This is my Zenith build that I have been working on over the past few months. The Zenith Z-KB2 is my favorite keyboard chassis, having great build quality, N-key rollover, and that great Zenith badge. So when I was lucky enough to stumble into one in a trade from Gainsborough (Thanks again), I knew I had to do something special with it. At first I considered putting blue alps in it, but I only have around 20, and I don't want to destroy a keyboard to get some more. I have always heard good things about click modded orange Alps, especially how they were to sound similar to the bluies. So I found 110 loose ones from Russia of all places. 2 Months in the post later, I could finally get started on the build! So here is my full build log/restoration of my Zenith. Hope you Enjoy
This is the case/pcb that I got from gainsborough. It has a small crack on the right side, and is missing the flip out feet, but neither of those things really bothered me. It also sat better with me that I didn't have to destroy a perfectly good Zenith to get it.
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The next step was to clean and Retrobrite The case and badge. It was a little bit too yellowed for my liking. So after cleaning out the local Rite Aid for all their Hydrogen Peroxide, I got started. I know there are better solutions out there, but this was quick and easy to do on a Sunday morning.
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Fast forward about two weeks (It was only above freezing one day lol) later, this was the outcome. So it turns out February in New England is not a good time to Retrobrite a keyboard. I am not disappointed with the results, it just took a lot longer.
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So fast forward another month, my orange Alps finally come in. I had never click modded Alps switches before, so I really didn't know what I was in for. I used Chyrosran's excellent guide on click modding, and it went pretty well. After 5-6 hours later, I got through them all. If I did that again, I could do it in half the time, but I was careful as to not damage the switches. The little metal tabs went everywhere too lol.
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My next step was soldering all the switches in. I hadn't ever soldered a keyboard before, so it was a little bit of a learning curve. After around a dozen horrible solder joints, I started to get better, and got through the entire thing. I had to re-do a couple solders, but I got it working after a while. This is the finished product.
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The last step was a thorough cleaning of the key caps and a final polish all around. I decided to lube all 15 stabilizers with the Di-Electric grease pictured bellow. I am really happy with the final product. For my first keyboard build I definitely could have done worse. I also have a Typing Demo bellow if anyone is interested. Thanks for tuning in cheers
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Deciding between my two Zenith badges that I have. I went with the Orangeish one to symbolize the build.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzmSiAq ... e=youtu.be
so it seems like the perfect time! I'm inspired!