Are the “Stage 2” injection molds for the stabilized keys not ready or just not in the photo. They really show the challenge of creating a plate of this complexity. Damn impressive
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What you’re seeing there are mold inserts that haven’t been installed yet. Every single switch (including the 1u keys) has to be machined individually and then inserted into the main mold. Otherwise, the workshop wouldn’t have the tool access they need for polishing the mating surfaces to get the level of smoothness I want from the switch. The manufacturing process on this mold is even more intricate and fussy than it looks.
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How long or cycles do you think your molds will last? 200,000+? Any daily maintenance requirements after each day of use? Just curious.
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@norbauer Just wanted to confirm if this “Pro Classic” model from the HHKB website is going to work with your Heavy Grail? The part number on Fuji’s website - CG01000-296301 I don’t see them as being listed as Pro 2 or Pro 3.
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If it’s currently for sale on their website, it should be a Pro 3 Classic, and yes that absolutely works with my housing. 
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Sitting on the edge of my inbox. Hope I don’t miss this one!
So if I want to get a HHKB, should I still go for Type-S despite the shorter legs and potentially slight difference in the holy grail? Or should I just go for Classic? I still kind of want the silence from Type-s…
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I’d go for the Classic, but it’s a subjective call in the tradeoff introduced by Type S, and that should be entirely driven by how much you care about the silencing rings.
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Love and admire your craftmanship as always. Have you ever considered using bronze (marine grade) for heavy grail? I’d imagine the joy of watching the surface patina over the time of using it… and the fun of maintaining it 
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Dude. C’mon. There’s only so many Heavy-6’s I can buy. These look amazing.
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Great to know that you are experimenting with different type of metals 
It’ll be super dope if the copper/bronze heavy-grail, with all the rounded curve, will look similar to this 
kind of look and texture over the course of time… and each heavy-grail will be distinct and unique.
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In 5000 years, these bronze Norbauer relics will be the only artifacts our descendants will have to try to understand our culture.
Hmm, maybe somebody should make some clay pottery cases
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That patina is gorgeous !
Will you add a varnish on top of that ?
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I was thinking clear powder coat, but I might also try a spray lacquer, which is what the patina solution manufacturer recommends.
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This is also something I’ve toyed with. The trick with this is the very high shrinkage rate, making nailing tolerances really hard.
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Mind blown. I want one please
The patina one is insane. It would be awesome to be able to get that finish.
The patina copper is awesome. I’ve also been hoping someone would do a case in fully rusted iron or steel and clear coat it. There are a lot of rusted foot bridges on the nature trails in my town. Such a beautiful, natural finish.
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Oh yeah, I’ve got one of those too. I’ll take a pic next time I’m out in the workshop.
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