ThocStock's Gift Guide for Mechanical Keyboards Enthusiasts

Not sure what to buy that special someone in your life which is way too into mechanical keyboards? I have just the list for you. It is very US/North America focused, but you can often find these products at other retailers. If you order outside your home country, make sure you upgrade the shipping if you need it by a specific date.

Also, a quick reminder some of these links are affiliate links. My kids have gotten accustomed to eating, so this helps keep them fed. Many of them will get you a 5% discount just for clicking as well.

Finally, if you have any questions, just shoot me a message at [email protected] and I will help point you in the right direction.

Keyboards

You may think my bae is into mechanical keyboards; I will buy them a new keyboard.

Your heart is in the right place, but chances are the keyboard your bae wants is not actually for sale. Even the keyboard they may want but kind of don’t want is not likely available. I would recommend skipping the keyboard altogether.

However, if you want to buy a new keyboard, here is what I would do.

First, look at their existing keyboard(s). Do you see any with arrow keys?

If so, you may want to grab a KBD67 V3 Lite. he KBD67 s is an entry-level board for sure, so 100% skip it if you see many similar on their desk. (note: You can save a few bucks going with the V2 as well)

No arrow keys? Great, check out CannonKeys Bakenko 60. The Bakenko is a relatively simple keyboard but has many options to modify it and make it your own.

What about keycaps?

Like keyboards, this is tricky. However, there are some excellent in-stock options.

DCP Pegaso - Mitocorn - The beige/gray keycaps will go with just about any keyboard, and the compatibility (i.e., will they work for your bae’s keyboard) is very high. I like that the keys have a pop of color.

DCS Nightfall is another great-looking set that will work for most boards (both color and compatibility).

As a bonus, I am not sure how long it will be in stock, but GMK WoB Katakana is available at a great price (for GMK). You can never go wrong with a white-on-black keycap set.

What Else?

With the obvious ideas out of the way, I would recommend (priced highest to lowest):

Hakko FR301 Desoldering Gun - this will set you back quite a bit, but it is worth every penny. All the parts are replaceable, and Hakko offers excellent support. You cannot go wrong here (if it is in your budget).

Hakko Soldering Iron - Just like the desoldering gun, you cannot go wrong with the Hakko soldering iron.

Kaisi Silicone Mat - Never let your bae ruin another deskpad with solder drippings. There is a nice upgraded version by American Haptics that looks great (but I have not used myself).

Titan Magnetic Trays - These trays are big enough for a keyboard full of switches and do a great job of organizing parts during a build.

Nanch Precision Screwdriver Set - I use this set every day. For an upgrade, check out the Wiha Precision Screwdrivers. I hope my bae grabs me some of these someday.

Brushworks Deskpads - I love these deskpads.

Stocking Stuffers

Solder Sucker - Everyone’s favorite solder sucker. Seriously, everyone’s favorite. These things last, but not forever. So no harm grabbing one even if your bae might already own one.

Wuque Titanium Switch Puller - What makes the tedious task of pulling switches better? Titanium. :) I own a couple of these, and they are great.

Gateron Switch Opener - Just like the switch puller, a mundane task is made much better. The Gateron Switch Opener is for sale everywhere, so check out the vendor discount codes on the included link.

Plate Support Fork - This might look silly, but your significant other will thank you for it.

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