About Switch & Solder

Building a custom mechanical keyboard is more than just snapping switches into sockets. It is a tactile craft where mounting styles, plate materials, soldering techniques, and firmware configurations converge to create a uniquely personal typing experience. Switch & Solder was founded to demystify that craft for enthusiasts and beginners alike.

Why We Built Switch & Solder

The custom keyboard hobby has exploded beyond niche group buys into an overwhelming landscape of DIY kits, barebone enclosures, and conflicting modding advice. We launched this site to provide clear, grounded, and thoroughly tested guidance. Instead of repeating vendor marketing specs, we build, tune, measure, and type on every board we cover, dissecting what truly matters under your fingertips.

Our Hands-On Testing Philosophy

Every kit featured on Switch & Solder undergoes a rigorous build and evaluation process in our workshop. We evaluate ease of assembly, structural tolerances, plate reverberation, and software reliability using a standardized testing rubric:

• Acoustic & Mechanical Tuning: We test chassis across multiple plate materials (FR4, POM, polycarbonate, and aluminum) to analyze flex dynamics, case ping, and gasket compression behavior.
• Assembly & Tolerances: We inspect PCB trace quality, hot-swap socket durability, screw-in stabilizer clearance, and plate-switch fitment to ensure frustration-free builds.
• Firmware & Programmability: We verify open-source firmware stability, mapping layers, tap-dance macros, and wireless latency across diverse operating systems.

The Editorial Team

Our content is written and vetted by three seasoned keyboard builders who bring distinct specializations to the workbench:

• Marcus Vance (Hardware & Acoustics Lead Editor): Marcus focuses on premium gasket-mount and top-mount configurations. He specializes in acoustic dampening, force break mods, plate resonance, and machining quality across aluminum and brass cases.
• Elena Rostova (Value & Entry-Level Kit Editor): Elena tests affordable DIY kits and barebones offerings. She evaluates starter assembly tools, solder vs. hot-swap tradeoffs, and beginner-friendly build processes that maximize performance on a budget.
• Liam O'Connor (Customization & Firmware Specialist): Liam evaluates split ergonomics, Alice layouts, and southpaw boards. He is our resident authority on QMK, VIA, and ZMK firmware development, rotary encoder scripting, and custom keymap configurations.

Our Independence

We take editorial integrity seriously. While we sustain our work through affiliate partnerships, our opinions remain entirely our own. If a kit suffers from hollow acoustics, finicky daughterboard ribbons, or flawed PCB tolerances, we say so directly. We build these keyboards for the love of the craft, and our goal is to help you build yours with complete confidence.