This is my preferred way of building my custom keyboards now! This video shows the build of my 'The Piano' PCB design that were kindly sent to me by PCBWay.
Thanks to my sponsor PCBWay for supporting this video. PCBWay offer PCB fabrication, CNC and 3D Printing and more. They have been super efficient and friendly with all the projects I’ve used them for and I’m very happy to recommend them. You can use this link to support the channel. https://www.pcbway.com/setinvite.aspx?inviteid=499614
You can order my PCB directly using this link: https://www.pcbway.com/project/shareproject/Single_key_keyboard_43be72a3.html
As someone who finds using a soldering iron a pretty frustrating experience I am very pleased to have found this hot air gun and solder paste reflow technique to be super straightforward, very neat and nothing like as fiddly as using a soldering iron.
To add to my disclaimers in the video - I'm not in any way saying this is the correct way to solder these types of connections, nor am I saying my technique is in any way correct. As someone who just wants a simple error-free method to build these boards, I found this method much more effective. If you're an expert in soldering please share recommended techniques etc in the comments so people have the full picture - much appreciated.
🪛Soldering Essentials!
Tooling up with these links helps me out at no extra cost to you. Thanks! 🙏
Hot air gun (this is what I used in the video):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3nv3iwy
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ueQk9I
Proper soldering hot air gun:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/33054231705.html
Solder paste:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3I0HS3P
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3I1izyz
Heat Proof Mat:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3nn8tiB
Soldering Iron Kit:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Frdw87
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3ouxQ1o
Lead Free Solder 0.6 (for sockets and switches):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3co1GyM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YSfZZs
Lead Free Solder 0.3 (for smaller work):
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30A2Yog
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3HDDU0q
Flux Pen:
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3IemWVP
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3Ko9lNm
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Watch this next for more details on my custom keyboard framework: https://youtu.be/UKfeJrRIcxw
Details on my 16 key layout:
https://youtu.be/5RN_4PQ0j1A
Or how about 34?
https://youtu.be/8wZ8FRwOzhU
Or if you're feeling totally excessive, 36:
https://youtu.be/S0bBmcoVsm8
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