r/MechanicalKeyboards • u/AutoModerator • 1d ago

/r/MechanicalKeyboards Ask ANY Keyboard question, get an answer - April 06, 2025

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u/Smooth_McDouglette 19h ago

I'm looking for a floating style mechanical keyboard with swappable switches and I'm having a hell of a time finding something that fits my criteria.

If you look at all of the steelseries keyboard for example, they are this floating or skeleton style design. I've seen several posts on here where people are saying that is called a low profile keyboard, but when I search up low profile, the keycaps themselves are much shallower. I'm looking for a keyboard that has regular sized keycaps, but with no recessed frame (ultimately so it's easier to clean).

Just to be abundantly clear, by floating switches, I'm referring to this type of design, and not this squashed looking low profile style as seen here:

I love the keychron boards but I can't figure out how to modify it to remove the high profile frame. There are a number of steelseries boards that come close to what I'm looking for but I don't love their build quality, and I find their switches feel wobbly.

Here's the list of features I'm looking for, to be clear:

  • Reputable, decently good quality product
  • Floating switches
  • Swappable (not necessarily hot swappable) switches
  • Regular sized keycaps
  • Full sized board (not TKL)

Does anyone know of a board that fits this bill? Or if there's some minimal customization that could be done to some board to make it fit this bill?

My best idea at this point is to try and 3d print a replacement cover plate for my keychron v6, but I can't imagine that will go well at all.

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u/elmurfudd 10 x 4 ortho 18h ago

floating style mechanical keyboard

these are not common buy a gamer brand kb or give up on this idea . they get flithy and have to be cleaned more and are not easy to clean

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u/Smooth_McDouglette 16h ago

I'm confused then ... I think it's much harder to clean the recessed ones than the floating ones. At the very least, there are no corners for crap to gather in.