Experiences with BRASS PLATES??
- Phenix
- -p
- Location: Germany, Cologne
- Main keyboard: F122, soarer´d|Novatouch-s
- Main mouse: Roccat Kone Pure|Rollermouse
- Favorite switch: BS F|Topre-s
- DT Pro Member: -
I am about getting an TX CP
there is the option to get an brass plate for another $20.
I never tried brass before, but I heard it aimes at giving the sweet spot between alu/stainless steel
Did someone tried an brass plate before? Would you recommend it?
Will most likely put either tactile or linears into it..
there is the option to get an brass plate for another $20.
I never tried brass before, but I heard it aimes at giving the sweet spot between alu/stainless steel
Did someone tried an brass plate before? Would you recommend it?
Will most likely put either tactile or linears into it..
- matt3o
- -[°_°]-
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: WhiteFox
- Main mouse: Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Anything, really
- DT Pro Member: 0030
- Contact:
we discussed this some time ago. brass is more subject to oxidation, someone even suggested that could be toxic. bottom line, use aluminum
It heavily depends on the alloy that is used. Some sorts of brass don't tend to oxidate much, others are really going green.
In the watch world that's a recent trend. Yet the bottom plate is always made out of steel or titanium - there seems to be a problem with prolonged skin contact, concerning allergies or sth like that. But since you are not touching the brass itself, there shouldn't be a problem.
Aluminium or steel is way more versatile with keycaps and other colors in your appartment, so keep that in mind.
In the watch world that's a recent trend. Yet the bottom plate is always made out of steel or titanium - there seems to be a problem with prolonged skin contact, concerning allergies or sth like that. But since you are not touching the brass itself, there shouldn't be a problem.
Aluminium or steel is way more versatile with keycaps and other colors in your appartment, so keep that in mind.
- gcardinal
- Location: Oslo
- Main keyboard: Tandberg TDV
- Main mouse: Logitech G5
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
If you are concern about oxidation or metal it self there is plenty of ways to seal brass - even a coat of oil will do it for years. Carbon fiber is really toxic material - unless you have brass allergy I dont think it is anything to worry about. Especially for parts you dont touch.
Personally I think it would look killer with brass plate and some kind of dark wood frame.
Personally I think it would look killer with brass plate and some kind of dark wood frame.
- matt3o
- -[°_°]-
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: WhiteFox
- Main mouse: Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Anything, really
- DT Pro Member: 0030
- Contact:
I'd say the feeling is closer to steel than it is to alu
- gcardinal
- Location: Oslo
- Main keyboard: Tandberg TDV
- Main mouse: Logitech G5
- Favorite switch: Topre
- DT Pro Member: -
Brass is a dense and heavy metal - plate from brass will weigh more then steel (around 10-15%) and about 3-4 times more then aluminum. For that reason sound will "stay with in brass". So in theory it should prevent resonance and give sound a deeper tone. (in theory that is...)Phenix wrote: ↑thanks for the input!
I am more interested in the way an brass plates impacts the feeling of the switches..
I think you should give it a try as it will indeed make for an very interesting experience.
- Wodan
- ISO Advocate
- Location: ISO-DE
- Main keyboard: Intense Rotation!!!
- Main mouse: Logitech G903
- Favorite switch: ALL OF THEM
- DT Pro Member: -
I'm pretty excited for my first build with brass plate. Got one waiting for assembly. The brass used in the plate is not supposed to oxidize notably.
Check out that brass weight:
http://imgur.com/a/YaO2C
Check out that brass weight:
http://imgur.com/a/YaO2C
- PollandAkuma
- Location: London
- Main keyboard: keyboard
- Main mouse: mouse
- Favorite switch: switch
- DT Pro Member: -
Could someone tell me the difference between steel plates and alu plates? I've never tried alu before
- Wodan
- ISO Advocate
- Location: ISO-DE
- Main keyboard: Intense Rotation!!!
- Main mouse: Logitech G903
- Favorite switch: ALL OF THEM
- DT Pro Member: -
Where did you try steel plate then?PollandAkuma wrote: ↑Could someone tell me the difference between steel plates and alu plates? I've never tried alu before
Alu plate is by far the most common variant in custom/community keyboards.
The steel plate used in some retail keyboards or vintage keyboards doesn't quite deliver the same performance as a steel plate in custom keyboards. The Pok3r may be the closest impression of a steel plate you can get.
There's a lot of other factors that come into play when talking about plates.
How is the plate mounted?
Mounting a steel plate in a plastic case isn't going to deliver anything close to the rock solid/concrete typing experience people talk about here.
Mounting the PCB to an alu case is a much better solution but still does not deliver the raw steel experience since the PCB/Case mount is still going to add flex/dampening to the key feel. O
Only when you case-mount a plate, you can really get the raw plate experience. One great example is the WhiteFox where the alu plate is directly mounted to the alu case. This will give you the true alu plate experience.
Getting the same construction with a steel/brass plate is probably going to get a little more expensive though, not sure what's the cheapest keyboard kit that mounts the plate to the case and offers steel plates ...
- matt3o
- -[°_°]-
- Location: Italy
- Main keyboard: WhiteFox
- Main mouse: Anywhere MX
- Favorite switch: Anything, really
- DT Pro Member: 0030
- Contact:
steel is too stiff especially for light spring switches. alu tends to "soften" the keystroke giving a better overall typing experience. that being said it's a personal preference.PollandAkuma wrote: ↑Could someone tell me the difference between steel plates and alu plates? I've never tried alu before
- PollandAkuma
- Location: London
- Main keyboard: keyboard
- Main mouse: mouse
- Favorite switch: switch
- DT Pro Member: -
I thought my poker 2 plate was steel, maybe not hahaWodan wrote:Where did you try steel plate then?PollandAkuma wrote: ↑Could someone tell me the difference between steel plates and alu plates? I've never tried alu before
Alu plate is by far the most common variant in custom/community keyboards.
The steel plate used in some retail keyboards or vintage keyboards doesn't quite deliver the same performance as a steel plate in custom keyboards. The Pok3r may be the closest impression of a steel plate you can get.
There's a lot of other factors that come into play when talking about plates.
How is the plate mounted?
Mounting a steel plate in a plastic case isn't going to deliver anything close to the rock solid/concrete typing experience people talk about here.
Mounting the PCB to an alu case is a much better solution but still does not deliver the raw steel experience since the PCB/Case mount is still going to add flex/dampening to the key feel. O
Only when you case-mount a plate, you can really get the raw plate experience. One great example is the WhiteFox where the alu plate is directly mounted to the alu case. This will give you the true alu plate experience.
Getting the same construction with a steel/brass plate is probably going to get a little more expensive though, not sure what's the cheapest keyboard kit that mounts the plate to the case and offers steel plates ...
- Wodan
- ISO Advocate
- Location: ISO-DE
- Main keyboard: Intense Rotation!!!
- Main mouse: Logitech G903
- Favorite switch: ALL OF THEM
- DT Pro Member: -
Oh yeah that's steel!PollandAkuma wrote: ↑ I thought my poker 2 plate was steel, maybe not haha
But the plate only holds the switches together, it is not "fixed" to the case. Only the PCB is fixed to the plastic case ... both, PCB and case, add some flex to the whole construction. Enough flex to make this universally pleasent even with linear switches.
I'm a sucker for an ultra solid keyboard with soft linear switches that I can hack at like the dudes at the opening scene of Frozen.