[RDno1]

Hi guys, I just wanted to share my Zowie FK mod because I know a lot of people here like the FK and the Kinzu. I love the Kinzu's shape, but the LOD could be lower. The FK was always too long for me, so I decided to mod it. All I used was a file and some sandpaper. I basically just removed the back of the mouse to get the shape closer to the SteelSeries Kinzu. You can easily do that because all the internals are in the front. I honestly don't know why Zowie doesn't use these internals on a smaller mouse.
It turned out pretty well I think. Here are some pictures:
http://imgur.com/GL6IKtY,lT8PEbW,r6AHtWY,mOJPHi4,lRX2Hou#3
http://imgur.com/GL6IKtY,lT8PEbW,r6AHtWY,mOJPHi4,lRX2Hou#0
http://imgur.com/GL6IKtY,lT8PEbW,r6AHtWY,mOJPHi4,lRX2Hou#1
http://imgur.com/GL6IKtY,lT8PEbW,r6AHtWY,mOJPHi4,lRX2Hou#2
http://imgur.com/GL6IKtY,lT8PEbW,r6AHtWY,mOJPHi4,lRX2Hou#4
It has a little opening in the back now, but I don't feel it and the light shines out there, which is pretty cool. Some day I'll probably also mod the switches to Omrons, then it'll be perfect.

 

[test user]

Very nice! Kinda resembles IME 3.0

I was thinking about doing something similar myself when I find my perfect fingertip mouse. Most decent mice are so damn long these days. C'mon, all I want is a low, small and light mouse to use outside of FPS. You'd think most people would fingertip when they browse, play 2D games etc...

 

[RDno1]

Thanks! Yeah I thought it resembled the Intellimouse 1.1 and the IME 3.0 too with the red light in the back.

Perhaps you could mod the FK as well, it could be made even smaller if you can replace what you cut off:
http://cdn.overclock.net/d/dc/500x1000px-LL-dc8e06e6__6060349.jpeg
Or don't replace, with fingertrip grip, you probably won't touch the back anyway

I thought about using Worbla (http://www.worbla.com/) or Sugru (http://sugru.com/about) to model the shape how I want it.
That might be for you. I didn't do it because this already did the job, the shape is almost perfect for me now.

A sick project would be trying to make your own case with this stuff.

 

[test user]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDno1

Perhaps you could mod the FK as well, it could be made even smaller if you can replace what you cut off:
http://cdn.overclock.net/d/dc/500x1000px-LL-dc8e06e6__6060349.jpeg
Or don't replace, with fingertrip grip, you probably won't touch the back anyway

I thought about using Worbla (http://www.worbla.com/) or Sugru (http://sugru.com/about) to model the shape how I want it.
That might be for you. I didn't do it because this already did the job, the shape is almost perfect for me now.

Yeah, you're right. The FK would be a damn good option, it's got stiff and rather low buttons so you can effortlessly rest your fingers on them. And the PCB indeed is nice and small.

And thanks for the links, those look awesome. I wouldn't need them for the FK (fingertipping yay), but I've got some cool ideas for G400 and EC1 already

 

[Arc0s]

Great job RD! Would love to see how the shape remodeling turns out you should go for it.

 

[Ino.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDno1

I honestly don't know why Zowie doesn't use these internals on a smaller mouse.

Maybe because most people already feel that the FK is too small?

 

[CtrlAltel1te]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ino.

Maybe because most people already feel that the FK is too small?

Maybe only palm grippers feel its to small

Ino.

I myself prefer smaller mice because of my clawgrip.
Still best shape I had till today was the cm storm spawn.

I am guessing for palm the nioniox mice or the SS ikari are the best shapes.
Middleground is the all know xai shape.

 

[Ino.]

Quote:

Originally Posted by CtrlAltel1te

Maybe only palm grippers feel its to small

Ino.

I myself prefer smaller mice because of my clawgrip.
Still best shape I had till today was the cm storm spawn.

I am guessing for palm the nioniox mice or the SS ikari are the best shapes.
Middleground is the all know xai shape.

I'm fine with the FK for palm grip, but the most common complain about it you hear these days is "why can't they make it bigger like Xai, Sensei, etc."

 

[Snakesoul]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ino.

I'm fine with the FK for palm grip, but the most common complain about it you hear these days is "why can't they make it bigger like Xai, Sensei, etc."

I agree with Ino., i can palm easily FK, and it's quite comfortable, at least more comfy than xai (Fk it's not so wide).
Ikari was a great palm grip mouse, but felt to heavy(besides prediction)....

 

[Luxer]

Very nice. I may try to do the same after seeing those pictures. What kind of file did you use to remove the end?

Also, is there anyway to make the scroll wheel require less force to scroll? I absolutely cannot stand the FK mouse wheel, makes b-hopping in counter-strike almost impossible.

 

[kimmern]

I did this to my fk now . . And i must say its amazing =) thanks for sharing this !

 

[RDno1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arc0s

Great job RD! Would love to see how the shape remodeling turns out you should go for it.

Thanks! I might do that on another mouse

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ino.

Maybe because most people already feel that the FK is too small?

That's not it. They already have the Zowie Mico, which is smaller than even the Kinzu, but it doesn't have the great sensor of the FK and the AM.
Quote:

Originally Posted by Luxer

Very nice. I may try to do the same after seeing those pictures. What kind of file did you use to remove the end?

Also, is there anyway to make the scroll wheel require less force to scroll? I absolutely cannot stand the FK mouse wheel, makes b-hopping in counter-strike almost impossible.

I mainly used a pretty short (200mm) double-cut flat file with a cut number of 1 after DIN 8349 (the system Germans use). I don't know what system is used in other countries, it looks like the Swiss cut numbers are also used in English-speaking countries. A 1 in Germany is a 0 in the Swiss cut system. I then used a smoother file (cut 3 after DIN 8349) and in the end, I used fine sandpaper (1000 grit) to make it really smooth.

The other advice I could give you is don't file away the screw threads and take care you don't touch the grey cable thingy, it can hang around in the back:
http://pics.computerbase.de/4/9/2/8/1/13.jpg
The safest way would be to open it and put it in the front before you start filing. I just filed away lol.
I'd love to see how yours turn out if you decide to do it.

I don't know a way to make the scroll wheel looser, but I discovered that you can make the clicks stiffer or less stiff by adjusting the screws in the front.
Quote:

Originally Posted by kimmern

I did this to my fk now . . And i must say its amazing =) thanks for sharing this !

haha nice, does it look the same?

 

[kimmern]

Jezz it does look the same and it feels better i think . . Its higher at the upper right "corner". Fits like a glow

 

[resis]

I read "Kruzified my Zowie FK" into the title. Thought it gonna be a hater thread.

 

[CeeSA]

let us see how your result is looking. Make pictures please.

 

[mousefan]

Official Ghetto-Kinzufied.

It resulted in some Scratches cause I filed with my bare hands without a vice cause I simpley don't have one in my house, just with the file in hands and the mouse, but those are minorflaws in a real ghetto-production.

http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/view/dsc00383vtjpi2udk8.jpg

http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/view/dsc00385w5r2ivs1t8.jpg

I really like it so far. At the Bottom I placed a few Intelliskates I had in stock.

now it's kinzufied. the funny thing is i made this today where I got my very first Kinzu V2 Pro and I didn't like the Clickfeeling.

This kinzufied FK should be da real dea for fingertip now. not only the sensor is better, but so are the Clicks and the plug and play simplicity plus the sidebuttons.

Thx for sharing the idea.

it's 2 to 3 mm shorter than the kinzu how you could see in those pics i posted.

I decided to jump on your idea cause I really liked the todays trackingcontrol or crosshaircontrol I had with the Kinzushape cause I pumped out some extreme headshots in csgo. I only didn't like the spongy Clicks.

 

[test user]

Hmm. This idea indeed is awesome, but having thought about it, I'd love to take it one step further: removing the shell all the way up to the PCB. That would get rid of the rear screws, though. I wonder if there's some good way to attach the shell firmly without using glue. Maybe I'll just get a Mico after all... So few options (read: none) for good small mice.
Quote:

Originally Posted by RDno1
A sick project would be trying to make your own case with this stuff.

About that... Would it be feasible? Make a mold of your hand in a relaxed position (slap your hand in a lump of clay or something), tidy it up, cover it with either of those products... Buttons and possible weight would be the biggest problems.

 

[RDno1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousefan

Official Ghetto-Kinzufied.

It resulted in some Scratches cause I filed with my bare hands without a vice cause I simpley don't have one in my house, just with the file in hands and the mouse, but those are minorflaws in a real ghetto-production.

http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/view/dsc00383vtjpi2udk8.jpg

http://www.fotos-hochladen.net/view/dsc00385w5r2ivs1t8.jpg

I really like it so far. At the Bottom I placed a few Intelliskates I had in stock.

now it's kinzufied. the funny thing is i made this today where I got my very first Kinzu V2 Pro and I didn't like the Clickfeeling.

This kinzufied FK should be da real dea for fingertip now. not only the sensor is better, but so are the Clicks and the plug and play simplicity plus the sidebuttons.

Thx for sharing the idea.

it's 2 to 3 mm shorter than the kinzu how you could see in those pics i posted.

I decided to jump on your idea cause I really liked the todays trackingcontrol or crosshaircontrol I had with the Kinzushape cause I pumped out some extreme headshots in csgo. I only didn't like the spongy Clicks.

Nice man, proves how far you can take it! Mine is almost exactly as small as the Kinzu, but yours is even smaller.

I did it "ghetto style" with my bare hands too btw. Just let all the stuff drop on the floor in my bedroom lol.

No worries, I had to share it, it's just too awesome

EDIT: Here is me playing with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE1-7kJ5dCo
I'm getting used to the buttons, it feels incredible now.

 

[mousefan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RDno1

Nice man, proves how far you can take it! Mine is almost exactly as small as the Kinzu, but yours is even smaller.

I did it "ghetto style" with my bare hands too btw. Just let all the stuff drop on the floor in my bedroom lol.

No worries, I had to share it, it's just too awesome

EDIT: Here is me playing with it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BE1-7kJ5dCo
I'm getting used to the buttons, it feels incredible now.

Nice Shots you did there. I am playing CSGO also. But yesterday I got so hardly powned on that Verygames HS Mod (HeadshotMod) Server that couldn't believe it cause I ran into to many no chance instant headshots from all sides. XD

But the kinzufied FK feels good and all mouse-mechnaics work like they should. it's like you said, if you open the mouse you can see that the internals are implemented in the front. so you don't even have to open the mouse to file it. You can just orient on the screwholes.

 

[RDno1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mousefan

Nice Shots you did there. I am playing CSGO also. But yesterday I got so hardly powned on that Verygames HS Mod (HeadshotMod) Server that couldn't believe it cause I ran into to many no chance instant headshots from all sides. XD

But the kinzufied FK feels good and all mouse-mechnaics work like they should. it's like you said, if you open the mouse you can see that the internals are implemented in the front. so you don't even have to open the mouse to file it. You can just orient on the screwholes.

Yeah, the VeryGames headshot server attracts a certain crowd... People who are good at giving out headshots

I didn't do too well on it myself when I was on there the first time.

I've gotten really used to the FK now and completely ditched my Kinzu. I think if you're used to the FK's switches, they are actually better.