STUDENT Dominic Lee didn’t think he would need a custom mechanical keyboard, much less build one.
All that changed when a friend got a custom keyboard, which the 22-year-old had the chance to try out.
“The keystrokes felt very different from off-the-shelf keyboards, and the build was solid and premium.
“I started doing more research on the levels of customisation and that’s how I fell into the rabbit hole,” says Lee.
He has since transitioned from just a custom keyboard enthusiast to one who assembles custom keyboards for sale. Lee typically charges between RM200 and RM400, depending on the complexity and amount of labour required.
Since last June, Lee has assembled more than 40 keyboards for clients, including students, video game streamers and social media influencers.
“Most people may find building custom keyboards too intimidating or tedious and tiring because some stages of the process can take a long time,” Lee says.
With a custom mechanical keyboard, customers can choose the size of the keyboard, the colour of each keycap, and whether it should have additional features like lighting.
A customer who prefers a portable design, for instance, can have one built that’s only 60% the size of a standard keyboard – also known as a 60% layout – by ditching everything but the letter keys. Or go for 80% by sacrificing only the number pad, popularly known as the tenkeyless design, one of the most common compact keyboard layouts.
What goes under the hood is equally important – in this case, the switches that register keypresses and determine how the keyboard feels and sounds when you type.
“The three most popular types of switches are linear, tactile and clicky.
“Linear switches are said to register keystrokes faster and are great for gaming because they allow players to react quickly.
“Tactile keys offer a slight resistance before they register the keystrokes, and offer a more satisfying typing experience for some people. “Clicky has a more ‘tactile bump’, with a louder click sound, which can be annoying for some people,” Lee shares.
He jokes that clicky keyboards may even be banned in some offices as they are too noisy, adding that his clients tend to go for a sound best described as “thocky” which has a deeper sound profile.
“People who want custom keyboards are basically going for a better look, sound and feel. As more people started working from home (WFH) due to the pandemic, the interest in custom keyboards skyrocketed,” Lee says, as people were more willing to spend on peripherals for their home offices.
Trendy types
Social media may have played a role in boosting the popularity of custom keyboards.
On TikTok, videos with the hashtag #mechanicalkeyboard have garnered more than 794 million views.
Clips featuring creators showcasing keyboards or keycaps designed based on a theme – say, a TV show or movie – are particularly popular.
Last October, Senikeycaps released a series of keycaps inspired by the megahit TV series, Squid Game.
Senikeycaps designer, Amir Hafiz, 27, an architect by profession, only made five sets, which sold like hotcakes. “I spent about a week finalising the designs to make sure the keycaps fit nicely.
“The keycaps cannot be wobbly or have extra edges, as this could interfere with typing. The next step is transferring the design to a 3D printer.
“After that, it takes me about two days to paint each key cap by hand,” he says.Amir started Senikeycaps last April and uses an Instagram page to showcase and sell keycaps.
“Designs that are popular with my customers include keycaps inspired by Star Wars and Pokemon themes.
“The keycaps are priced between RM50 and RM70 each. Most people are looking to buy them to spruce up their workspace with a nicer looking keyboard,” he says.
Purveyors of custom keyboards are also particular about the sound the keyboard produces – they often resort to stabilisers and even lubricants to stop the keys from making scratchy sounds.
This process is time-consuming, says Lee, as each switch has to be lubricated individually with oil such as Krytox.
“There are a lot of ways one can tune a keyboard to achieve a certain sound.
“Some may even add a layer of foam or stick masking tape on the printed circuit board (PCB or the brain of the keyboard) to cut down on the hollowness,” he says.
He says this also makes mundane tasks like typing feel more satisfying and worthwhile, especially for people who have to do it on a daily basis.
“A better-looking workspace also contributes to a positive mindset when working,” he says.
Also, autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) videos featuring keyboard sounds, which induce a sense of pleasantness and calmness, have also become popular.
On TikTok, for instance, the hashtag #keyboardASMR has more than 295.5 million views.
Coveted customs
A 20-year-old student who only wants to be known by his YouTube nickname Hamaji Neo, says WFH has helped his custom keyboard channel grow to nearly 500,000 subscribers.
In 2021, Hamaji Neo posted a video of himself building a US$600 (RM2,500) custom keyboard.
It garnered more than one million views, which prompted Hamaji Neo to post more content on building custom keyboards, which he hopes will give others the confidence to build their own models.
In his video, he shows viewers how to disassemble and organise the switches for the lubing process. Viewers will also learn how to test the sound of the keys and tune the stabilisers before the final assembly.
He claims that he wants to broaden people’s understanding of the various types of custom keyboards, their features and price points.
According to Lee, the prices for custom keyboards start at around RM400 and go up to thousands due to their exclusivity.
Some premium keyboards are only released in limited quantities, he says, due to the painstaking process that goes into producing each unit.
“Some custom keyboard makers don’t have the backing of major tech companies and will have to meet with various manufacturers to get the components for their designs,” he says.
One of the most expensive keyboards that Lee has assembled for a client is a keyboard kit from Owlab called Mr Suit.
Though it was originally priced at about RM1,600, Lee says his client paid more than RM3,000 for the kit which has a tenkeyless design.
“I think only 600 units were released worldwide and he managed to get his hands on one through a reseller at a hefty price,” Lee says, adding that he used premium components such as Alpaca switches with gold-plated springs and a plate that’s sturdy yet flexible.
The Alpaca switches cost US$27.50 (RM115) per pack of 50, according to a website.
Lee shares that Malaysia is home to SingaKBD, one of the most coveted premium keyboard kit brands among enthusiasts.
Its founder, Elaine Lim, says SingaKBD was established in 2018 and its first kit was the Singa with a 75% layout.
Only 30 units, priced at US$290 (RM1,200) each, were released at the time.
Its most recent release is Kohaku which was designed based on Lim’s love for koi fish.
“I wanted something minimalist in design that featured a koi without it being too busy,” she shares.
It was sold through a raffle last July – only 300 units were offered and all were sold out within minutes. The price? It started from RM2,450 for a kit with the koi casing, PCB, plate of choice and carrying case. Keycaps and switches were not included.
Lim says she is grateful for the positive reception towards Kohaku, adding that she aims to release at least two new designs per year.
Enthusiasts find custom keyboards appealing, she says, as they get a sense of satisfaction from using a device made with their own hands.
“As with any hobby, there are different depths that you can get into, depending on how much you are willing to spend.
“The custom mechanical hobby goes deep. You have different types of keyboards, keycaps, switches and all kinds of other accessories that you can pile on if you really choose to spend on them,” she explains.
However, the high demand for certain designs and parts, coupled with a shortage in supply, has led to huge mark-ups in the aftersale market, Lim says.
Hamaji Neo advises patience, as it’s key to acquiring hot items, especially during the pandemic.
GMK, a company based in Germany, produces some of the most wanted keycaps, he says, but enthusiasts have to wait longer to get their hands on them as production has been delayed due to Covid-19.
“I placed an order for a keyboard in 2020 with a different brand and it only shipped the product a year later,” he says.
Something for everyone
If putting together a custom keyboard with components from various brands seems too intimidating, there are companies that offer fully- assembled kits.
According to Hamaji Neo, one of the popular choices in the market is the Keychron Q1 QMK, a ready-to-use kit with keycaps and switches already attached, priced at US$169 (RM710).
He says customisation allows people to make keyboards that will suit their needs – for instance, those into coding can add extra keys for specific tasks.
“When I work or write essays, I feel that I enjoy the process more because the keyboard feels nice. I get into this strange state of flow where I just want to keep typing,” he says.
Lee recommends setting a budget before venturing into the world of custom keyboards to avoid overspending.
“You need to manage your expectations and take the time to figure out what will suit your needs.
“You can also turn to local community groups to learn from other enthusiasts, such as Keyboard Clackers Malaysia, which has over 15,000 members,” he says.
Most online communities organise group buys or bulk purchases, making it easier to get components and kits at a lower price or meet the minimum quantity set by the manufacturer.
However, buyers should also beware of cloned products, as the popularity of custom keyboards has given rise to sellers trying to pass off counterfeit devices as original.
Custom keyboards have become collector’s items, says Lim, something she didn’t expect as they were considered a niche hobby just a few years ago.
One of her past designs, which was priced at US$350 (RM1,450) at release, is now going for around US$2,000 (RM8,400), she adds.
“Yes, the scene has really grown over the years thanks to the era of content creators and streamers.
“I feel great about the future of this hobby and industry. It is still pretty niche but I think it will only grow from here.
“And yes, a bigger scene equals more vendors and components for custom keyboards,” Lim concludes.
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