MiniVan Keyboard with Wood Plate Typing Test

[@zack_szh6769]

They sound very crispy

[@ecksdee7957]

you need to try some wood keycaps on there!

[@dans2423]

I see you have box browns and Hako violets. Do they both turn clicky over time? Which one do you enjoy the most?

[@mikey631]

I like the violets better than the browns. the browns did get a bit noisier over time, but not much. the feel of the violets is better, though the box tactile switches generally aren't as smooth as some of the MX types you can get now. I've been recently trying out AKKO switches, and have been pretty happy with them.

[@dans2423]

I have the Akko Jelly Sponge and tbe construction is amazing. Unfortunately, I prefer the tactile bump towards midtravel, and not at the top (which in this case makes the switch feel heavier). I might try other Akko variants, though. I really like the Hako violet sound signature (mute jade is another one), but I''m afraid to end up getting a pre-retooling batch that might ruin my keycaps!

[@h82fail]

Isn't the pcb mounted to the bottom of the case and the plate is just kind of holding the switches in a grid and not actually mounting them? It would make sense that the plate material wont really change the sound in that case.

[@yawny9710]

If it was a gasket mount or even top mount would make a bigger difference in sound coming from the plate vs a tray mount.

[@dalilbaby4238]

Have those Box Brown switches stretched or cracked your keycaps?

[@mikey631]

I changed the keycaps a few weeks after I shot this video. Some of the alphas did exhibit some minor stretching, but they still fit tight enough on their current board (zealios switches), so that it hasn't been a problem. The minivan has had some XDA-profile PBT keycaps for the last few months, and those haven't shown the issue and still fit pretty tightly on regular mx switches (I just checked to be sure!). The PBT caps hold up much better than ABS in this situation.

[@RogueSystem087]

... actually really neat! may i ask, since you have the keycaps in person, what do you think of that keycap set? its the pbt 50 dollar ish photo one right? you like it so far? legends look clean?

[@mikey631]

I do like this set a lot. I have the first round set, so some of the legends aren't perfect, like the C key is a little more bold than the rest. It's not immediately noticeable, and doesn't bother me. But for some people, it's an issue. JTK said they have improved their tooling since then, so newer sets should be better.

[@SubterraneanChick]

Pumped? Go softer with the woods. Mic levels are off. Too much treble.

[@griponreality254]

Would you mind sharing who makes that wireless aluminum Numpad you've got there and where you found it? Finding a mechanical Numpad that isn't a plastic junker with knockoff blues is actually pretty difficult.

[@mikey631]

That is the minivan "roadkit". It's on their website. It's not wireless though, it was just unplugged at the time

[@griponreality254]

@@mikey631 Thanks a lot for getting back to me with that! The two look great together. Now just have to find someone getting rid of one.

[@cnmoro55]

How are those box browns holding up? I'm going to use them for a build soon, but have seem some bad comments about them. Nice keyboard, great sound

[@mikey631]

They are great! The original batches had oversized stems which could crack keycaps. All the new batches have been "retooled" so that this doesn't happen anymore. Any new box switch you buy should be the revised tooling.

[@cnmoro55]

@@mikey631 thank you for your answer, now I'm feeling better haha