I love a lot of the keyboards on here (especially ones with an integrated track ball) but I’m a poor grad student under deadlines; even most kit-boards are too much of a time sink for me to soldier together.

I know at least some of you like trying new boards all the time. And I’m guessing some of you have one or two daily drivers and then 3 older boards; maybe one that was a prototype build, or a novelty micro-board that was fun to just play with but not use, etc.

I would be happy to effectively fund a new kit/build for someone by buying one of those older (assembled) boards, but I don’t know where to look.

Is there any kind of used market, or do you guys have any recommendations?

  • forrcaho@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    1 year ago

    There is a site called Keebswap which aims to be a used mechanical keyboard market to replace the subreddit r/mechmarket on Reddit (a formerly popular topic-based discussion platform that … probably still exists but I’m not sure). Note, I haven’t used either of these; I just know they exist.

  • apfel@lemmy.world
    5·
    1 year ago

    From my experience, used boards are mostly sold in the respective semi-local communities on Discord. The continent you live on is a good first indicator for what communities to join :)

    • jeffhykin@lemm.eeOP
      3·
      1 year ago

      This ended up being the most helpful!

      I found a discord for Charybdis, along with a channel specifically for buying/selling and it looks promising. Thanks 👍

  • iZRBQEcWVXNdnPtTV@lemmy.world
    3·
    1 year ago

    Craigslist and r/mechmarket have been my go-tos to finding used boards. It’s not very reliable as they pop up once in a blue moon, but every so often the stars align and I check mechmarket on a day when a board I want is there.

  • unmoored@awful.systems
    2·
    1 year ago

    What’s your budget? I have also been looking out for something similar, mostly on r/mechmarket (I have an ergo travel that I am trying to get to work consistently).

    There are sometimes deals like this: (not sure if this one is still available) at $80 https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/162uc4s/uscah_dilemma_v1_choc_pink_w_paypal/

    Another place I’ve found really good prices is the bastardkb discord, but like r/mechmarket the postings for split keyboards are infrequent.

    If you have switches and keycaps from a donor mech kb, this could be a good option at $128: https://www.reddit.com/r/mechmarket/comments/162uc4s/uscah_dilemma_v1_choc_pink_w_paypal/

    Edit for completeness: $120 one piece option just without keys/keycaps: https://ergohaven.xyz/shop/tproduct/339856256-880659810681-planeta

  • pca006132@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    Not sure about others, I tried to sell me keyboard but without success, maybe split keyboards are a bit too niche and no one near me (HK) is interested. I just disassembled the keyboars to scrap the components for the next build, which is a bit sad considering a significant amount of time is spent on assembling it.

    • jeffhykin@lemm.eeOP
      1·
      1 year ago

      that is sad. I feel like shipping isn’t as big deal compared to the cost of the board. I mean I’m looking at a pre-built Charybdis and it’s $500+

      • pca006132@lemmy.worldEnglish
        1·
        1 year ago

        Indeed, the major cost is labor cost. I was iterating on the design once a month and do some very simple tweaking (change the screw location for example). Because I want to make sure that the entire thing works, I need to solder everything for each cycle. Due to the lack of components, I have to disassemble old working keyboard to make a new one. I probably disassembled 4 or more in total. I was looking to sell the old one for $100, but no one was interested. I guess a lot of mechanical keyboard users are probably not used to split keyboard and DIY keyboards, so are not willing to buy it.