Before my first build, I did what a lot of beginners do: I panicked and bought almost every tool listed in a “complete keyboard builder’s toolkit” article, including several things I’ve genuinely never used since. Looking back, I could have built a perfectly good first keyboard with about a third of what I bought. If you’re just starting out and don’t want to overspend on gear you’ll never touch, here’s what actually matters versus what you can safely skip for now.
The Tools You Genuinely Need for a Hot-Swap Build
If you’re building your first keyboard with a hot-swappable kit (which I’d recommend for any beginner), your required tool list is refreshingly short.
A keycap puller. This removes keycaps without damaging the stem underneath. Wire-style pullers are gentler on keycaps than the plastic ring pullers that sometimes come bundled with cheap keyboards, since the wire wraps around the sides rather than squeezing down on the top surface. If your kit came with a plastic one, it’ll work fine for a first build, just be gentle.
A switch puller. This grips the switch housing from both sides so you can pull it straight up and out of the hot-swap socket without bending the pins underneath. Most kits include a basic metal one, and it’s genuinely all you need at this stage.
A small screwdriver. Most kits use small Phillips-head screws to secure the case and plate. A basic precision screwdriver set covers this, and you likely already own something that works if you’ve ever taken apart electronics before.
That’s it. Three tools, and two of them are usually included with your kit already. If you’re just doing a straightforward hot-swap build with pre-lubed switches, you genuinely don’t need anything beyond this.
Tools That Become Useful Once You Start Modding
Once you’ve built your first keyboard and want to start tweaking sound and feel, a few more tools start earning their place:
Tweezers. Useful for the pre-build PCB test (lightly tapping switch contacts to confirm every key registers before fully assembling), and handy for handling small stabilizer parts without getting lube on your fingers.
A switch opener. This lets you pop open individual switches to lubricate them or swap internal parts like springs. Not required for a basic build, but essential the moment you want to try lubing switches yourself.
A small detail brush. Used for applying thin, even coats of lubricant to switch stems and springs. Cheap and reusable.
Lubricant. Krytox 205g0 is the community standard for stabilizers and springs, while lighter oils like Krytox 105 or 106 work well on stems. You don’t need much, a small tube lasts a very long time.
I’d genuinely hold off on buying any of these until after your first build. There’s no reason to invest in switch lubing tools before you’ve even confirmed you enjoy the assembly process.
Tools You Only Need for Soldered Builds
If you end up with a non-hot-swap kit (less common for beginners, but it happens), you’ll need a different, more involved toolkit:
- A soldering iron with adjustable temperature control, ideally something simple and beginner-friendly rather than an expensive professional station.
- Solder, specifically thin rosin-core solder made for electronics work.
- A desoldering pump or wick, for fixing mistakes or removing switches later.
Soldering adds a real skill barrier and more expensive tooling, which is exactly why I recommend hot-swap kits so strongly for anyone building their first keyboard. You can always move to soldered builds later once you’ve got a feel for the hobby and know it’s something you want to invest more time and money into.
Watch the Full Tool Breakdown
Written lists are useful, but seeing the actual tools side by side, their size, how they’re used, and how much they cost, gives a much clearer sense of what’s worth buying now versus later. This video walks through a fairly complete builder’s toolkit and explains what each piece is actually for:
Watching something like this before your first purchase helps separate what’s genuinely necessary from what’s a nice-to-have for later, once you already know you’re sticking with the hobby.
What I’d Actually Recommend Buying Right Now
If you’re about to do your first hot-swap build, here’s my honest advice: don’t buy anything beyond what your kit already includes, unless it’s missing a keycap puller or switch puller entirely. Get through your first build, see how it feels, and only then start expanding your toolkit based on what you actually want to try next, whether that’s lubing switches, adding foam, or eventually attempting a soldered build.
This approach also saves you from a very common beginner trap: buying a full lubing station and a switch opener before you’ve even confirmed you’ll enjoy the process of opening up individual switches. It’s a satisfying rabbit hole once you’re in it, but there’s no reason to buy your way into it before you’ve built a single keyboard.
If you’re at the stage of deciding what to actually put into your first build, our guide on choosing between barebones kits and pre-built keyboards is worth reading first, and once you’ve got switches installed, our breakdown of linear vs tactile vs clicky switches will help you figure out what to look for as you get more particular about feel.
Wrapping Up
A first hot-swap build genuinely only needs a keycap puller, a switch puller, and a small screwdriver, most of which come included with your kit already. Everything else, lube, switch openers, soldering gear, can wait until you know you’re sticking with the hobby and want to start tuning sound and feel more precisely. Don’t let a long tool checklist talk you into spending more than your first build actually requires.