F104+SSK+122+62+77+50+Ergo orders now open! New Kishsaver+Industrial Model F Keyboards

[Ellipse]

With permission I am posting some interesting photos:

First, here is a customized New F122 with third party extras: an IBM badge and LED overlay.

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And here is a very rare IBM Selectric I typewriter repair log / service transcript. A true testament to the repairability of built to last IBM products.

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[edbods]

I have been using my F122, but I've found a minor issue I've not been able to work out on my own. Sometimes the solenoid will stick for an indefinite amount of time. I don't know what the core of the solenoid is binding on, but it is randomly binding on something. But it always unsticks itself with a modest thump.

I don't know if Ellipse has a solution to this already, but I'm hesitant to just do something like throwing a bit of instrument and tool oil into it until I have at least asked if the solenoid would be damaged by doing so. I'd rather not screw up my daily driver, especially when I don't know if the solenoid binding occasionally is a known issue, or a defect specific to my unit.

I'm pretty sure it's physically binding, as I can't see any issues on the driver board, but the process of opening the keyboard to look at the solenoid always frees it, and I can't reproduce the issue when I have the case open and am moving the solenoid by hand. Any suggestions on that front are welcome. If Ellipse thinks that it's not a mechanical issue, I can probably figure out tapping an oscilloscope into the solenoid circuit if he wants to look at the electrical side of things.

It's the one and only frustration on what is absolutely the best keyboard I've ever used. It has made writing so much more of a joy, and I'm still looking forward to actually trying it out on a game that actually requires precise and fast key inputs since I've been spending my free time writing instead of playing games.

If you need to lube up the solenoid find something that's safe for electronics and won't harm plastics. Dielectric grease sounds like something that'd work. Get a tube from an auto parts store or something.
I've been using mine daily since August playing shooters like Insurgency, I've had no real problems with it so far aside from occasionally trying to double tap a key but not releasing it fully, so that it thinks it's just being held down instead, but that's just something I can adjust to easily. I still grin like an idiot whenever I have to type really quick in a game.
I did have a bug where some keys seemed to not register upon turning the computer on from standby, but that was apparently an issue with the firmware at the time and updating it a few days ago that issue has gone away. The num lock light seems to randomly turn on when the computer's sleeping though. Just something worth mentioning.

[Green Maned Lion]

I actually recomend this stuff:

https://boeshield.com

It was engineered by Boeing for use in aerospace, before Boeing forgot how to engineer their way out of a paper bag.

[edbods]

I think I spoke too soon, seems like when resuming from sleep the keyboard seems to miss some keys despite updating to the latest firmware...doesn't happen consistently though, very strange. it's acting exactly like a wireless keyboard that's low on batteries.

update: the leyden jar diag program showed the level monitor was spazzing out on all the keys. as usual, restarting the computer fixed it lol

[Ellipse]

Chyrosran22 has just posted the new F122 trailer - I am looking forward to the full video!

[Ellipse]

Pad print update:

After the other pad print supplier failed to produce keycaps that met my requirements, I changed to another factory earlier this year. They have been in business for a couple decades and focus on computer peripherals.

A reminder to sign the Google form (link below) to reserve a pad printed key set. The first batch of about 250-300 will be white text on black keys, US key sets only, no front printing. Additional sets will proceed based on demand.

https://forms.gle/moBjiL2uPUGTosWZ6

To protect the pad printing which is less durable than sublimation printing by design, these keycaps will be packaged both before and after the pad print process in custom blister packaging. The first sample blister pack is below (apologies for the low quality image). These should be available to order separately in the future, to store other Model F keycap sets. Note: by design, the blister packs do not hold a spacebar, and they contain additional spaces for keycaps, more than what would fill a regular board.

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[setiawan]

Anyone here gone ahead with repainting yet? Mine's wearing pretty badly so it's been on my mind more. Any tips or advice are very welcome

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[Tendrilloz]

You could sand it and get it cerakoted or powder coated if you have someone that does that locally.

[Ellipse]

Chyrosran22 has just posted the new F122 unboxing video - I am looking forward to the full review coming soon!

[edbods]

Interesting that his one came pre-assembled...I had to put mine together lol. Still though, I'm happy with mine, especially after figuring out exactly why my space bar kept binding (had to push the right stabliser bar bracket further back so the stab bar could actually get some horizontal movement).

[wobbled]

Interesting that his one came pre-assembled...I had to put mine together lol. Still though, I'm happy with mine, especially after figuring out exactly why my space bar kept binding (had to push the right stabliser bar bracket further back so the stab bar could actually get some horizontal movement).

Well he’s not going to send his usual crap, ellipse most likely QC’d and tuned it before sending it out.
Not sure why he bothered, Chyros wouldn’t have said anything bad about the board even if it did have issues, the bias is too obvious in his ellipse reviews unfortunately.
All you have to do is search for ‘issue’ or ‘problem’ in these threads to get the real truth.

[Muirium]

You just need to be an "influencer" and you'll get the nice toys, too.

[edbods]

Lol no surprise there, such is many things in life unfortunately. But until someone comes up with an alternative...doubt things will change.

All you have to do is search for ‘issue’ or ‘problem’ in these threads to get the real truth.

Yeah I did read up about all the issues around QC and all that. I bought mine anyway being prepared for such things because I really wanted this keyboard ever since I first heard about it way back in 2015. But I do tell people I come across that are thinking of buying them of what to watch out for, so they can at least be somewhat prepared if they commit to buying one.

[Ellipse]

edbods these boards do not have large QC issues, despite what the same few folks like to repeat and show the same photos again and again over the past several years. Several people posting mostly about paint from boards made 5 years ago does not indicate widespread issues. With 7,000+ boards shipped there are bound to be some issues with specific folks (most often due to roughness in shipping) but we are not seeing even dozens of people posting each year despite a thousand or so boards shipping each year.

The main comment is that the first round boards did have a more authentic and less durable powdercoating finish, which was changed years ago but some stock remains of these older boards (F62 and F77) so those who have such a board are the only ones posting the same note about the powdercoating. The new boards (2021 onwards - compact F62/F77, F104/SSK/122, round 1 beam) have had no complaints so far about paint wear as the formulation changed. In other words, if you can't accept old style powdercoating, you can choose any other board besides the classic F62/77 and the issue with wear will not be present.

The setup process does involve following the step by step guides to adjust the keyboard, as adjustments like what you mentioned are specifically noted as being a part of the normal setup process. Having to make adjustments during setup is not a failure of QC, as these boards are treated heavily by the shipping companies and springs and such may fall out of place and spacebar wires may need adjustment. My earlier postings and the project web site blog post updates explain the reasoning behind requiring users to learn how to maintain a Model F keyboard hopefully for the rest of their lives, instead of selling a product that arrives ready to plug in and start using but doesn't last more than a couple years. The alternative (including staff for support, etc.) would make these already-pricy boards cost even more.

[wobbled]

These boards have always had QC issues, a total of 34 pages worth of them if you search by keyword. Even then, there's probably a lot more.
The paint issues from the 4700 repros were the worst, but it doesn't stop there. We've had so many issues with newer beamspring models, as well as issues with legend alignment. Here's a very small taste:
https://imgur.com/a/modelfkeyboards-ell ... go-11TbDUr

I think the worst part about all of this is the obsessive greed from Ellipse who has refused to ship replacement parts unless pressured publicly on this forum, or maybe it's the never-ending bullshit countdown timer to increase urgency so more people buy his shit.

12/31/25
please have your orders in by then!

You can type up as much BS as you want mate, the proof is out there, and you don't exactly need to go looking for it.

I find the repeated crap about selling a product that people learn how to maintain instead of selling something assembled that lasts a year..?
Not a reproduction then is it, it's a flawed product.

Great job on the gap on the top F-row on the F122 reproduction btw, at least I have another place to park my car now.