Okay, so I’ve been messing around with mechanical keyboards for a while now, and I gotta say, this Geek Bar Sagittarius Cherry Bomb project was a wild ride. It all started when I stumbled upon this crazy-looking keycap set online. The colors were insane – bright red, almost glowing, with this cool, retro vibe. I knew I had to build something around them.
Finding the Right Board
First things first, I needed a keyboard to put these bad boys on. I spent days browsing forums and watching videos, trying to find the perfect match. I wanted something with a 65% layout – small enough to be portable, but still with those essential arrow keys. I finally settled on a Sagittarius keyboard kit. It had this sleek, aluminum case and a hot-swappable PCB, which means I could easily change the switches later without any soldering. That was a big plus for me because I’m always tinkering.
The Build Begins
When the kit arrived, I was like a kid on Christmas morning. I ripped open the box and started laying everything out. The case felt super solid, and the PCB looked clean and well-made. I grabbed my trusty switch puller and started popping out the stock switches. They were okay, but I had something special in mind for this build.
Cherry MX Switches
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Choosing the Switches:
I’m a huge fan of tactile switches – you know, the ones that give you a little bump when you press them. I decided to go with Cherry MX Brown. I’ve used it before, and this is my favorite.
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Lubing the Switches:
This is where things got a little tedious. To make the switches feel extra smooth, I decided to lube them. This basically means taking each switch apart and applying a tiny amount of special lubricant to the inside. It took forever, but it was totally worth it. The difference in feel is night and day.
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Stabilizers:
Stabilizers can make or break a keyboard. They are used for the larger keys such as the Shift and spacebar, making sure that the larger keycaps can be pressed evenly from edge to edge.
Putting It All Together
With the switches lubed and ready to go, I started popping them into the PCB. It was super satisfying to hear that click as each switch locked into place. Then came the stabilizers – those little things that keep the bigger keys from wobbling. I made sure to lube those up too, because nobody likes a rattly spacebar.
The Final Touch
Finally, it was time for the main event – the Cherry Bomb keycaps. I carefully placed each one onto the switches, and man, did it look good. The colors popped against the black case, and the whole thing just screamed “retro cool.”
Typing Test and Final Thoughts
I plugged in the keyboard and started typing away. The lubed Cherry MX Browns felt amazing – smooth, tactile, and just the right amount of “thocc.” The keycaps felt great under my fingers, and the whole keyboard felt solid and well-built. Honestly, I was blown away by how this project turned out. It was a lot of work, but seeing and using the finished product made it all worthwhile. If you’re thinking about building your own keyboard, I say go for it! It’s a super rewarding experience.
