deskthority

So far I've pretty much just read things and asked for the Almighty Oracle help. However, whenever I get an answer a new question pops out and now I think I can understand what you guys might say

As I've said, I already consulted The Oracle (page 10 for those interested) and ended up wanting to go for a Filco Majestouch-2 with Cherry MX Brown switches, the tenkeyless edition.

Now, that was when I faced a problem, a big one. I'm from Europe, Portugal, therefore if I don't want to risk paying a huge money at customs I need to order this from the European Union.

Before deciding on which keyboard I was simply reading wikis on both here and geekhack (those Ripster guides are very helpfull) that is until geekhack went Red alert Lockdown. I kept reading around here as much as I could and despite all the of deadlinks to GH I still managed, with all your help to choose that Filco.

Time to choose where to buy, except from the sources available to me I only know of The keyboard Company in the UK, which seems rather good, except the version I'm looking for is out of stock till the 24th of August, and I wish I could wait but if all goes well next week I'll be ordering my new keyboard.

So far these seem to be my options: Questions time:

• Q: If I want to go custom keycaps where should I go? Of course I would be looking for high quality caps, either ABS Doubleshots or PBT sublimated. I wasn't thinking on groupbuys, like Round4, since those are "time sensitive". I was thinking more along the lines of what WASD does or Clack Factory keycaps;
  
  A:
  

  hoggy wrote: Keycaps: Ascaii does a great line in vintage cherry doubleshots (they even feel good!). Sleabo from Qwerkeys can engrave and infill keys to your design.

  
  Q: From what I've read I assume Clack Factory keycaps were made by a user and not actually a factory, am I wrong? If it isn't a company then what is FXESC?;
  
  Q: If I go Filco Majestouch-2 (which I hope) is there anything especial I need to know of when searching for keycaps sets, like vintage cherry ones ?
  
  A:
  

  From my own search wrote: It seems that's something to do with the keycaps. WASD seems to be able to make the entire set. Mr.Interface has a very nice review of a Filco with a simple explanation on the keys.
  Note: I still have no idea about Cherry keyboards models.

  Q: Any good guide out there to configure keyboards with AutoHotKey while GH is down?
  
  Q: About wristpads, I've always had the ones that came with the keyboard itself (most detachable cheap pieces of plastic), but after looking around some of you have very fine wood wristpads. What do I need to know in order to go to a carpenter and have it custom built? And what's the difference between the wood the cushion ones?
  
  Q:I don't really understand how Dye Sublimation works... And if you can only use this to print any colour (minus white) on white keys then I guess it's impossible to print it on coloured keys?
  
  Q: What can I do to my keyboards without avoiding warranty ?
  
  Q: What EU stores do you buy keyboards from? To be honest I couldn't find the forum rules, so I hope you forgive me if I broke any throughout this thread

Hope you guys can help me on these.

Update 1:
After reviewing all my options and reading a bit more about switches (as well as checking their graphs) I decided to not wait and instead get a Filco with Blue switches. Despite being afraid of the clicky sound I guess there's nothing better than try it myself, if I end up hating it I can always turn up the volume on my headphones while I try to get another keyboard.

It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming like most of us on the forum.

Buying your second choice keyboard first because you don't want to wait is a great way to justify buying two keyboards, and then, maybe, buying some more.

I'd suggest that you wait until the keyboard you want is available. Getting your gut choice is the easiest way of being happy with your purchase.

Keycaps: Ascaii does a great line in vintage cherry doubleshots (they even feel good!). Sleabo from Qwerkeys can engrave and infill keys to your design.

Why not take a risk on a keyboard on ebay to pass the time?

hoggy wrote:It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming like most of us on the forum.
Buying your second choice keyboard first because you don't want to wait is a great way to justify buying two keyboards, and then, maybe, buying some more.

(...)

Why not take a risk on a keyboard on ebay to pass the time?

That is a fine idea, except I still don't have a second choice, and being a student my funds aren't perhaps the most stable. But I guess I could delay custom caps for some more time, among other things, and go for a good enough keyboard now for a lower price. Any ideas? In the meantime I'll still be waiting for possible better ideas taking another look around here.

hoggy wrote:It sounds like you are well on your way to becoming like most of us on the forum.
Keycaps: Ascaii does a great line in vintage cherry doubleshots (they even feel good!). Sleabo from Qwerkeys can engrave and infill keys to your design.

A quick google didn't reveal much except threads on GH (which is in lockdown) and an user around here, so just to be sure they're users who take on requests?

Edit:
Seems like I'll go for a Noppoo Choc Mini Cherry MX Brown as second choice. Seems nice to try another type of keycaps and at the same time another Cherry MX set as well.

Edit2:
Ok, seems I ended up discovering some more answers by myself. And I'll be editing things around here to make my posts easier to read/understand.