deskthority

This is my Zenith build that I have been working on over the past few months. The Zenith Z-KB2 is my favorite keyboard chassis, having great build quality, N-key rollover, and that great Zenith badge. So when I was lucky enough to stumble into one in a trade from Gainsborough (Thanks again), I knew I had to do something special with it. At first I considered putting blue alps in it, but I only have around 20, and I don't want to destroy a keyboard to get some more. I have always heard good things about click modded orange Alps, especially how they were to sound similar to the bluies. So I found 110 loose ones from Russia of all places. 2 Months in the post later, I could finally get started on the build! So here is my full build log/restoration of my Zenith. Hope you Enjoy

This is the case/pcb that I got from gainsborough. It has a small crack on the right side, and is missing the flip out feet, but neither of those things really bothered me. It also sat better with me that I didn't have to destroy a perfectly good Zenith to get it.
The next step was to clean and Retrobrite The case and badge. It was a little bit too yellowed for my liking. So after cleaning out the local Rite Aid for all their Hydrogen Peroxide, I got started. I know there are better solutions out there, but this was quick and easy to do on a Sunday morning.
Fast forward about two weeks (It was only above freezing one day lol) later, this was the outcome. So it turns out February in New England is not a good time to Retrobrite a keyboard. I am not disappointed with the results, it just took a lot longer.
So fast forward another month, my orange Alps finally come in. I had never click modded Alps switches before, so I really didn't know what I was in for. I used Chyrosran's excellent guide on click modding, and it went pretty well. After 5-6 hours later, I got through them all. If I did that again, I could do it in half the time, but I was careful as to not damage the switches. The little metal tabs went everywhere too lol.
My next step was soldering all the switches in. I hadn't ever soldered a keyboard before, so it was a little bit of a learning curve. After around a dozen horrible solder joints, I started to get better, and got through the entire thing. I had to re-do a couple solders, but I got it working after a while. This is the finished product.
The last step was a thorough cleaning of the key caps and a final polish all around. I decided to lube all 15 stabilizers with the Di-Electric grease pictured bellow. I am really happy with the final product. For my first keyboard build I definitely could have done worse. I also have a Typing Demo bellow if anyone is interested. Thanks for tuning in cheers
Deciding between my two Zenith badges that I have. I went with the Orangeish one to symbolize the build. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzmSiAq ... e=youtu.be

I knew this post was coming! This is the first time I've heard clicky alps switches in a ZKB-2 - I have to say, I'm not disappointed in the least - they sound bloody great! How do you like the click modded oranges? I did that exact same thing with an m0116, and they were my favorite clicky switch until I tried blue alps.

Nice work, dude! Thanks for sharing!

//gainsborough wrote: I knew this post was coming! This is the first time I've heard clicky alps switches in a ZKB-2 - I have to say, I'm not disappointed in the least - they sound bloody great! How do you like the click modded oranges? I did that exact same thing with an m0116, and they were my favorite clicky switch until I tried blue alps.

Nice work, dude! Thanks for sharing!

Sound wise, in person they sound a lot like blue alps, but a little bit more pingy and not as refined. For anyone that hasn't already been spoiled by blue's they would, without a doubt, be one of their favorite switches. Overall I am very happy with the build, one of my favorite switches, in my favorite chassis.

Nice work. The ZKB-2 is a great chassis and has nice keycaps as well. I like the sticker stating, "Lift Zenith log to switch between XT and AT". What by chance did you do the with the green/yellow alps that came out of it?

Engicoder wrote: Nice work. The ZKB-2 is a great chassis and has nice keycaps as well. I like the sticker stating, "Lift Zenith log to switch between XT and AT". What by chance did you do the with the green/yellow alps that came out of it?

When I got the chassis it didn’t have any switches it it. They had been removed by either Gainsborough or the previous owner. If it had the original switches I likely wouldn’t have used it for this build.

Brett MacK wrote: When I got the chassis it didn’t have any switches it it. They had been removed by either Gainsborough or the previous owner. If it had the original switches I likely wouldn’t have used it for this build.

Good job on a lot of a tedious soldering work (I know how that is) - and nice board! I also appreciate your comment about not have done it if the original switches were in place. I have a Z-KB2 and really like it. It's cool that you saved an empty chassis and made it a great keyboard again!

OldIsNew wrote:

Brett MacK wrote: When I got the chassis it didn’t have any switches it it. They had been removed by either Gainsborough or the previous owner. If it had the original switches I likely wouldn’t have used it for this build.

Good job on a lot of a tedious soldering work (I know how that is) - and nice board! I also appreciate your comment about not have done it if the original switches were in place. I have a Z-KB2 and really like it. It's cool that you saved an empty chassis and made it a great keyboard again!

Yeah if I don't have to dismantle a keyboard, I try not to. Really the only time I desolder the switches is if there are electrical issues or lots of dead switches. I am also still looking for a ZKB-2 in good condition with yellow alps. There are quite a few of them on ebay, but very dirty. It is cool to see some other Zenith fans out there haha.

Click modded oranges are quite nice. I dunno if they are as good as blue alps ( i have never had a full board so i dunno).
They are not as harsh as whites and i like that.

andrewjoy wrote: Click modded oranges are quite nice. I dunno if they are as good as blue alps ( i have never had a full board so i dunno).
They are not as harsh as whites and i like that.

That sounds a bit like blues, yes.

You did a FANTASTIC job! It is awesome

Also, I have an idea! I have a Zenith Chassis too, and I'm wondering if it would be possible to put simplified alps clone click leaves into Simplified Matias linear switches. Would it be worth it?

Chyros wrote:

andrewjoy wrote: Click modded oranges are quite nice. I dunno if they are as good as blue alps ( i have never had a full board so i dunno).
They are not as harsh as whites and i like that.

That sounds a bit like blues, yes.

One day, Chyros... One day...

This is great!

I've been thinking about click modding some Oranges for the past little while. I'm not spoiled by Blues yet so it seems like the perfect time! I'm inspired!

Thanks for sharing!

nsmechkb wrote: This is great!

I've been thinking about click modding some Oranges for the past little while. I'm not spoiled by Blues yet so it seems like the perfect time! I'm inspired!

Thanks for sharing!

Yeah, you should definitely give it a go! Orange Alps really are a lot of switch for how much they cost. My biggest tip when click modding any alps switch is to make sure you snap the taps off at an equal distance, on each side. If they are not even it can cause the click leaf to be inconsistent or even become tactile. I learned the hard way on the first couple I did haha.