Introduction
Hey there! Welcome to another build log. 
Took a peep at my Eighty #391 Build Log, and I’m realizing my tastes have expanded, but haven’t changed much over the years. 
'Chew’s Keeb Interests
-
Sizes, Layouts: TKL, 90%, Alice (with F-Row)
- Non-Negotiable: ANSI, Function Row, Special / Edit Keys
- Case: Metallic Construction, High-Profile, Angled, Matte Black
- Plate: Black / Frosted / Transparent
- PCB: Hotswap, QMK / VIA Compatibility, Black
-
Switches: Linear, Silent Stems, 150g Springs
- Non-Negotiable: Black Housings
- Stabilizers: Black
- Keycaps: Blank, PBT, OEM-Profile, Matte Black
- Acoustics: Silent, Thock / Clack
TLDR: Black Aesthetic, Heavy Silent Linear Switches.
qwertypop happened to advertise the 4398 Keyboards they had in stock on Mech Group Buy’s Discord, and I happened to be paying attention, and the 4398 Keyboard happened to check off my preferences.
Fast forward a few days later, aaand it’s in my hands!
I pity the fool that misses the in stock listing and Group Buys it later. 
Name
黒-4398 ⇒ くろ-4398 ⇒ Kuro-4398 ⇒ K-4398
(黒 = Black)
Couldn’t think of any clever, meaningful wordplay with “98,” so I kept it simple.
[Begrudgingly puts away list of 'Chewnibyō chūnibyō names.]
(Pun stolen from Den.) 
Parts List
| Component | Selection | Price |
|---|---|---|
| PCB | 4398 Keyboard Hotswap PCB - Poron Switch Pads - Stabilizer Foam Pads |
≈ $345.00 $2.00 |
| Case | 4398 Keyboard Case (Anodized Aluminum, Black) | |
| Mounting Plate | Custom 4398 Keyboard POM Mounting Plate 4398 Keyboard Polycarbonate Mounting Plate |
 |
| Switches | Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) - Durock POM Switch Housings - Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems - SPRiT MX Supreme Springs (210g) - Krytox 205g0 Lubricant |
$72.36 $23.25 $13.50 |
| Stabilizers | Durock Screw-In Stabilizers (V2) | $25.00 |
| Keycaps | POM Ink Keycaps - Spacebar Foam EnjoyPBT Blank Black PBT Cherry-Profile Keycaps |
$39.00 |
| Cable | CableMod Custom Pro Coiled Cable - Dual-Sleeved (Black ModMesh Nylon, Black ModFlex Paracord) - GX16 Aviator Connector (5-Pin) - Cerakote Coating (USB-C, USB-A, Aviator QDC) |
|
|
Grand Total (Shipping, Taxes, Foreign Transaction Fees Excluded) |
≈ $520.11 |
Parts Update History
Last Updated: 07/28/2022
- [07/18/2022]: Initial Build - K-4398
- [07/21/2022]: Remapping via VIA - VIA + 43_980.json File
- [07/28/2022]: POM POM POM - POM Mounting Plate + POM Ink Keycaps
Assembly
4398 Keyboard Kit
Keyboard Kit Parts
- 1 × 4398 Keyboard Top Case + Bottom Case / Weight
- 1 × 4398 Keyboard PCB
- 1 × Poron Foam (3.5mm)
- 120 × PE Foam Switch Pads
- 1 × Winkey Blocker
- 3 × Black Keyboard Accents
- 3 × Frosted Keyboard Accents
- 1 × 7U Stabilizer Wire
- Screws, Bumpons, Etc.
Other Essentials (Separate Purchases)
- 1 × 7U Stabilizer, 6 × 2U Stabilizers
- 102 Switches (ANSI Layout)
- 102 Keycaps (ANSI Layout)
- USB Type-C Cable
PCB + Switch Pads + Stabilizers
Don’t look at the up arrow key.
Now you can never unsee it.
Assembled PCB + Poron Foam + Mounting Plate
Instantly sold on plastic mounting plates.
For one, they don’t attract fingerprints as much as polished metal does. 
Assembled PCB / Foam / Plate + Switches
Keyboard Checker time!
Branded cable (temporary setup) came from erm, a Razer Zephyr mask that I got for free. 
Assembled PCB / Foam / Plate + Top Case
4 × Tiny Hex Screws to mount the plate to the top case.
Mounting feels easier and more secure compared to Eighty #391. 
K-4398 - Bottom Weight / Case
8 × Tiny Hex Screws to secure the bottom weight to the top case.
K-4398 + Modded Silent POM Switches (210g)
I’ll be honest, bottoming out is really difficult now. 
Oh, and the spacebar is actually 180g because I didn’t have enough 210g springs. 
K-4398 - Assembled!
First order of business:
Disable LEDs.
Monkeytype
Sound Samples
Sound samples recorded with the Antlion Mod Mic and Audacity.
Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Fast)
Modded Silent POM Switches (210g) (Slow)
Closing Comments
It’s been a very long while since I’ve been excited about custom keebs again. Day in, day out, it feels like I’m staring at samey listings by vendors offering similar inventories. And if something’s locked behind a Group Buy, my interest falls off exponentially rapidly.
The easiest way to rope me into another keeb purchase?
In stock and immediate shipping.
Also, have someone competent designing the keeb, lol.
Even better if it’s limited in quantity. Mmm yaaaaaaaaaas, give me that intangible and trivial sense of self-worth that comes from possessing something that the greater majority does not or can not have.
Current Desk Setup
The plan for K-4398 was to deck it out as much as my patience allowed:
- Gazzew / Outemu Silent Linear Stems: Transferred all of these over from Eighty #391 to the new build, since I’ve grown incredibly fond of them. Oddly enough, I had 102 stems – exactly enough to outfit K-4398 (ANSI layout).
- SPRiT MX Supreme Springs (210g, 180g): Finally acquired these. Only for the truly cultured and masochistic, kek.
-
Switch Pads + Stabilizer Pads: Uncertain how significant of an effect the pads have on the 4398 Keyboard’s typing / acoustic experience, but it’s a cheap addition and doesn’t detract from the keeb, so why not?
- Stabilizers: Stabilizer rattle was, admittedly, one of the problem areas with the Eighty #391 that I never got around to fixing. Made it a point to tune K-4398’s stabs to my liking this time.
-
Durock POM Switches: There’s a theme I’m going for here, the rest of the pieces haven’t reached my hands juuust yet.
Aat some point, gotta fiddle around with QMK / VIA because Scroll Lock, Pause, and Num Lock are useless to me.
Why does perfecting something have to take so loooooooooong, I just wanna play gaaaaaaaaaames. 
Eighty #391
Eighty #391 - Barebones
Will now be retired and safely stored away in its keeb bag.
POM caps and POM plate were from Den! Thank you again! 
Den’s 4398 Keyboard! 
)
OEM profile, best profile. 
.
), and very tart. Starts to smell more unpleasant the longer it’s left out in the air, but tastes fine (IMO). I’d… eh, still prefer good ol’ pulpy orange juice over pomegranate juice, lol.
