Author Topic: Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy  (Read 74237 times)

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Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« on: Sun, 27 November 2011, 12:15:21 »
Want replica doubleshot Dolch keycaps with accurate legends?

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*Pics stolen from Deskthority...

UPDATE: This has mostly become a project to recreate the iconic vintage cherry legends and use it to create a set of key caps with the Dolch color scheme that would also be available to future GH groupbuys.

As it stands here is the original font (courtesy of Sixty)
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and here is the current iteration of SVGs for a recreation of the legend (courtesy of Hazeluff)
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« Last Edit: Thu, 12 January 2012, 18:17:26 by JesuswasaZombie »

Offline Minskleip

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 27 November 2011, 12:30:11 »
R4.
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Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 27 November 2011, 17:30:39 »
Different font than what's included in the group buy I believe...

So to be more specific, this GB would be for replica double shot Dolch key caps.

Offline hashbaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 27 November 2011, 18:02:27 »
Quote from: JesuswasaZombie;459750
Different font than what's included in the group buy I believe...

So to be more specific, this GB would be for replica double shot Dolch key caps.

R4 has the R3 set available which has Dolch-like coloring along with old-school centered big-ass legends. What are your plans legend-wise?

Offline Oqsy

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« Reply #4 on: Sun, 27 November 2011, 18:09:55 »
Not R3. Ugly.
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Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #5 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 18:49:58 »
Ripster: I'm dead set on recreating these Dolch caps and though I am a newer member and have never done a group buy I feel fairly confident as long as there is enough interest and someone can help me iron out logistics.

Hashbaz: The reason I posted this interest check as opposed to joining R4/ R3 is because I don't want the oversized font but the upper left smaller (less obnoxious d: ) font.

Offline hashbaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #6 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 18:53:23 »
Well then I'm interested if we can make it economical.

Offline Brendan

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #7 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 20:48:51 »
^Ditto, R4 pricepoint was I believe $60-ish for a TKL set of R3 caps, Whiterice's earlier GB was priced at $40, I say stick to the $40 pricepoint. DS or no?

Offline jpm804

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #8 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 21:16:35 »
interested also to just get the keycaps to finish off my incomplete Dolch set.
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Offline kaiserreich

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #9 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 21:28:01 »
Is this going to be like R4 Retro kit, or the font will replicate that of the original DOLCH keyboard as well?

Offline Oqsy

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #10 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 21:28:19 »
My dolch set is crumbling. DS with cherry corp font on correct position and dark gray almost black contrasting modifiers, and fkeys true to the real deal plz ;)
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Offline hashbaz

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« Reply #11 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 21:37:55 »
Replicating the Dolch/Cherry font will cost $35+ per key in new legend fees I'm afraid.

Offline whiskerBox

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #12 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 21:45:24 »
I would be interested if this group buy is conducted independently of Round 4 (i.e. sooner delivery time)
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Offline kaiserreich

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« Reply #13 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 22:12:56 »
Quote from: hashbaz;460392
Replicating the Dolch/Cherry font will cost $35+ per key in new legend fees I'm afraid.

If the legends are numerous enough, you can get it at $10 per key. Volume discount

Offline hashbaz

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« Reply #14 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 22:30:24 »
Rly?  So that's something like $1000 for all 104 keys (the moogle legends and Escape have already been done).

We'd still need 100 people to make that kind of cost bearable per person.

Offline tsangan

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« Reply #15 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 23:49:53 »
$1040/50 = $20.80+ set cost isn't so bad, probably come to $90 a set

a tenkeyless set you would only need 87 legends and per set is

25 sets          $73.01 / set
50 sets          $52.42 / set
75 sets          $45.56 / set
100 sets        $42.13 / set

with the legend fee you're looking at $70 a set at 50 sets not including shipping from SP to distributor and then to you, probably $10 more

I did my homework for a group buy wanted to do, but dunno if I can attract 50 people as I don't think people would like the 25 set pricing
« Last Edit: Mon, 28 November 2011, 23:54:28 by tsangan »
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Offline hashbaz

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« Reply #16 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 23:53:27 »
I guess there were plenty of people willing to shell out $90 or whatever for keyboardlover's blue PBT set.  It could happen.

Offline tsangan

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« Reply #17 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 23:56:15 »
He had a hard time getting 25 sets lol
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Offline hashbaz

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« Reply #18 on: Mon, 28 November 2011, 23:58:25 »
Don't forget the huge amount of work it would take to hand-craft the Cherry font in SVG form.

edit: I'm not trying to be a naysayer, I would love for this to happen.

Offline Atenacius

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #19 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 00:32:16 »
Aw man, we just keep getting more and more Cherry font goodness. I'm really interested in this but the price is rather steep

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Offline whiskerBox

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #20 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 00:34:12 »
That is a lot of obstacles to overcome, but with the popularity of this set I think it has a better chance of getting completed then \KL's set originally had and he was successful in getting enough people. although I know one person did buy multiple sets to get the order going.
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Offline hashbaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #21 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 00:37:24 »
Quote from: tsangan;460463
He had a hard time getting 25 sets lol


lol indeed lol

Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #22 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 00:56:11 »
I am doing this independently of round 4 and it looks like this will work as long as we can get enought people... Should I post at OCN and Deskthority? If I can get 50 people would somebody be willing to help me with the SVGs and such?

Offline dorkvader

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #23 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 19:16:59 »
Quote from: hashbaz;460462
I guess there were plenty of people willing to shell out $90 or whatever for keyboardlover's blue PBT set.  It could happen.

The only reason I got that set was because it's PBT. Given the number of people who don't "need" a 100% dolch reproduction, compared with, say, the relatively large number of alternatives for good-looking grey keycaps, I don't think this'll work out well.

Although, if we can get SP to make up molds for the cherry font, it'd make later group buys better off.

Offline whiskerBox

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #24 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 20:00:03 »
well what font is the green and cheese group buy going to use? I think they are getting a special cherry font or something so maybe we could join the two group buys
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Offline jwaz

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« Reply #25 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 20:08:07 »
I'm down with that if it makes this cheaper and doesn't compromise the quality (I don't see how it would)

Offline jwaz

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« Reply #26 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 20:12:09 »
Hazeluff has also pointed out previous discussions on Deskthority about this and that there are very similar fonts to the cherry corp style...
http://deskthority.net/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=873


edit: not that we shouldn't do it if it means we can use the font in the future!

Offline hashbaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #27 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 20:19:43 »
Quote from: whiskerBox;461021
well what font is the green and cheese group buy going to use? I think they are getting a special cherry font or something so maybe we could join the two group buys


I'm not sure what his current plans are, but the font tsangan was going to try to replicate is different than the Cherry font.

Offline whiskerBox

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« Reply #28 on: Tue, 29 November 2011, 20:24:33 »
Quote from: hashbaz;461034
I'm not sure what his current plans are, but the font tsangan was going to try to replicate is different than the Cherry font.


I wasn't sure what font he was going for so I guess that idea is out the window
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Offline nolliepoper

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #29 on: Wed, 07 December 2011, 09:14:13 »
This is relevant to my interests.
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Offline reaper

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« Reply #30 on: Wed, 07 December 2011, 09:18:09 »
I'm in for at least 1 set if we can get it before R4.
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Offline Oqsy

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #31 on: Wed, 07 December 2011, 10:19:44 »
No cherry font, no interest. That's the whole point in doing these reps. If you want a half-assed replica, go to R4 and get the R3 set.
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Offline DanGWanG

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #32 on: Wed, 07 December 2011, 14:43:47 »
I'm interested.

Offline Tennobanzai

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« Reply #33 on: Wed, 07 December 2011, 16:27:01 »
Interested

Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #34 on: Mon, 12 December 2011, 17:28:28 »
Calling signature plastics to get some details figured out.

Edit:

So the legend fee is pretty steep but worth it as future group buys could use it (R5 :clap2:).

If anyone has info or Hi-Res pictures of the font PM me so I can get the SVGs made.


If someone knows anyone who has already done the Cherry Corp legend and feels like letting us use their proprietary SP tooling then awesome! (long shot as that is the issue to begin with...)
« Last Edit: Mon, 12 December 2011, 18:04:28 by JesuswasaZombie »

Offline rightbraingeek

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #35 on: Mon, 19 December 2011, 15:14:14 »
In for 2 sets w/RGB - tried to create this combo in GB4 and scaled back when the price hit $315!  Hoping this would arrive sooner and cheaper.
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Offline jwaz

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #36 on: Tue, 20 December 2011, 19:06:24 »
Still need good quality pictures with the legends next to some kind of scale/ ruler. I don't own any OG cherry doubleshots... and the Dolch options on ebay are outrageous...

Offline jpm804

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« Reply #37 on: Wed, 21 December 2011, 00:34:34 »
I will see if I can snap some pics but I dont have a very good macro lens.... not sure when I can do this but I will see what I can do.
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Offline mehkat1974

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #38 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 02:01:17 »
Is this a set exactly the same as the one in the first pic of the OP? If so, very interested
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 December 2011, 02:05:07 by mehkat1974 »
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Offline hazeluff

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #39 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 09:51:14 »
Quote from: mehkat1974;478249
Is this a set exactly the same as the one in the first pic of the OP? If so, very interested

Not exactly, It will be a very close replica.
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Offline litster

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #40 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 11:56:49 »
would love to see this actually happen, but it doesn't look like it will, unless I missed something.

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« Reply #41 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 12:59:02 »
Quote from: litster;478427
would love to see this actually happen, but it doesn't look like it will, unless I missed something.

I believe he's still looking for close-up image and/or image with a scale next to it, so he can produce the images for this.
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Offline mehkat1974

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« Reply #42 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 14:18:48 »
Quote from: hazeluff;478337
Not exactly, It will be a very close replica.

cool, very close is close enough for me.
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Offline jwaz

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« Reply #43 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 16:38:04 »
Still watching ebay for a Dolch keyboard so I can have something to compare to replicas and take pics of or even send to hazeluff who's making the SVGs
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 December 2011, 17:25:25 by JesuswasaZombie »

Offline Findecanor

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« Reply #44 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 17:10:16 »
Quote from: JesuswasaZombie;474786
Still need good quality pictures with the legends next to some kind of scale/ ruler. I don't own any OG cherry doubleshots... and the Dolch options on ebay are outrageous...
Older Cherry keyboards with cream/grey lasered PBT keys also have the same font ... sort of. The legends on the double-shot moulded keys are slightly fatter, but that difference might be negligible.
Another problem is that Cherry's alignment when lasering these keys was not too precise at the beginning. Thin PBT keys are OK, but early thick PBT keys can be all over the place. (I don't know about dye-sublimated as I don't have any)
« Last Edit: Tue, 27 December 2011, 17:22:39 by Findecanor »

Offline hashbaz

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« Reply #45 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 20:29:48 »
Why not solicit close-up photos from Dolch-owning geekhackers?

Offline litster

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« Reply #46 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 21:28:25 »
Dolch are exactly the same as regular Cherry double shots, except the colors.  So actually the last Moogle kit SVGs would work perfectly for this Dolch project.  But it might just be too costly to fab every single key.

Offline Findecanor

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« Reply #47 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 21:31:47 »
Any two-toned Cherry double-shot or lasered should do.  Dolch caps are the same as other Cherry double-shots, only in another colour scheme.

Offline tsangan

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« Reply #48 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 21:32:28 »
Quote from: litster;478723
Dolch are exactly the same as regular Cherry double shots, except the colors.  So actually the last Moogle kit SVGs would work perfectly for this Dolch project.  But it might just be too costly to fab every single key.

It will be VERY expensive, people would be better off just buying a legit set then getting a moogle kit :P
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Offline didjamatic

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Interest Check: Dolch key caps group buy
« Reply #49 on: Tue, 27 December 2011, 21:39:58 »
Can you get thick walled caps made of ABS or are you just trying to replicate the colors?  

Also, you should be specific that you're referring to Dolch PAC 60-64 and not the earlier Dolch which had Cherry Blue MX but pad printed caps with Army green modifiers... or the later PAC65 which was a rubber dome.

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