Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
jenn.b
18
Apr 6, 2016
I can't decide between Zealios and Gateron Green. I think Paypal & Massdrop are going to put me on a banned list for ordering then cancelling, ordering then cancelling, probably five times over by now. I like Clears. I've already got Matias Quiet Click Switches coming w/their 60% keyboard--maybe this year? I'm trying my first linears: Gateron Blacks. So unsure and don't want to order two. ALTHOUGH, since this will be my first soldering, maybe I should order two in case the first ends in the bin? I've built my own computers (water-cooled w/acrylic tubing) but soldering intimidates me much more.
l2yuk3n
144
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bIf you make some mistakes with soldering, you probably won't have to dump the board itself. Just a little bit of patience to do the "cleanup" aspect of getting solder out of the holes. I believe worst case you might damage a few switches by applying the soldering iron for so long that you melt the plastic body of the switch (so having extra switches would be good!).
Even so, I highly recommend watching some youtube videos, and practicing by trying to solder some through-hole components (cheap resistors or bits of wire) onto plated protoboard (no need to get one that's this fancy looking, but I just happen to like how it looks: https://www.adafruit.com/products/571). A reasonable iron, some solder, the resistors, and protoboard can be ordered online or picked up at a Radio Shack (or other electronics store) for less than 20-30 bucks...much less than buying two plancks and throwing one away if you make a lot of soldering mistakes :).
As for switch types, I believe the closest "Zealios" to "MX Clears" are the 78g ones, based on all of the various forum/reddit posts about Zealios. the 65g ones will probably be closer to an "MX Brown" switch but with the better tactile bump of the "MX Clear"... ^--I could also be completely wrong about the zealios, this is just my understanding from what I've read online, I have not actually tried zealios yet (though I did order some 67 and 78g ones :))
jenn.b
18
Apr 6, 2016
l2yuk3nThanks for the soldering and switch advice! I have a few more days to mull it over and decide. I appreciate the recommendations for soldering practice very much. It's something I should try & the protoboard you linked to seems a good starting point. Off to MakerShed and other sites. Thanks for the encouragement!
l2yuk3n
144
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bno worries! It's not really that hard or intimidating; the way the solder wicks to the hot metal when melted actually makes it pretty hard to make mistakes. It prefers to stick to the metal pads, rather than getting all over the PCB material. : )
evangs
1492
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bUse flux when soldering. It makes all the difference
rangersilme
20
Apr 6, 2016
evangsThis really can't be stated enough. I use the flux pens but when I need to buy more I'm going to get the liquid flux in those needle point bottles.
If you're nervous about soldering, some things to keep in mind: *You're feeding solder into the joint, so make sure there is enough clearance between your fingers and the soldering iron. It's easy to forget when you're concentrating on soldering to "restock" the solder. On that note: *Give yourself plenty of solder to work with. Trying to conserve solder is false economy. *With this kit, heat one side of the leads for a few seconds and apply solder on the opposite side of the lead. WAIT FOR THE LEAD TO MELT THE SOLDER. Don't let the iron melt the solder. *If you get a "cold joint", apply flux and reheat the joint. *In fact, apply flux to all joints before you start soldering. Flux cleans the metal as it's heated. This is good for melting the solder onto the metal. *Clean your soldering iron often by "tinning the tip". This means using a wet sponge to wipe away soot and applying a small amount of solder to the iron tip itself. Wipe away extra solder onto the sponge. *Use lead based solder. Don't waste your time with the other stuff.
Just some things to get you started. Practice kits are a great idea. Get flux too. Just realize the smaller boards might be a little hard to control since you're pushing a soldering iron against them. Good luck!
jenn.b
18
Apr 6, 2016
rangersilmeThanks! I've printed out the list of things to keep in mind and will use it during practice and when I put this together. It's much appreciated!
rangersilme
20
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bOh, one more thing: flux gives off fumes/smokes when it's heated so solder in a well-ventilated area. I tend to have my head right over the solder joint so the fumes are constantly going into my face.
jenn.b
18
Apr 6, 2016
rangersilmeThis has been added to my Safety List. Thanks!
jenn.b
18
Apr 6, 2016
l2yuk3nAlso got extra switches to have on hand via Zeal. Thanks for the reminder to plan ahead!
scorpusone
39
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bI wished there was an option to get a few more switches included, a few bucks extra into the project as a failsafe precaution would be a good thing. Considering I'm a total noob when it comes to soldering, and also if one of the switches is malfunctioned for some reason.
elFick
319
Apr 6, 2016
jenn.bAre you cancelling your order when you change your mind about switches? If so, no need. Prior to the end of the drop, you can just go in and adjust your order on your Transactions page. Just click the Edit button inside the order details box.
jenn.b
18
Apr 7, 2016
elFickWhy yes I was. How embarrassing. :) Okay, so now I know you can adjust orders on the Transactions page. Lesson learned!
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Mechanical Keyboards