My Journey Into the World of Custom Mechanical Keyboards
Hey everyone, today I want to dive into a topic that has completely consumed my life lately - exploring and building custom mechanical keyboards. For those who know me, you know I'm always tinkering with tech and looking for my next hobby to obsess over. Well, I've found it and I've fallen deep down the rabbit hole of custom keebs. I’ve written my review of my Nuphy keyboard here before, but I never actually said how I got here.
It all started a year or two ago when I was browsing Reddit late one night and stumbled upon the r/MechanicalKeyboards subreddit. I was instantly mesmerized by all the photos of these gorgeous, colorful keyboards with cool designs and layouts. People were talking about things like switch types, keycap profiles, stabilizers, and tons of other terminology that went right over my head. But I was intrigued.
I started doing some research to understand the basics. I learned that mechanical keyboards use actual physical switches under each key, as opposed to the mushy rubber dome keyboards that come with most computers. There are different types of mechanical switches that vary in feel and sound - linear, tactile, and clicky. You can also customize the keycaps, the outer case, and basically rebuild the whole thing from scratch.
The more I read, the more I knew I had to try building my own custom keyboard. I was a little intimidated at first, not gonna lie. I'm comfortable building PCs but this seemed like a whole different beast. Soldering, programming the PCB (the main board), picking all the right parts - it was a lot to take in as a total noob. But I was determined to learn. And to be honest, I still haven’t gotten to the soldering bit, hot-swappable all the way.
I decided to start with a hot-swappable keyboard kit for my first build. This means the PCB has sockets so you can easily pop the switches in and out without soldering. After a ton of research and deliberation, I landed on the Nuphy Air60 (version 1 at the time was the only one available) as the perfect starter board for me.
Why Nuphy? A few reasons:
Wireless connectivity. The Air60 connects via Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz dongle, so I can easily use it with my laptop or iPad on the go.
Mac layout keycaps included. As a Mac user, it's hard to find mechanical keyboards with a Mac layout. The Air60 comes with Mac keycaps in the box.
Hot-swappable with a great switch selection. I knew I wanted to try a few different switches so hot-swap was a must. The Air60 is compatible with Gateron low profile switches in linear Red, tactile Brown, and clicky Blue varieties.
Compact 60% layout. I like a smaller form factor but still wanted arrow keys and a few nav keys. The 60% layout of the Air60 was perfect.
Sleek, minimal design. I'm a sucker for clean aesthetics and the machined aluminum frame with the floating key design really did it for me. The RGB side lights are a nice touch too.
So I ordered my Air60 kit, along with some Gateron low profile Brown switches and a replacement set of black shine-through keycaps. When everything arrived, it was like Christmas morning. Unboxing all the parts, I felt giddy with excitement to assemble my first custom keeb (sorry, saying “keeb” makes me cringe as much as it does you).
It came assembled but I decided I want to make it harder for myself and ripped it apart. Putting it together was surprisingly easy and fun. The PCB and aluminum plate fit perfectly into the case. I started by adding the stabilizers for the larger keys, then clicked the switches into the hot-swap sockets one by one. Therapeutic ASMR vibes. Finally came installing the keycaps with a satisfying thock as each one slotted into place.
And just like that, I had built my very first custom mechanical keyboard! I connected it to my MacBook Pro via the 2.4Ghz dongle and started typing away. The feeling was incredible - the tactility of the Brown switches, the thock and clack of the keycaps, the sturdiness of the aluminum case. I was hooked. This was a typing experience on a whole other level.
Over the next few weeks, I really put the Air60 through its paces. I used it for long days of writing, gaming sessions, Google Meets calls, you name it. And it quickly became my favorite keyboard I've ever owned. The battery life is ok - I can go weeks without charging it, but it could be better. And I love being able to seamlessly switch between my laptop and iPad with the press of a button.
Of course, in typical mechanical keyboard addict fashion, one board was not enough. The customization bug bit me hard. I started eyeing other kits and keycap sets. I wanted to try different form factors and switch types.
For my second build, I went with another Nuphy board - the Air96. It's a compact 1800 layout, which means it has a numpad but smashes it into a compressed 96-key layout. As someone who does a fair bit of data entry, I appreciate having a numpad but I don't want a huge desk-hogging keyboard. The Air96 is the perfect solution.
This time I decided to get a bit more adventurous with my switches and keycaps. I opted for Nuphy's Aloe switches (big mistake). It's amazing how different switches and keycaps can completely change the vibe and typing feel. I hated every second of it, they were extremely light and super loud. Me being on my mission to find the world’s quietest low-profile keyboard really took a sad turn. The keyboard itself was well built, but good lord, those keycaps really sucked.
I've now been using my three Nuphy boards as my daily drivers for a few months and I could be happier with them. The build quality, performance, and overall experience has been stellar. I really appreciate the little details Nuphy puts into their kits, from the packaging to the accessories to the software support. But the switches… I’ve gone back to my Air60 as my main keyboard.
Speaking of software, I do want to give a shoutout to Nuphy's VIA/QMK support. VIA and QMK are open source firmware that allow you to completely reprogram your keyboard's layout and functionality. The fact that Nuphy has added support for these to their newest boards is awesome (Added to their Air series V2 offerings). I've had fun messing around with creating my own custom layers and macros through the easy to use VIA interface on my Air 75 V2.
So what's next for me in my mechanical keyboard journey? Well, I've got a few more builds planned. I want to try out some full size switches, maybe play around with different case materials like acrylic. The cool thing about this hobby is that the customization options are virtually endless. There's always some new group buy or interest check catching my eye.
But I have to say, Nuphy has earned a loyal fan in me. The quality and innovation they bring to the mech keys scene is impressive. I'm excited to see what they come out with next. I've got my eye on their new Gem80 board, but it’s expensive!
If you made it this far, thanks for indulging me in rambling about my obsession. I know this was a long one. I hope this inspired some of you to maybe take the plunge into the custom mechanical keyboard world. It can seem really overwhelming at first, but starting with a hot-swap kit is a great way to dip your toes in.
Feel free to hit me up with any questions - I'm always down to geek out about keyboards! In the meantime, I'll be over here thocking away, probably dreaming up my next build. Until next time!
