5 Useful Sites If You Want To Build A Custom Mechanical Keyboard

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Building a custom mechanical keyboard has been a hot topic in recent years. Whether you're looking at changing your mechanical keyboard switches, the keycaps on a prebuilt mechanical keyboard, or looking to build a custom mechanical keyboard, there are loads of sites where you can purchase parts and accessories. On top of the numerous storefronts, crowdfunding-style group buys are another, sometimes cheaper, way to purchase.

Before jumping into a purchase, it might be worth reading Alexander 'Alexotos' Medeot's authoritative build guides or at least figuring out what keyboard size and layout you prefer. There are several sizes available, from full-sized all the way down to the unconventional 40% layout. One way to decide what size is most suitable is to identify which keys you regularly use over a regular day, while also taking into account your need for portability and desk's space limitations.

If you're building a custom mechanical keyboard from scratch, you'll need a keyboard case, a plate, a PCB, stabilizers, switches, keycaps, and a cable. Tools required include a screwdriver set, brushes, tweezers, keycap/switch pullers, and, depending on the PCB, a soldering iron kit. That said, if you're building your first keyboard and have little to no soldering experience, it's recommended to go with a hot-swappable PCB. Optional parts and accessories include desk mats, lubricants, custom cables, and wrist rests. Here are the best places to shop.

KBDFans (recommended by Tom's Hardware and Alexotos) is a China-based site that sells cases, keyboards, keycaps, PCBs, plates, and switches. It also offers accessories such as cables, desk mats, display stands, storage, switch testers, tape mod customizations, and wrist rests. KBDFans also runs group buys, which is a type of crowdfunding similar to Kickstarter, where you can pay upfront for keyboards and parts, before they are created and shipped. Compared to in-stock items, group buy items usually take much longer to fulfill, but can often be cheaper than buying the product as a single purchase.

The company's return and exchange policy notes requests will be accepted within seven days of delivery, but the product must be unused and in original condition and packaging. Discounted/sale items will not be returnable. KBDFans says it doesn't accept returns on the grounds of dissatisfaction, but offers a free repairing service if the customer pays for round-trip shipping costs. As for warranty, the company offers a one-year warranty for PCBs, with some exceptions. Switches and stabilizers that are used or lubed will be exempt from warranty.

NovelKeys (recommended by Tom's Hardware) is a U.S.-based website that sells configurable prebuilt mechanical keyboards, as well as accessories and parts. Configuration options include case color, layout options, and type of PCB (such as soldered or hot swappable). Accessories sold by NovelKeys include brushes, desk mats, inserts, lubricants, mouse pads, storage, switch films, switch openers, and wrist rests. Mechanical keyboard parts include keycaps, printed circuit boards, stabilizers, and switches.

The company's return policy states that returns will be accepted within 14 days of the item's receipt, and that the item must be unused and in original packaging. Buyers will be responsible for return shipping. NovelKeys notes that items that were sold on clearance sales, as well as b-stock items, will not be eligible for returns. At the time of writing, the site offers free shipping in the U.S. and Canada for items worth above $99. The company does ship internationally as well, but some items are only available in the U.S. and Canada.

While building a custom mechanical keyboard is easier than it's ever been, the process can still be quite daunting, especially if you're building it from scratch. To get started, a good first step is to familiarize yourself with the jargon. Next, you should read build guides — the more, the better. Identifying the most suitable size and layouts is also important. After all, you don't want to spend your hard-earned money on something that doesn't fit your needs. Another extremely essential decision is which type of switches you want to use. There are sites that offer switch sample and tester packs, and often that's a great way to identify which switch is most suitable for you. You can also visit a retailer like Micro Center to test out switches for free.

Apart from the websites we've already listed, which serve as a great starting point in your custom mechanical keyboard building project, there is a vast list of sites that you can also look at, where it's a part replacement or building a keyboard out from scratch. Vendor lists are great for recommendations of good keyboard companies, and good examples are the ones by Alexotos and KBD News. Note that if you can't find exactly what you're looking for on these sites, an option is to look at online retailers and aggregators like Amazon, AliExpress, or Banggood.com. You can also seek advice from custom keyboard communities, including Reddit's r/MechanicalKeyboards.