from the examples you threw up on screen you're interested in Osume keycaps, I really recommend them. The options they give you make them so customizable even without the novelty kits, and even the clamshells they're shipped in are high quality with helpful labels for storage and swapping. Plus the colors! THE COLORS.) (Also the face at 4:26 says "I regret nothing" and it's perfect.)

[@zioneldon8698]

You describe a very well and detailed cycle of a new keeb enthusiast. 😂 and its nice!

[@blehhsyn]

Great job on your research and your keeb turned out nice! I was in the same position as you 2 years ago and fell in love with the hobby ever since

[@fubarfubar1977]

As a fellow overthinking keyboard fan I resemble this video! 😂 Really nice job, great video well made. Thanks!

[@sainteagle4426]

Great video! Loved how you documented your experience and actually made conscious choices through extensive research. I would probably suggest a GMK87 build in the $100 budget range or Lucky65 for just a bit more (it's metal) but the Galaxy80 is also solid.

[@MirrorSound95]

I have a feeling we went through the same overthinking train just 2-3 weeks ago, when I decided to build my first keyboard too. Frustratingly satisfying.

[@nadtz]

Took me like 2 years to test out a bunch of options to figure out what I liked best, the biggest 'problem' (of the first world variety) is there are so many options now and another is so many items aren't in steady production. Never mind things like plate material and mounting styles when you go further down the rabbit hole. In the end I just took my time and tried stuff till I found what I liked best, but this is definitely a good video for someone who might be thinking about doing their first custom.

[@jammies701]

Regarding clicky switches, it's clickjacket styles (e.g., Cherry blue) that are terrible. Clickbars (e.g., Kailh Box Jade) & Aristotle-like (pretty much only TKC Blackberry & Gazzew Phoenix) are fine, although still loud, but they don't have that undesirable plastic scratching and rattling noise clickjacket switches. It's a "cleaner" click. Maybe not ideal for being around people, but that depends

[@nickomon14]

great video, thank you! might try to build my first keyboard after watching this :D

[@jammies701]

Nice vid mate

[@LukeyWolf.]

Extremely well made video, with this quality of content you should be hitting sub milestones in no time. 😊

[@catcertino]

thank you so much! encouraged to keep putting out good content :)

[@KenseAja]

dang, it sounds good too

[@dampvessile6261]

Nice video at least you didn’t attempt to retune your stabilizers because it’s a pain. (I spent a week retuning my spacebar stabilizer)

[@Darth_Modred]

you're mistaken about dyesub pbt, they are extremely resilent, even after several month of use no marks of shine or wear (only some dirt :D), btwn with galaxy80 you can use skyloong hotswap knob in f13 key slot for volume controll

[@catcertino]

agreed PBT is generally less prone to shine than ABS

[@isthatjelo]

lets go, keyboard goes thock thock

[@AnimateTheWorld]

im the same way with switches and esp keycaps. i overthink too much and have a list of keycaps im thinking of getting

[@catcertino]

don't overthink it 😉 (one quality set you like using is enough for most people)

[@Osama96-]

hey, I just bought my first mechanical keyboard(apex 7), and after two weeks, some switches started to feel rough and hard to press. Should I lube it only? or should I try something else?

[@catcertino]

lubing might help but it might just also be that you got unlucky with your purchase; I'd suggest taking it apart to see if there's anything wrong with the switches/keycaps and also check your return policy

[@kigeros195]

And nothing I state again nothing is outside of the scope 0-O

[@dumah02]

No numpad no love :(

[@catcertino]

💔

[@suulol]

[@catcertino]

🌻