Since you guys don't enjoy the 40s…

Thanks mate, I think for most it seemed impractical.

❤️

Sure, idk if product links are allowed, but let's find out (not affiliated with any of the shops, feel free to find alternatives)

• GMK Dots: https://oblotzky.industries/products/gmk-cyl-dots-2
• Zoom65 (hotswap): https://zoom65.com
• Stabilizers: Any really (e.g. Durocks)
• Switches: Any really usually come in 45 packs so you'll need 2 packs for a 65% layout (Akko jelly are great entrypoint switches)

That's already it. I'm sure other people will comment some more entry friendly products for the hobby as well.

Be sure that the PCB of the board is hotswap otherwise you'll have to solder the switches yourself. Which for some layouts is necessary but probably not a good entrypoint. (There's usually 3 or 5 pin switches be sure to check if your PCB supports the one you choose). Keycaps have to match the layout there's usually ISO and ANSI.

Basically keyboards are built of different parts. There are many articles, and I’m sure the old site has good resources.

Typically you choose the case (which is the physical keyboard exterior except for the buttons), which typically comes with the brains (PCB) of the keyboard. Things like layout and size are chosen by choosing the right case.

You choose your switches, which are the actual buttons that get pushed when you press keys. Each key is an individual switch, there are many types.

The plastic thing you touch when you press a key is a keycap, keycaps can get super expensive super quick for the nice designer stuff, but that does apply to everything else to be fair. There are different colors and materials of keycaps, different shapes (you know how old computers have very 3D keycaps while MacBooks have super super flat keycaps?), and even different manufacturing processes that affect how long the design will last etc (if you’ve seen a cheap RGB keyboard at a modern net cafe if those exist where you are, you’ll notice some keys peeling and stuff, that won’t happen with the keyboard in OP’s photo).

Some keys are big (like the spacebar or shift keys) and they need a small mechanism to keep them easy to press, those are called stabilizers. They sometimes come included with cases, but people like choosing nice ones and lubricating them.

There are more secondary parts available, such as novelty keycaps, or sound deadening foam, or brass weights, batteries for Bluetooth boards, etc.

One word of warning is that this hobby gets very expensive very fast. So you’re free to go with a standard decent keyboard if it satisfies you. Unlike other hobbies, building your own keyboard is much more expensive than just buying a prebuilt thing. But building your own feels nice, and being able to program it to do exactly what you need your keyboard to do is really easy.