Pure white blank key caps for ISO-layout?

[Wihl]

I was really impressed with the look of the engraved white key caps and would like to get something similar. Right now I'm waiting for my Filco TKL to arrive.

The problem is that I use the ISO-layout and if I were to get engraved keys I'd like to get them with Swedish letters. Of course noone manufactures anything like that, probably not financially viable. But I'd be just as happy with blank white caps. I've spotted some blank ANSI keys on taobao but no ISO ones.. Are they even manufactured?

[F u r u y á]

ISO blanks only in black (KeyboardCo - FKB105/88).

I want so much the pure white ones though that I'm willing to get an ANSI set and just let the missing keys stock and find a solution later. The big problem is the ISO Enter key. Maybe SP can make them? Clear specifications of the key are needed though.

If you don't restrict to ISO keycaps, there's a lot of options in ebay, taobao and wasd (please let me know if there are other places). But some Cherry looks more like light gray or grimy white. KBC seems to be more a clean white.
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[TheProfosist]

well WASD keyboards will start stocking ISO layout soonish.

[F u r u y á]

can't wait to get my hands on those. I hope they'll have pure white blank keys.

[TheProfosist]

he already does. all his caps are blank that how you can get what ever design you want on them.

[F u r u y á]

then they should charge less for blank keys :biggrin1:

[TheProfosist]

they do their under keycap set if you just want all one color otherwise if you want a design make it in the custom keyboard designer and select keycaps only.

[F u r u y á]

?
dind't understand your text.

you meant that if you order a stock keycap set (white blank) they will indeed cost less?

[TheProfosist]

?
dind't understand your text.

you meant that if you order a stock keycap set (white blank) they will indeed cost less?

yes it will cost  less than getting a full custom set with engravings.

[F u r u y á]

do you have an idea about how less?

[N8N]

$40 right now ($37 for tenkeyless) but apparently will be "3-4 months" according to post here before they're shipping ISO keyboards.  Not sure if he will have the ISO enter available before then or not.  If you're impatient you could order the full ANSI set and one additional row 2 keycap (for backslash/pipe) and then order the enter separately when it becomes available.  Should be drop in for Filco unless I am missing something.  I'd probably order the stabilizer things as well so you don't have to pull them out of your stock keycaps.

[F u r u y á]

oh, the stabilizers. forgot about them. fortunately they're available in wasd for 25 cents a pair.

Yes, I'm indeed impatient and I'm torn between getting an ANSI PBT cherry set (plus the forgotten stabilizers) or getting this beauty (MX Blue):

.


(PS: there's also an extra key from the 'A' row)

[N8N]

is your Filco a 105-key as shown in the pic of the Cherry above?  then you'd need an add'l 1x Row 2 key (backslash/pipe), an add'l 1x Row 1 key (whatever that key is next to the left shift), and a 1.25x Row 1 key for the left shift.  But that should not be a problem because it is the same blank as Ctrl/Alt/Win/Menu on a std. 104-key.  (checks - yes, they do offer it as an individual keycap.)  Or you could in fact buy the cherry set and just mod the space bar to work on your Filco.  Either way should work.

[F u r u y á]

Yes, exactly as the pic above:



(from my noob review)


If you meant that I need two 1x1 keys (one from 'A' row; one from the 'Z' row) plus the 1x1.25 left Shift, yes, that's it.

Yes, either case (as either the keycap set and the keyboard are Cherry) I would have to use my creativity and mod the spacebar to fit my Filco. Or wait to buy it along with the ISO Enter when it becomes available. But I'm afraid that the profile/size/color won't be exactly the same, but what can I do, I use an ISO layout. :/


Do you know if the others Cherry stabilized keys (besides the spacebar) will fit my Filco?

[N8N]

Personally, I'd be tempted to use the Cherry keys as the lower profile of them seems to make the switches feel less wobbly which is nice...  however if you order from WASD you can get them laser etched which is cool too, and your existing enter should be pretty close in profile to the WASD keys.  Really, it's up to you!

I wouldn't be afraid of the space bar mod, it's not that hard, you'll just need a couple junk keys to steal stems from (really, only one, but that leaves no room for error.)

[F u r u y á]

Another solution: order PBT blank keys from SP but for that I would need a group buy (from this table the mimimum quantity is very high).

And isn't it weird that they don't have all rows in the same colors? For instance, I picked Bright White (WFJ) and realized that they offer this color only for rows 3 and 4!


But I guess that it's better off stick to the Cherry or WASD solution. I'm really torn between the Cherry caps and the Cherry board though.

[TheProfosist]

well id say wasd and if you take off your big enter key and take a pic i may be able to suggest some keys that may work for the 3-4monthes until he has ISO

[F u r u y á]

ok! when I make up my mind I let you know.

[bpiphany]

Another solution: order PBT blank keys from SP but for that I would need a group buy (from this table the mimimum quantity is very high).

And isn't it weird that they don't have all rows in the same colors? For instance, I picked Bright White (WFJ) and realized that they offer this color only for rows 3 and 4!

But I guess that it's better off stick to the Cherry or WASD solution. I'm really torn between the Cherry caps and the Cherry board though.

That is their inventory. Of course they will make any key of any color if you ask them. That can get expensive though. I think their stocked keys go at about $1 a piece (which still is expensive of course... but they might be cheaper in larger volumes). Just send an inquiry to them if you are curious.

[F u r u y á]

That is their inventory. Of course they will make any key of any color if you ask them. That can get expensive though. I think their stocked keys go at about $1 a piece (which still is expensive of course... but they might be cheaper in larger volumes). Just send an inquiry to them if you are curious.

Done.

When they reply I'll let you know.

[F u r u y á]

Done.

When they reply I'll let you know.

1 set $742.43 / set
5 sets $171.67 / set
10 sets $100.33 / set
25 sets $57.52 / set
50 sets $43.25 / set


Each set comprises a full 105 blank keycaps (white - WFJ) for UK layout. I specifically commented about the ISO Enter and they answered directly with the prices commenting only that the space bar would be ABS, so I guess they do make an ISO Enter Filco-compatiable (so problem $olved for those who wants keycap set for 105-key ISO layout).

And, 740 USD for 1 set. :crazy:

[bpiphany]

I still think those prices seem strange. Buying single caps from their inventory is not that expensive in my experience. They sound more like what it would sum up to if they made completely new sets.

[F u r u y á]

Yes, too high prices in my opinion for some piece of plastic.

Maybe that's because they would need new molds for the ISO Enter? Still, too high for my taste.

[bpiphany]

No, they've got one of those, and I think that would be way more.

When I have ordered keys have been a lot less expensive I think. What I have been told is that
2 key is ~$23 each
4 keys ~$12 each
8 keys ~$6 each
16 keys ~$3.5 each
That is, there is almost no difference in the total price when ordering any number of keys less than 20. And that is per "key type", row 1 1.00X wide is one type, row 2 1.00X wide a different one, row 4 1.25X wide is one, and row 4 2.75X another still. On a ISO layout I get a total of 15 different key types (16 with nubs on F,J,KP5). There are a lot of types that are one off on a keyboard too, I guess they would be ~$50 each... Then that might add up to her number =( But I still thought ordering from what they have in stock would be a lot cheaper.

[F u r u y á]

Actually they told me that they won't use a mold for the ISO Enter.

There will not be a new mold for the ISO enter keycap - this is one we have tooling for.

Anyways, prices are too high and I don't think there's a demand for 50 sets of those at least here in GH.

[bpiphany]

Yes, they will not make a new mold for the enter. They have one, apparently as it was used for the group buy #3. That mold may be for ABS though, PBT acts a bit differently and may require a different mold to come out with the exact correct measurements. Building a new mold would be more than that those $700 I think.

But yes, $700 for a set of caps is certainly not something I would be interested in paying. I still think that price is for a set of keys made from scratch, and theis inventory keys are cheaper. The inventory might not go very far towards filling up a full layout though. On a board with a uniform key profile there would be only 10 types of keys (or 8 without nubs and identical 2.00 horizontal and 2.00 vertical caps). That would probably be a lot cheaper. Still you would probably want to get 20 people in on it. I would probably have paid the ~$60 price with 20 people you were quoted if I was interested =)