Ultimate Guide to Custom Keycap Sets for Mechanical Keyboards | ABS vs PBT, GMK, Profiles, and more!

[@IOSam]

Great video for beginners and enthusiasts alike! I'll point people to this video whenever they have questions about different keycaps styles, profiles and materials. Just one thing I think you left out (maybe because it is less common on top tier keycap sets you were aiming for in this video) is the fact that there are double-shot PBT keycaps out there as well (where you have two different colored plastics for the keys and for the legends), but it is more common with lower quality/price keycaps, since it is almost impossible to get high quality legends on PBT using this process.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you! And for sure about double-shot PBT, chose to leave it out of this video but it's worth mentioning.

[@diemlekieu707]

llllqlll1

[@chevalierdeloccident5949]

This deserves a million views. Very thorough, briefly stated, and super organized.

[@fazendohistoria_]

I'm a curious man, so I must say: I think this is the first time on my life that I search something on KZbin and solved all my doubts with a single video. Thank you man.

[@whoizthedrizzle]

I've been in this hobby for a while now, and I can just tell you how much this would have help when I was a beginner, because this is one of, if not, the best video for beginners.

[@danielp121]

these are sound test round up so you can compare sounds side by side :D 19:31 cherry ABS doubleshot 19:41 cherry PBT dye-sub 19:51 tai-hao OEM PBT doubleshot 20:01 DSA PBT dye-sub 20:11 KAT PBT dye-sub 20:21 SA ABS doubleshot best sounding for me is KAT profile :)

[@claudiamiranda2630]

My best sounding is the oem

[@RiZeLegiT]

will cherry keycaps work with my gateron browns

[@Instinct0425]

@@RiZeLegiT yes. If it’s a north facing PCB it *might* have interference which will not feel the best

[@MichaelEvansGeo]

KAT and SA sound the best, but GMK looks best.

[@flystar1999]

KAT & SA sounds best to me too. It seems higher keys generate "lower"-pitched sounds. But I was wondering if high profile also means more force of accumulated pressing (thus more fatigue) and longer actuation time?

[@QualityScrub]

I am just getting into this hobby and this was the most helpful video I’ve come across so far. Thanks so much for all the hard work on this!

[@shroomdoodle7727]

Thank you for clearing up my confusion on keycap profiles! The comparisons you included are really helpful :)

[@jimmynguyen973]

Glad I was able to help!

[@ninobernedo9628]

Learned a lot from this video, looking forward to my first keycap set for my K6. 👌🏽

[@leannehwa3736]

so much research and thought put into this video! I learned a lot 🥰

[@skrrquavo4027]

Amazing video! The one main thing that I feel you should have definitely talked about was interference with cherry profile kepcaps and north facing switches, but I do understand that it can make the video complex where the intention is to be informative yet simple. Other than that, great video!

[@Zecoru]

you posted this 3 years ago and it still helped a bunch tysm!

[@noahhite1699]

Great video! This is an absolutely wonderful resource for those just joining the community Also love the keyboard shelves in the background

[@superaurae]

Omg this was so helpful, thank you!! I see the effort and quality that was put into this, happy new subscriber here :)

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you, glad I was able to help!

[@sethdcastillo]

great video...and channel for people who are just getting into the custom mech kb community! Thanks for the info Jimmy! :)

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for watching!

[@shaunwan2110]

Good stuff! very detailed explanation of keycaps. looking forward to more videos also love the lighting in the background

[@CheezBurgrWitNoCheez]

I found you by searching for an aquarium reviewer with the same name. As a mechanical keyboard user, I am not disappointed. Thank you!

[@weirdsister3]

Very informative video for a newbie like me who's just found out mechanical keyboard have such a wide and passionate community. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and time with us!

[@thomaschan3625]

bro fr ur so underrated lol like i just assumed u had like 500k subs or something and then i checked. Hope u blow up!!

[@CristobalRuiz]

Thanks so much for all the links dude. Although I haven't bought a mechanical keyboard yet your video explain so many things to me before I go ahead and make a purchase. Keep up the good work.

[@leodong6060]

Wow this is so detailed and well researched!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for watching!

[@nottheeviltwin6]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Appreciate this so much!

[@enza257]

really really helpful video. especially with the links in the description... i think ill find a lot of them useful. Thank you!!!

[@vishnal8584]

heyy man, this video is very well detailed 💯 thanks a lot!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for watching, glad I was able to help!

[@mechwarrior83]

What an amazing breakdown and a guide! Thank you so much!

[@CharlieKabe]

great video jimmy! the quality of these last few have been amazing, keep it up because I believe you will be huge soon!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for your support Charlie!

[@viciouslove9383]

This was really helpful! Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@pandehigos]

Switch and Click sent me here. Thanks for the video, very informative!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Awesome! Thanks for watching, glad I was able to help.

[@tyraelhermosa]

Damnnn Daniel... epic video on the topic! I learned quite a bit, even after being a part of this cursed hobby for quite a while.

[@kerron68]

This guy knows his stuff

[@JR-gh8lp]

Thank you for the comprehensive video

[@ruienkoh]

Thank you so much for this awesome video! I started learning about mechs but haven't came across one on keycaps and this one helped me out a lot, hope to get a prebuilt one myself one day

[@willdai]

Great video, definitely deserve way more than 1k subscribers

[@rzha9786]

this is truly an ultimate guide

[@katarixy]

This was so well done and instructive that I found it as soothing as :3ildcat’s videos. And OMG that spreadsheet! Thank you so much! You might be the reason why I end up committing for the Rama U-80 Seq 2 (yolk). I’ll need to find a keycap set that blends in with the color. Once again thank you!!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Glad I was able to help! I'm a fan of :3ildcat’s videos so I'll take that compliment! GMK Serika Round 2 is launching in December if you want a yellow keycap set to match the yolk www.reddit.com/r/MechanicalKeyboards/comments/ix5d7v/gmk_serika_2_december_2020/

[@katarixy]

@@jimmynguyen973 Thank you!

[@dayslikethis82]

This is really helpful, thank you

[@matthewyab]

Got into my first group buy. GMK Frostwitch. Also probably going to get GMK Bento Round2 in August if I like the profile. I have cherry pbt keycaps but I am also eyeing PBT Modern Hangul since I like Korean letters and minimal color but it's just in interest check phase. My wallet is done this summer.

[@TimManuelMiranda]

This was an amazing, thorough, and organized video. Solid content. I have been trying to find out my own preferences and like the feel of pbt and am not a fan of the worn, slick abs feel. But I am also wanting to achieve the thocky-est, bassy-est tone that I can with keycaps. Something I think I've read in forums and other guides and such is that ABS is a softer plastic, and therefore absorbs more sound and can be more thocky, whereas PBT is much harder and even brittle so it bounces sound around and can have more high pitched sounds bouncing around. Do you find this to be the case? Is all of this negated by just having nice thick caps, even if PBT? And would the size of the cap/profile result in more bass and thock? Based on the sound tests I think the SA profile showed that but just wanted to confirm that that is actually what is going on. Currently waiting on a cheap, Chinese SA profile, PBT set that I'm hoping will accomplish the feel and sound I'm wanting to achieve.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks for watching! I find PBT to have a deeper/thockier sound profile, and this is shown by the cherry ABS & cherry PBT sound test in the video. I also find that the higher the profile, the more thock there is. Since SA is a very high keycap profile, it has a deeper sound. I think if the keycap set that you have coming in isn't too thin, it'll help with achieving that thocky sound. However, keycaps are just part of the equation. Other factors include sound dampeners, plate material (aluminum is higher pitch than polycarbonate for example), lube/film on switches, the switch housing material, and the case material/construction.

[@jakobhardiman5148]

Amazing video!

[@plizagod]

What a nice review. I learned a lot, thank you.

[@dizzydave578]

great informative video.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you, glad you found it helpful!

[@jelee7690]

Good job with the video. Very informative!

[@onobonono]

Another important consideration is if your keyboard has LEDs. Double-shot keycaps are compatible with backlit keyboards, whereas dye-sub is only for non-backlit. And whether you have north-facing or south-facing switches (i.e. which side the LED is located) is a factor to consider too, as cherry profile keycaps interfere with north-facing switches.

[@Liam-B]

Max Keyboard and WASD have some custom cap set options that are fun to play with. Their sites have tools that let you visualize what you're looking for. Plus I can get my side print caps and know the font I'm getting.

[@desertfox620]

Excellent overview!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you!

[@muditvarshney3613]

Plz 🙏🏻 make a video compairing different keycap profiles OSA profile vs MDA profile vs KAT profile vs Mt3 profile vs MG profile vs DSS profile. Which one is most suitable for gaming and typing.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Unless someone is willing to send me OSA, MDA, MG, and DSS profiles, I'm not looking to spend money on keycaps that I won't use or like (in terms of the design). Especially since I no longer believe there is a "best" profile for gaming or typing. Likewise, I don't believe there is a best switch for gaming. It really comes down to your own preference. Perhaps if you're competing at the very top, in tournaments and whatnot, you can maybe argue that a shorter travel distance on switches, and flat profiles may give you an edge in faster key presses, but that's a very, very small minority of gamers. To find a profile you will like, you need to try them out. And there's no cheap way to do this unless you have a friend you can borrow some keycaps from. Determine if you like a uniform profile or a sculpted profile, and if you prefer lower height profiles vs taller ones. After using all of my keyboards with different profiles and switches for a while now, when I'm gaming I'm not paying attention to the keyboard, I'm paying attention to the game. As long as it's a profile that won't cause me to make more mistakes than usual, which can also depend on the game, it's all good. With a FPS game like Valorant, I'm not pressing that many keys so I can use whatever profile. For typing I can feel the difference for sure, which is why I prefer sculpted profiles vs uniform, but after a bit I get used to it.

[@ashleygyamfi5875]

This was so helpful! Thank you!

[@pixxel17]

Cherry, Kay, Mt3, and SA all sound really good OEM sounded cheaper than the rest for some reason I really need to look into getting into an Infinikey or KAT gb soon...

[@Moon_Presence]

Thanks for the video!! Pretty cool keycap sets! But I’d rather use my money elsewhere rather than spend almost 100$ on keycaps

[@hiY00JUNG]

Really helpful thank you so much!!

[@davidhunter4708]

Hello! Would you be able to link where you got the gradient keycap set at 16:18?

[@jimmynguyen973]

www.mechsupply.co.uk/product/sa-vilebloom

[@XalphYT]

For all the European viewers, a big limitation of most group buys is that they are designed for the ANSI keyboard layout. If you don't like typing like an American, then you can give most group buys a pass. If the group buy offers any ISO layout at all, then it's the UK ISO, and that is simply not good enough.

[@NicolasGarel1201]

that's where KAT keycaps often makes the difference imho.

[@ArnaudMEURET]

“_typing like an American_” ?? I’m French and for the last 20 years I’ve switched to QWERTY layouts (US, UK, JP) mostly because the French layout is so stupid when you’re a programmer. For the few cases when I need French accents, I use IME or just autocorrect when I proofread before sending.

[@musiclover2318]

Thoughts on novelkeys olivias GB? it’s not gmk and the layout is DSS.. I’m just wondering if it’s a good entry level since I want to get a keyboard 😩

[@jimmynguyen973]

The Olivia NK65 is fantastic. You get Olivia keycaps which can only be found in the aftermarket for a lot more, but I've never tried the DSS profile so I can't comment on that. The keycaps are made by Signature Plastic, so they should be high quality. You also get nice linear switches with the NK Silks that are already factory lubed with 205g0 so that saves a lot of time. The PCB offers both QMK and VIA support so you have complete flexibility on programming the keys. And it's hot swappable so that allows you to try out other switches if you want. If you want an all-in-one package, its a great bundle. The biggest selling point are the colors of the case, Olivia keycaps, and special NK Silk switches in the Olivia colorway. If that's not something you're interested in, I think it would be better to wait for NK65 entry edition to be restocked, then buy the keycaps and switches separately.

[@TXHusker05]

Jimmy, I was wondering what keycaps you had on on that 75% keyboard at 9:43? I really dig the all centered text, no symbols design but no amount of google-fu is coming up with options. I really like the Drop MT3 Susuwatari caps that are similar and they're in the perfect colorway, but really dislike the colored text on the modifiers. Something like that, but with text arrows, etc would be amazing if you had any ideas.

[@jimmynguyen973]

You were close! It's MT3 Serika. Sadly I don't know of keycaps with text arrows, this is my only set with them

[@TXHusker05]

@@jimmynguyen973 I've been digging deep and have seen a couple with all text options, no symbols, but not quite right with colors. This hobby can definitely be frustrating sometimes but if I can find something close to that option it'll be close enough! Thanks!

[@JMichelle014]

Really liked the video! My question is what goes into designing keycaps? I would be really interested in seeing a video like that!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks! I've never designed keycaps before so I can't comment much on that, but these articles may help: uniqey.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360008759900-Designing-a-Custom-GMK-Keycap-Set-Guide- drop.com/talk/475/what-goes-into-creating-a-custom-keycap-set

[@Porako]

Great vid. 🙏

[@wednesday92P]

Hey there, this is an extremely informative and well paced video! The way you explained every section was easy to follow too! I have a question that is pulling from your own experience; if i want to have a THOCC sounding keyboard, what kind of keycaps would you recommend?

[@jimmynguyen973]

Glad you liked the video! If you want the THOCC, go for PBT keycaps. Taller-profile keycaps like SA will give more thocc, but I find PBT Cherry to be pretty good. But just the keycaps won't give you the thoc, the case & plate will play a bigger role, but I'm not sure of the combinations that'll give you thoccc. Lubing your switches also helps.

[@andres154525452]

Greeeeeat video!

[@db3229]

Are you sure R2 at 22:03 doesn't refer to row 2? for Tai Hao I have seen rubber keycaps for specific rows

[@jimmynguyen973]

R2 can also mean row 2, but when it's used in a keycap set name, it means round 2

[@AO-uj7sx]

Thank you for your incredible video! Perhaps you could offer me a bit of guidance? I'm completely new to this space but have started looking into mechanical keyboards due to left-hand little-finger pain that has gotten worse with all of the capitalization required with typing in German. I noticed that at 20:30 in your video the yellow modifier keys in the foreground are much higher and I'm thinking this could be exactly what I need to help alleviate that finger pain from over-reaching. I'm currently using the Apple Magic Keyboard with the num pad paired with my MacBook Pro but I frequently switch to the PC partition and need something that can easily switch back and forth between OSs. Also also share an office so I've been considering Cherry MX Brown switches or something similar. Finally, I use the Dvorak layout and I care about speed but I'm not a keyboard gamer. I'd love to go for a sculpted set of PBTs with Cherry MX Browns or something else quiet and tactile but I'm worried it's going to be near impossible to find a set meant for the Dvorak layout unless I go for uniform key caps. I'd also ideally like to keep the num pad but I'm open to getting a second external keypad if need be. Do you think these are valid concerns and see any other issues with my thinking or have any recommendations? I've also been looking at the much simpler approach of buying a Keychron K4 V2 but I'm unsure whether I'll be able to rearrange those keys into Dvorak. Many thanks for your support!!

[@jimmynguyen973]

Your options are either to 1) go for a uniform keycap profile like you mentioned, but basically all uniform keycap profiles are short. Not as short as the apple magic keyboard, but nowhere near as high as the MT3 profile as shown in 20:30. There is the KAM profile, but you're most likely only going to find that in custom keycap sets, which goes into the second option: Join a group buy for a custom keycap set. Either one that has a Dvorak kit, or is a uniform profile. You can view all current and upocoming keycap group buys at mechgroupbuys.com/keycaps For example, the SA Laser supports Dvorak with the Colevrak kit drop.com/buy/drop-mito-sa-laser-custom-keycap-set? As for the keyboard, I recommend going for one with hotswap sockets so you can easily change out the switches in the future if needed. The Keycrhon K4 has the option for hotswap sockets, but you'll need to get different keycaps to get Dvorak support.

[@AO-uj7sx]

@@jimmynguyen973 wow! Thank you for such a fast and thorough answer! Also, this keyboard on Drop looks dope and purple is my favorite color. Thanks a ton!

[@AO-uj7sx]

@@jimmynguyen973 why would I need different keycaps for the K4--aren't they uniform?

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@AO-uj7sx they’re not, the keycaps are OEM profile, sculpted

[@AO-uj7sx]

@@jimmynguyen973 aha, I get it now. So the advantage of going with K4 is getting a case (correct term?) that has multi-device wireless support, a removable USB-C cable, and Most Importantly is hot-swappable. Then I can choose uniform keys to get to Dvorak. Correct?

[@katarina8660]

Hi! This is a very detailed video. Im planning to get my first ever mechanical keyboard. So im really new into this. Ive decided to get the hot-swappable Keychron K2 V2 and I dont like the default color of the keycaps. I believe that keyboard is 75%. My question is that, lets say I want the GMK Sculpted profile (Cherry), does that mean the base set will cover the 75% layout? Thank you.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Glad you found the video helpful! Yup, the K2 is a 75% layout. Any GMK base kit should cover the 75% layout. The other GMK kits are usually for novelties, extra spacebars, or for less common layouts like 40%.

[@katarina8660]

@@jimmynguyen973 Cool! Thanks again for the help.

[@katarina8660]

Hi! Again, thank you for answering my question before. I hope you dont mind this follow up question. I was checking some keycaps from Amazon and something is really confusing me. For example the definition says "YMDK 96 84 ANSI ISO Keyset OEM Profile Thick PBT Keycap Set for Cherry MX Mechanical Keyboard YMD96 RS96 KBD75 YMD75 FC980M". It covers the number of keys for the keychron k2v2 which is 84, the layout which is ANSI, as well as the switch compatibility (Gateron). However, when choosing/selecting which specific set to buy, it shows 125 keys, 115 keys and those different ISO layouts. Obviously, K2 will only need those 84 keys but does that mean selecting either 125 or 115 keys will both fit? Im really confused on that part. Is the 125 or 115 keys the 'Base Set'? Hope you can answer this for me. Thank you. www.amazon.com/YMDK-Keyset-Profile-Mechanical-Keyboard/dp/B07JCWX17G/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=84%2Bkeycaps&qid=1605640687&sr=8-1&th=1 Lastly, does it mean this one wont fit since it didnt cover 84 keys in the description? www.amazon.com/RK-ROYAL-KLUDGE-Non-Backlit-Mechanical/dp/B08397XX5G

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@katarina8660 That's def confuisng, looks like that first listing is tryna hit all the keywords for SEO. Both the 125 or 115 will work, but with the little price difference, I would go for 125 just to have the extra keys. The second listing will not fit because it's missing the shorter right shift. For the keychron k2, the main thing you wanna make sure a keycap set has is the shorter right shift. As long as it has that, good chance the set will fit. The second thing you wanna check are the mods to the right of the spacebar (1u mods)

[@katarina8660]

@@jimmynguyen973 Thank you so much! I didnt notice that. Those are the 2 things that I will definitely check first. I guess that is the reason behind this video I just saw about Keychron K2. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oJDGqIOPZZatm8U

[@babab003y]

what are those keycaps on the pikachu board in the beginning of the video?

[@gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121]

What would the best Keycaps for hourly typing? Thank you so much. Very informative video. 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@jimmynguyen973]

No best, depends on what you like. I like cherry profile keycaps

[@gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121]

@@jimmynguyen973 i think i need to explore more about this Keyboard profiles. Hehehe!! This hobby is cost alot. HAHA! Thank you by the way. ☺️🙏🏻

[@chiizuu752]

You get tired of typing on keycaps? Pretty sure it's the angle of the keyboard that should tire you out lol

[@gerardkirkpatricksanchez2121]

@@chiizuu752 no worries, comfortable wrist pad got me. 👍🏻

[@theSEGAtwistisover9k]

quality content, the heck were you when I was noobin...😒

[@jenniferw8963]

what about buying custome dye sublimation printouts from etsy for a couple bucks per sheet ? Then apply to blank pbt key caps ? :)

[@joevincenttitular7564]

TNX FOR THE TIP, JUST ASKIN, IF I WANT KEYCAPS THAT REALLY SHINES RGB, SHOULD I GO FOR ABS OR PBT?

[@jimmynguyen973]

I don't think the actual material matters that much. If you want to show off RGB, look for shine-through keycaps, which are usually made with PBT.

[@Swoahu]

Great video, but I'm so confused by the typing sound tests - you never hit your spacebar during all that typing. Am I crazy?

[@max-patitas]

What's your opinion on POM keycaps compared to abs/pbt?

[@jimmynguyen973]

I've never tried POM keycaps so unfortunately I can't compare

[@pinch-of-salt]

I like the sound and feel of a overlubed brown or red mx switches. full of bass and muted. What do you think will be the best keycaps to help with that kind of sound? I really like the look of SA but I see lots of people saying they don't fit correctly on key switch stems or even produce this hollow sound.

[@jimmynguyen973]

For the sound you're looking for, go for thick PBT keycaps (like 1.5mm). SA keycaps will also give you the best results for this, not sure where you heard otherwise (maybe they had thin keycaps). Basically, high profile keycaps (SA, MT3, KAT) will give you that "thock" sound, as shown in the sound test portion of this video. They will also fit just fine on stems.

[@pinch-of-salt]

@@jimmynguyen973 thanks bro, subbed. I am in a split between thick cherry, thick DSA, thick SA. The issue is the SA set is made for TKL but I have a 75% layout, some keys won't match the overall sculpt. Would that be a big issue? Do you think a DSA would have that thick bassy muted sound? What should I do?

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@pinch-of-salt Ah ok, if the specific SA set you're looking at don't have all the keys you need, then skip it because it's imporant to have the sculpt match. DSA doesn't really have that muted sound. I think you should either find an SA set that can fill a 75% (will prob end up costing more money), or go with the Cherry PBT. Keep in mind that the keycaps are just part of the equation to get the sound you're looking for. Having lubed switches definitely help, but the case also plays a big factor. If you have a lot of room in your case under the PCB, you can fill it sound dampening material (shelf liner, foam, neoprene, etc.)

[@pinch-of-salt]

@@jimmynguyen973 does all the keys not matching the sculpt really matter so much? What would be the best profile for coding/typing? I have lubed my switched will get foam or something for my case as my top shell is my base plate and it's aluminium and the case is plastic. I have a cheap Z88 E-Element keyboard. I have upgrade the stabs and lubed the switches it does sound really nice now. Nothing compared to expensive zelios or alps. But I am happy, I am just looking for one set of keycaps that are comfortable for coding/typing without palm rest of anything and introduce least amount of errors and bassy and muted sound. 😜

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@pinch-of-salt Sculpting matters to me a lot because it's very jarring when I type on a key that's a different sculpt from the rest of the keyboard. For coding/typing/ergonomics, it's all preference. In the grand scheme of things, I would say the profile doesn't matter too much, you're better off looking at other ergonomic factors such as desk height, chair, angle of the keyboard, etc. But generally, I prefer sculpted profiles because it makes it easier to reach the different rows on the keyboard. I prefer to not use SA because I think it's too high, but I can use if needed.

[@kadinhameed3500]

I am very new to the idea of custom keyboards, and I was wondering how long does it typically take for your item to arrive from the group buy?

[@jimmynguyen973]

Depends on the group buy, but for GMK keycap sets expect at least a year. GMK has a huge backlog, but they're working on increasing production I believe. For keyboard cases...can take anywhere from 3 months to as long as a year as well, depends on the GB runner.

[@maximef1]

Does it ever happen that a past group buy goes back on sale? I fell in love with the KAT Oasis keyset but missed the group buy by a few months.

[@jimmynguyen973]

it's really up to the GB runner and vendors. i dont actually know of any KAT profiles that got a second run, but there have been a bunch of GMK re-runs

[@GRIFFIN-TACTICAL7667]

so im looking at getting a keycap set for a key pad and it is meant for gaming and has a half space bar you know any good 40% keycap sets that have half space bars

[@yuhaokong]

you just earn a sub thanks for explaining.

[@snowfault1684]

0:14 what is that light blue top middle one name

[@jimmynguyen973]

gothic70 with GMK Mizu

[@danhpham5280]

Can you do a detail video on how to run a group buy?

[@jimmynguyen973]

Since I've never ran a group buy myself, I'm not qualified to make a video on that. Take a look at the interest checks on geekhack to see what people are expecting in terms of your ideas. geekhack.org/index.php?board=132.0 You then still have to secure vendors and do color sample tests after the group buy is over..and probably a bunch of more stuff I'm not aware of.

[@voqzmk2]

Hey, are there any keycap sets with the ISO-DE Layout? I can't find any keycap sets with Ä,Ü,Ö,ß and the ISO Enter + Shift Keys

[@jimmynguyen973]

Sadly I don't think so. ISO-DE is pretty rare, I'm not sure if I've seen any yet.

[@ghitto2192]

14:11 , what are the name of dsa keycaps on the right?

[@jimmynguyen973]

DSA Milkshake

[@billburrows2393]

What models are those split ergo keyboards!

[@armaan_ahsan]

What are the advantages/disadvantages of both south facing LEDs and north facing LEDs

[@jimmynguyen973]

it mainly has to do with keycaps. backlit keycaps are made for north-facing LEDs, so you will get the brightest legends with north-facing LEDs. the downside with north-facing LEDs is when you use cherry profile keycaps, like GMK, on a north-facing switch. you may run into some interference, especially on the ASDFG row. by interference, i mean the keycap hitting the switch housing prematurely, resulting in a different sound. if you're using a switch with a long stem pole like holy pandas, this will help prevent that interference because the longer stem will cause you to bottom out sooner. i've also heard that some cherry profile keycaps won't run into interference, but i'm not sure which manufacturer

[@armaan_ahsan]

@@jimmynguyen973 Thanks

[@armaan_ahsan]

@@jimmynguyen973 Will the legends on pudding keycaps look dim if there are south facing LEDs?

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@armaan_ahsan kzbin.info/www/bejne/fqWzoXWFl91lh8U

[@yenahh6954]

Which profile is best for typing?

[@julianmoreno3974]

What are those blue black and white keycaps called?

[@TTales.]

Great video. I have a Razer Ornata & I’m wondering if I can put on any key cap? Like, will they 100% fit? I don’t want to order some key caps for them not to fit lol.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Looks like the Razer Ornata uses some sort of membrane type key, so you won't be able to use any keycaps sice most keycaps are for MX-style switches.

[@TTales.]

@@jimmynguyen973 I thought so, looks like I’m buying a new keyboard! lol - thanks bro.

[@TTales.]

@@jimmynguyen973 could you suggest a good base to start with? I’m thinking cherry switches, but I’m unsure what board to start with.

[@TTales.]

@@jimmynguyen973 I also would like RGB’s to show when I have cherry switches, I’m not sure if that’s possible, I’m sure it’s down to what keycaps I have though.

[@preppyluhhh9453]

This is so helpful for a beginner like me, but i have a question I am interested in buying a keeb soon but for the purpose of work i type all day so which keycaps is good for a typer? I know it's all about preference but i wanna know yours... Thanks

[@jimmynguyen973]

I prefer low-profile, sculpted keycaps, so Cherry profile

[@preppyluhhh9453]

@@jimmynguyen973 wow..thank you so much for replying... This is very helpful..

[@ZedStorme]

How is shipping handled for group buys? For example, I'm looking at Gmk, based in Germany. Does that mean I can get relatively cheaper shipping and no tax if I am inside the EU?

[@jimmynguyen973]

you'll have to check if theres an EU vendor in the group buy for the best shipping rates. im unsure of how taxes work

[@xfrozn]

is there any information on where to reliably find english + other language keycaps other than WASD's shop? or do i just have to watch for group buys? (i'm looking for english + hangul but i've only ever seen them on WASD's shop)

[@jimmynguyen973]

I think your best bet is to wait for group buys with english + hangul keycaps. It's not common to have multiple languages in a keycap set. Hirigana is the most common, it's much harder to find hangul.

[@xfrozn]

@@jimmynguyen973 thanks! also i was wondering why people don't recommend amazon kind of keycaps? like i understand that it would be of lower quality but how exactly would that affect the keyboard, and will it be so significant that i should avoid it? (i'm a beginner with a budget lol)

[@jimmynguyen973]

@@xfrozn there are some decent keycaps on amazon these days, check out the ones by HK gaming. cheap keycaps just wont look as nice or feel as nice. smile.amazon.com/HK-Gaming-Dye-Sublimation-Keycaps/dp/B08156NG7K/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=hk+gaming&qid=1610722364&sr=8-3

[@pinch-of-salt]

How durable is dye sub?? will it last few years of heavy use?

[@jimmynguyen973]

It's basically permanent, will last for a looong time.

[@zoharllera1696]

Do keycaps fit most keyboads or i need a spesific keycap?

[@christiancampbell2025]

What is the best key cap profile for gaming and typing

[@jimmynguyen973]

there isn't one-personal preference. I like Cherry.

[@BassAsLeaders]

I think KAT profile keycaps look the best because they have a nice rounded aesthetic like XDA but still are sculpted. The thing is I'm still very new in this hobby. Any opinions?

[@jimmynguyen973]

It’s all personal preference, I like cherry best but can’t really explain why I just like typing on it. KAT wasn’t that special to me

[@veeci2468]

Good day.. Greetings from the Philippines.. New subscriver here.. Really appreciate your effort for this video.. This is such an informative and detailed video.. This is a great help for me as i am planning to do a mechkeyboard someday.. Thanks much for this.. I learned a lot.. Keep it up and God bless.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you for watching and subscribing! I'm glad I was able to help.

[@veeci2468]

@@jimmynguyen973 You're welcome Sir.. Looking forward for your next videos..

[@GHOSTciu]

What about backlit keycaps?

[@Viemo_]

Where to buy nordic keycaps?

[@letsmap]

PBT + cherry mx profile is the best sounding and best fit form for typing....it's too bad it's not the main keycap style set

[@2i3u]

So pbt still will get shiny ? But for how long?

[@cheeserstudio5354]

can you tell us something about your main 65% keyboard? it looks awsome!!

[@jimmynguyen973]

It's a polycarbonate Think6.5 v1 with T1s (clear bottom, cherry top, lubed w/ 3204) and GMK Bento!

[@cheeserstudio5354]

@@jimmynguyen973 it looks great! nice combo also, clean but very unique

[@ivanli3556]

What switches do you use? And what do you recommend?

[@jimmynguyen973]

I mostly use Linear switches. Any Linear switch made by JWK will be good (Mauve, Alpacas, Lilacs, etc.) Gateron Yellow switches are a good budget linear option. I do also have some keyboards with tactile switches (Boba U4, T1, and Holy Pandas)

[@Skyhigamer]

I was wondering where you got that sushi keycap set? great video by the way very resourceful

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thank you! That's GMK Bento, a group buy that ran last year, but round 2 is coming in August! geekhack.org/index.php?topic=106271.0

[@Skyhigamer]

Thanks so much

[@Brokewifi]

What are those things called on your wall that are holding your keyboards?

[@jimmynguyen973]

They're clear acrylic wall shelves I found on Amazon

[@adrianlee3545]

i want to know, is all that keycap can fit to any keyboard? coz I still confuse to find which keycap can fit my keychon K4

[@jimmynguyen973]

Generally speaking, any keycap can fit to any keyboard. Unless you somehow manage to find keycaps for topre keyboards, then those only works for specific keyboards that uses Topre switches, instead of MX style switches (the ones with the cross stem) With the keychron k4, make sure to find keycaps sets that have all the keys you need, especially the non-standard sized keys like the 1.75u right shift, 1u command, 1u fn, and 1u control, and 1u 0 on the numpad.

[@derrickweiss5450]

Jimmy hanging out with 500 subs. What's going on? This video is amazing. Smash that subscribe button.

[@jimmynguyen973]

Thanks Derrick! Glad you liked the video.

[@theoverunderthinker]

well, 5 months later he is at 2k, so your comment must have worked! ;)

[@sgist7824]

July 21, 126.5k subscribers, Covid boredom had a silver lining after all.

[@HughsAlfa33]

7k now

[@tuffany6392]

What key profile would be the best for fast typing

[@jimmynguyen973]

Largely comes down to personal preference.