keycaps, New keycap maker

[SavvyBird]

So with my interest in trying to make some nice keycaps, I thought I could try to put my creativity to the test and make some weird keycaps for you all! I have a lot of ideas in mind for what to make for this project, and I hope you'll like them as much as I do. I've done all the reading and research I could to try and make a good keycap.

At the moment I'm waiting for various materials in the mail.  Vacuum chamber, Silicon, Resin, and various dyes.  (so much money..) ༼ ༎ຶ ෴ ༎ຶ༽
I was very fortunate to have a lot of items available to me as my cousin runs an auto collision and paint shop. So I didn’t need to buy measuring cups, stirring sticks, an air compressor, and a curing oven.
At the moment, the only progress I have made is sculpting some keycaps with polymer clay.

I’ve had a small amount of sculpting experience in the past, but it sure is tough to sculpt at this small of a scale.

These are currently my first sculpts.
I had to use some of my poker caps as my base since they’re not in use. If someone could please lead me to were I could buy similar quality caps for a cheaper price I would greatly appreciate it!

More

I will be updating this thread so all of you can see my progress. I’m very excited to receive the rest of my materials so I can finally get started on molding and casting! 

If you guys could let me know what you like
I could get more ideas for sculpting them 

[baboo]

The nose one is kinda scary, but damn it look nice!
Can't wait to see some final products!

[0100010]

[SavvyBird]

Going to buy the silicone and resin/pigments today at my local store! I will be making a mold today and hopefully casting tomorrow ! 

[SavvyBird]

Finished my molds today !

It's been a very lengthy process but it's done.
Will be casting resing. Later today:)

[SavvyBird]

Well, I made my cast and didn't come out so well 
I think I mixed something wrong and It never dried but here it is

my kitty cap
and my
blank topre
want to make a whole top row of these

[SavvyBird]

I'd like some feedback if anyone likes it 

These aren't my final sculpts
I really want to get the keycaps making process down before I waste so much time making my sculpts and then ruining them while making my mold.

[dorkvader]

I think you should perfect the kittycap. It's awesome!

There aren't too many artisan keycaps I like, but that's certainly one of them! It's way more cute than all the macabre ravens, skulls, gas-masks, mummies, and robots.

[Mandolin]

Well, I made my cast and didn't come out so well 
I think I mixed something wrong and It never dried but here it is

my kitty cap
and my
blank topre
want to make a whole top row of these
(Attachment Link)

Make sure to agitate the different bottles before using them. The resin and hardener are in a suspension, so higher molecular weight elements tend to gravitate towards the bottom of the bottle and it applies with more strength when you're mixing powders (alginate for instance). Don't trust your eyes for mixing, more so for small pours. Use a microgram scale to measure the mixing parts correctly. Make sure the scale is well callibrated an in an even surface, I'd use a ceramic or glass tile underneath. Finally mix them well. Make sure to scrape the mixing stick on the border of the cup or whatever you're using as it may have unmixed material depending on the viscosity. Preferably use a color indicator.

Take into account humidity and room temperature, read the technical sheet (polymerization or curing of something, inhibits on the presence of certain element? it is present in your gloves ? Is your silicone fully cured? it is wet at touch? with what? are you using a tin condensation silicone or a platinum addition silicone?, does the resin reacts with the subproduct of the tin curing silicone?) and MSDS of every element you're using. Learn it.

Your kitty cap looks good , congrats. Which resin did you use?

[jackalope]

I would be interested in the kitty cap, it looks awesome.

[SavvyBird]

I am working hard to perfect the kittycap.  I want it to be perfect! I probably will re sculpt it to make it look more neat.
However for now I need to remake my mold on this v1, my stem didn't work out too well. I'm going to pressurize the silicone this time and see how that comes out.
Thank you

Thank you for that information! I think my gram scale might be off and I used too much pigment. I have scale another which is brand new so I will switch to that one.
I think my working conditions are adequate and I am using gloves that wont harm the resin or silicone .

I used smooth cast 326

Thank you! I can't wait till I perfect them

What color would geekhack like ? I am still trying to make my champagne tone to work.

[jackalope]

I vote for pink or blue

[3Love]

The nose is a little scare....

[SavvyBird]

I Had a very busy weekend so I haven't made any progress.

I will be working on my key caps this week

[SavvyBird]

My first almost Flawless keycap

now the issue is it isn't drying completely hard. There is some flexibility to it.

[Pliny]

I really dig the Ouija "oracle" planchette! I'd get one of those... I like the kitty too, of course 

Good luck with your casting; looks like you're off to a great start!

[SavvyBird]

More to come tomorrow

[SavvyBird]

I really dig the Ouija "oracle" planchette! I'd get one of those... I like the kitty too, of course 

Good luck with your casting; looks like you're off to a great start!

I completely forgot about the oracle.  I need to make a mold of it asap.

thank you I think I almost got it. just 1 more detail needs to be fixed

[SavvyBird]

My first almost Flawless keycap

now the issue is it isn't drying completely hard. There is some flexibility to it.

Show Image

Show Image

Any comments?

Once I am able to make keycaps flawlessly

I will start to work on my designs   

[GankIndustries]

My first almost Flawless keycap

now the issue is it isn't drying completely hard. There is some flexibility to it.

Show Image

Show Image

Any comments?

Once I am able to make keycaps flawlessly

I will start to work on my designs   

These are great, I see no bubbling at all. The resin came out very clear as well. Any chance we can get a shot of the base and stem to get an idea of the thickness?

[SavvyBird]

image bomb coming this way

[FrostyToast]

Those designs are pretty baller!
How many different colours can you add to one cap?
Do you have to use multiple molds, or can you only do monocolour from a single mold?

Also, I would love to see some topre FN caps.

[Evo_Spec]

very nice, i don't see a single air bubble!

[Pliny]

Wow! Really impressive and smooth...

I second the request for Topre support and/or Topre fn keys... (ain't we demanding?  )

[SavvyBird]

very nice, i don't see a single air bubble!

There is no air bubbles! I've been able to cast without any. 
However there is still blemishes towards the bottom of the cap.
I'm trying to figure out how to stop that. 

Those designs are pretty baller!
How many different colours can you add to one cap?
Do you have to use multiple molds, or can you only do monocolour from a single mold?
Also, I would love to see some topre FN caps.

As of now I can do two colors, single mold.
Don't worry Im working on a topre one  as My hhkb needs some love too

Wow! Really impressive and smooth...

I second the request for Topre support and/or Topre fn keys... (ain't we demanding?  )

I am working on topre 
I am making blank arrow cluster for hhkb and fn

[holodekk]

WOW I love your work!! Do you have a website?

[JaccoW]

Love the quality of these designs. I'm going to keep an eye on this thread.

Keep them coming!

[SavvyBird]

I'm looking to sell my keycaps so I could make the funds to buy more material. However, I am unsure at what price I should sell them at. I was planning to sell them at around $12 each. Would you say that would be a fair price?

[dorkvader]

dibs on the clear cat one.

If you wanted to make buckling spring keycaps that'd be awesome.

[heedpantsnow]

Sir, your caps look fantastic!  I think $12 is a fair price.

Did you ever solve the issue of them being slightly pliable?  What was causing it?  Are you using a pressure pot?  If not, aren't there bubblies?

[Pliny]

I would certainly love a cat one!

$12 seems too low    $15-$18 nowadays, I'd think. They look pretty clean...

[SavvyBird]

dibs on the clear cat one.

If you wanted to make buckling spring keycaps that'd be awesome.

Okay you have dibs on the clear cat

Sir, your caps look fantastic!  I think $12 is a fair price.

Did you ever solve the issue of them being slightly pliable?  What was causing it?  Are you using a pressure pot?  If not, aren't there bubblies?

sir    
There is still a very little slight bend to the keycaps at a huge amounts of pressure, My fingers hurt trying to bend them. So they're not completely solid I think they're 92% of the way there.
I really think the problem is with the resin because I've followed 100% the instructions and I have even emailed the manufacturer about my issue.
Yes im using a pressure pot.

[jackalope]

If we get to call dibs, can i claim the clear orange ?