The Tomak 79 is a tented split keyboard that nails everything from design to build quality, assuming you can look past the price tag and stock keycaps. I’ve been using mechanical keyboards for years and stepped into custom builds a few seasons back, but it has been a long time since a board made me want to swap out my daily driver on day one. I pushed my Mammoth 75 aside and put this on my desk right away.
Complete Kit and the Missing Y-Cable
I received the pre-built Black Silent Linear kit from the second crowdfunding run. The box includes two aluminum body halves, carbon wrist rests, a carrying case, a microfiber cloth, neodymium magnets, and a PC badge. The keycaps were packaged separately.
However, I didn’t get the Y-cable. I bought it right when the sale opened based on a notice promising it for fast orders, and since stock seemed available after checkout, I assumed I’d get one. It wasn’t anywhere in the box, though, and that notice is hard to find on the funding page now. I still want one, so I’m thinking about reaching out to customer support to ask about it.
Black Aluminum and Carbon Wrist Rests
Because it’s a split keyboard, I thought it might look odd on my desk, but in person, it looks fantastic. The black anodized housing pairs really well with the carbon fiber texture on the wrist rests. The surface feels smooth to the touch, and there are no rough edges anywhere along the seams.
The top and bottom cases are made of 6063 T6 aluminum. Unassembled, the left side weighs 1.8kg and the right side weighs 2.1kg, coming in at a total of 3.9kg. It feels heavy the moment you pick it up. While it’s not something you’ll want to move around often, I like keyboards that sit firmly anchored on the desk.
It supports PCB sock gaskets and top mounting, and my kit came configured with a PC plate.
Jelly Banana Silent Linears and Hot-Swap PCB
The switches are 53g Jelly Banana Silent Linears. With the plate-mounted stabilizers pre-installed, all you have to do is pop on the keycaps and start typing. The PCB is hot-swappable, so if I want to try different switches down the road, I can swap them out without soldering.
For now, I plan to run the stock setup. I can think about changing switches once I get more used to the board. As expected from silent linears, they are quiet and offer a solid keystroke feel that suits my preference for higher spring weights. My only real complaint is the color—that bright yellow switch housing stands out way too much visually.
Keycaps That Fall Short of the Case Quality
The keycaps are PBT dye-sub White on Black (WOB) with Korean legends. However, the black shade isn’t as deep as I hoped. Because the aluminum housing’s black finish looks so good, the keycap color feels even more disappointing. Installed on the board, they look like something sitting right between dark gray and black.
Color isn’t the only issue. While mounting the keys one by one, I hit a snag at the right Ctrl key. This spot requires a 1u key, but none of the included keycaps fit. I had to fill it with a blank 1u keycap instead. Buying a pre-built kit only to hunt for replacement keycaps before my first typing session was frustrating.
If you plan to use the stock keycaps, keep this in mind before buying. I prefer PBTfans keycaps, so I plan to ask the seller if they sell the 7YHB keys separately.
Adapting to the Split Layout in 10 Minutes
The layout is a 75% split with duplicated 7, Y, H, and B keys on both halves. Whether you hit B with your left hand or right hand, it registers. Adding this extra column was a smart move.
At first, I expected my hands to fumble around quite a bit, given the split center and angled halves. In reality, it took me about 10 minutes to feel comfortable. I loved that I didn’t have to drastically change my typing habits. It almost made my hesitation about adapting feel silly.
Strictly in terms of key layout, I actually prefer this over the Moncherbang I had my eyes on. I might need to revise my keyboard wishlist.
Immediate Comfort with Tenting and Wrist Angles
What struck me most on day one was how good my wrists felt. The tenting sits at 9° on the left and 8° on the right, with a 7° typing angle and a front height of 10.2mm. The keyboard has height elevation not just top-to-bottom, but also left-to-right.
Looking at raw numbers didn’t give me a clear idea, but putting my hands on it made everything click. Raising my hands slightly outward felt far more comfortable than typing flat. It felt much more natural than keeping my palms completely flat against the desk.
It’s only been a day, so I can’t speak on long-term use yet, but the initial impression is positive. Feeling this comfortable on my wrists made me glad I picked it up.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 9° and 8° tenting offers great wrist comfort—ideal if long typing sessions strain your wrists
- Excellent overall finish—great for anyone sensitive to aluminum case machining details
- Heavyweight build quality—perfect if you prefer a keyboard that sits solidly on your desk
- Duplicated 7/Y/H/B column is a great touch—ideal for split users who don’t want to change key habits
Cons
- Muted black dye-sub color and missing 1u right Ctrl keycap—not recommended if you rely on stock keycaps
- Steep price tag at 790,000 KRW (about $590)—not recommended if you just want a cheap split keyboard to test the waters
A Contender for the Main Spot
At 790,000 KRW (about $590)—and considering you might want to swap out the stock keycaps—it’s a heavy investment. This isn’t something you buy casually to test out split layouts. Still, looking at the finish, heavy mass, natural layout, and comfortable tenting, I keep wanting to type on it.
It’s too early to say it has completely replaced my Mammoth 75, but I’ll definitely be using the Tomak 79 for a while. Adapting was surprisingly easy for my first split keyboard, and above all, my wrists feel great.
Now all that’s left is sorting out the keycaps. I’ll reach out to places like PBTfans to see if I can get extra 7, Y, H, and B keys. If that doesn’t work out, I might consider replacing the whole keycap set. I heard Round 2 will feature an 8K PCB, and here I am, paying attention to the next release just one day after receiving this one.
