SSIPAK'S(I don't know what I'm doing)Keycap Experiment. Updated: 7/26 New Color!

[SSIPAK]

Hey everyone,

After wanting to create my own custom keycap for a long time, I finally decided to give it a shot beginning of this week and this is what I got so far.

Since I used translucent casting material, you will notice bunch of tiny air bubbles


Also im in the process of making a new mold since location of my spruce was very poor (you can see the cut in this picture)


Finally bottom didn't come out right either (another reason why im making a new mold)


Anyway, I can't wait to perfect my mold so I can start casting some of my sculpted pieces
I shall keep trying and report back here with my progress. Btw this is one expensive project, already spent $200+ and this doesn't even include any casting equipment  
Hopefully I will find something that will work for me soon.

By the way, I couldn't cast any MX keycaps since I only have Topre keycaps. I would greatly appreciate it if someone can donate GMK keycaps (or something similar that is thick and good quality)
Thanks for stopping by! 

*Big thanks to Binge for help me out!

[SSIPAK]

Guess What Movie Giveaway (Congrats to DamnDan for winning)

First person to correctly guess which movie this "Thing" on my keycap is from will receive this topre keycap.
*You are only allowed to guess once and can't edit your post.

Hint (I am sure it will be really hard for you to guess since its kinda hard to see because my keycap is white. Therefore, I will drop more hints each day until we have a winner )

1) It's a horror movie made before 2000.

More giveaways coming soon

[Fire Brand]

Can I just say I really like the look of the bubbles in the key, looks like lemonade to me really good work though hope to see more of your adventures in keycap making.

[SSIPAK]

Can I just say I really like the look of the bubbles in the key, looks like lemonade to me really good work though hope to see more of your adventures in keycap making.

Yeah I guess its not too bad if you look at it that way
Anyway I finished making my a new mold so I hope that it will come out okay this time. (fingers crossed)

[MythicalWagyu]

By the way, I couldn't cast any MX keycaps since I only have Topre keycaps. I would greatly appreciate it if someone can donate GMK keycaps (or something similar that is thick and good quality)
Thanks for stopping by! 

*Big thanks to Binge for help me out!

I have a GMK Esc key I can send your way (purchased from Binge actually, so he's indirectly helping you out again  ))... should I decide I really need to own two again, I think I can still grab another from Binge.

Good luck with casting, looking forward to seeing your results. I'd really love to try my hand at it but I can't afford more equipment & materials - expensive enough keeping up the camera gear I have    )

[SSIPAK]

Okay so here is little update,

I was finally able to produce first working keycap. I am pretty excited about this but still need to experiment more to perfect this thing.

On my HHKB



Keycap Selfie


As you can see this part is not so perfect but I will eventually produce a perfect one!


Finally bottom picture.


Hopefully next time I post in this thread will be with a perfect keycap! 

By the way, I am doing a little giveaway so please take a look at my 2nd post.

Once again thanks for stopping by!

[SSIPAK]

By the way, I couldn't cast any MX keycaps since I only have Topre keycaps. I would greatly appreciate it if someone can donate GMK keycaps (or something similar that is thick and good quality)
Thanks for stopping by! 

*Big thanks to Binge for help me out!

I have a GMK Esc key I can send your way (purchased from Binge actually, so he's indirectly helping you out again  ))... should I decide I really need to own two again, I think I can still grab another from Binge.

Good luck with casting, looking forward to seeing your results. I'd really love to try my hand at it but I can't afford more equipment & materials - expensive enough keeping up the camera gear I have    )

Thank you sir and I sent you a pm! 

[DamnDan]

That looks AWESOME! ^^ It reminds me of Necronomicon book "AnyKeyNomicon"? Would be great to see it in colour other than white, this way it might show more details Gratz on the successful casts

[danielucf]

Someone else can post the name of the movie and get the prize. I don't have a topre board.

[SSIPAK]

That looks AWESOME! ^^ It reminds me of Necronomicon book "AnyKeyNomicon"? Would be great to see it in colour other than white, this way it might show more details Gratz on the successful casts

Wow you guys are good, even though you are supposed to name which movie it was, I will count this as correct answer. Yes, it was Necronomicon from Evil Dead. Congrats and I will be sending you a pm shortly.

[SSIPAK]

Show Image

Someone else can post the name of the movie and get the prize. I don't have a topre board.

Hey Daniel,

One you linked is from Evil Dead 2 (which I will be making near future ;D), One I did was from Evil Dead 1

[SSIPAK]

You can definitely see better in Green   

[mkawa]

not bad for the equipment you have!

when you're not using pressure or vacuum, you want to use the least viscous material you can find. this _can_ mean short cure times, but it almost always means a softer finished cast piece.

another thing to remember is that there are lots of ways to apply a little bit of pressure to things. a compressor is just a big air pump powered by some kind of fuel. a bike pump is also a compressor. so are the 12v tire inflators that are so common now. of course, you still have to be careful about holding pressure in a vessel, even if you pumped it in by hand, but you'll probably find that things improve quickly with just a little bit of pressure

on the other hand, if you have anything but near-full vacuum with a viscous fluid, you're likely to not see much difference. in order to degas a material sufficiently that the gas won't just disperse into the material again, you really have to apply a lot of force to coalesce it and remove it from the fluid.

[SSIPAK]

not bad for the equipment you have!

when you're not using pressure or vacuum, you want to use the least viscous material you can find. this _can_ mean short cure times, but it almost always means a softer finished cast piece.

another thing to remember is that there are lots of ways to apply a little bit of pressure to things. a compressor is just a big air pump powered by some kind of fuel. a bike pump is also a compressor. so are the 12v tire inflators that are so common now. of course, you still have to be careful about holding pressure in a vessel, even if you pumped it in by hand, but you'll probably find that things improve quickly with just a little bit of pressure

on the other hand, if you have anything but near-full vacuum with a viscous fluid, you're likely to not see much difference. in order to degas a material sufficiently that the gas won't just disperse into the material again, you really have to apply a lot of force to coalesce it and remove it from the fluid.

thanks for your compliment and information mkawa, I really wish that I had enough budget to purchase pressure pot but not at this time. gotta save up first

[DamnDan]

WOHOO I WON! ekhm...thank you, that is VERY generous of you


That is right, NecroCap looks a TON more detailed in green You can see the skin wrinkles much much better Is the white version better detailed in person? Cause photos love to hide detail on white keys

What material do you use for sculpting? Clay or Green Stuff? Are you planning to make BS and ALPS caps as well?

Thank you again!

[daftendire]

Pretty awesome start and nice design. If I could offer a bit of advise, it would be to make your side walls thicker. This would help the final peice to be stronger and less prone to air bubbles that displace a whole section of sidewall.

[terrpn]

looks good.................any thoughts for possibly making any BS caps?

there is a whole market, audience there that nobody has really tapped into yet?

clacks are untouchable

[SSIPAK]

WOHOO I WON! ekhm...thank you, that is VERY generous of you


That is right, NecroCap looks a TON more detailed in green You can see the skin wrinkles much much better Is the white version better detailed in person? Cause photos love to hide detail on white keys

What material do you use for sculpting? Clay or Green Stuff? Are you planning to make BS and ALPS caps as well?

Thank you again!

I would say same amount of detail in person (white and green)
Also I am using Apoxie clay


As for BS and ALPS caps, I will definitely see what I can do but I want to make sure that I perfect my casting first before I try out the different stems. 

[SSIPAK]

Pretty awesome start and nice design. If I could offer a bit of advise, it would be to make your side walls thicker. This would help the final peice to be stronger and less prone to air bubbles that displace a whole section of sidewall.

Thanks for your support and advice, I will definitely try to make the side walls thicker and see how it goes.

[SSIPAK]

looks good.................any thoughts for possibly making any BS caps?

there is a whole market, audience there that nobody has really tapped into yet?

clacks are untouchable

Thank you sir, I will look into BS caps in the future but as for now I need to perfect my casting first 
Please keep supporting me and I will do my best 

[SSIPAK]

I think I finally created a mold that can produce 90 to 95% perfect keycaps (5 to 10% being tiny bubbles which I have no control over unless I purchase a pressure pot)
I am very excited about this 

Any love for Purple or Grey? <3

[MythicalWagyu]

I think I finally created a mold that can produce 90 to 95% perfect keycaps (5 to 10% being tiny bubbles which I have no control over unless I purchase a pressure pot)
I am very excited about this 

Any love for Purple or Grey? <3

Show Image

Show Image

Yeah man! Maybe you could improvise a mild pressure chamber like Mkawa suggested - bike pump/mattress pump with hose hooked up to a sealed chamber (**** could be an ikea trashcan with a plastic top you epoxy on)

Purple looks great, might match the Bro Set! 

[SSIPAK]

I think I finally created a mold that can produce 90 to 95% perfect keycaps (5 to 10% being tiny bubbles which I have no control over unless I purchase a pressure pot)
I am very excited about this 

Any love for Purple or Grey? <3

Show Image

Show Image

Yeah man! Maybe you could improvise a mild pressure chamber like Mkawa suggested - bike pump/mattress pump with hose hooked up to a sealed chamber (**** could be an ikea trashcan with a plastic top you epoxy on)

Purple looks great, might match the Bro Set! 

Yeah I might need to build one soon or later, and I agree that Purple will be awesome on Bunny's Bro Set

[Binge]

I think I finally created a mold that can produce 90 to 95% perfect keycaps (5 to 10% being tiny bubbles which I have no control over unless I purchase a pressure pot)
I am very excited about this 

Any love for Purple or Grey? <3

Show Image

Show Image

Yeah man! Maybe you could improvise a mild pressure chamber like Mkawa suggested - bike pump/mattress pump with hose hooked up to a sealed chamber (**** could be an ikea trashcan with a plastic top you epoxy on)

Purple looks great, might match the Bro Set! 

uh no.  Please don't ever jerry-rig a pressure chamber.  We've had this discussion many many times on the forum, in podcasts, and in private.  Do not suggest anything potentially harmful unless you have a great deal of experience or qualifications in a field which uses such equipment.

[MythicalWagyu]

uh no.  Please don't ever jerry-rig a pressure chamber.  We've had this discussion many many times on the forum, in podcasts, and in private.  Do not suggest anything potentially harmful unless you have a great deal of experience or qualifications in a field which uses such equipment.

Ooops 
That is 100% my fault for suggesting something based off a single comment with no additional research. You craft excellent key caps so I definitely respect your experience and opinion - thanks for chiming in and correcting me!

[mkawa]

yes, it is a TERRIBLE idea to jury rig a pressure or vacuum chamber without calculation of safety margins and other aspects of proper engineering. pressure and vacuum are an expression of force in the same way that a train hitting you is an expression of force. similarly, they are not something to take lightly.

there ARE ways to safely take advantage of other people's engineering efforts without spending a huge amount of money, but you have to be very careful and make SURE you do not exceed the safety envelope of the systems you re-use.

i sent this separately to ssipak in a PM, but it's probably worth repeating:

PET bottles (soda bottles) can take 5-7psi easily and is designed to fail by rupturing through a small crack or the threads and will release pressure slowly instead of in a huge explosion. use a new bottle every time you pressurize and depressurize by poking a tiny hole in it. there are a couple of ways you could pressurize it. the first is to take a bottle top and secure a tube into it that runs out to a check valve (one way valve). then using a tiny bike pump, pump like once or twice at most.

it's a lot of backyard hacking (although you can double duty by making soda bottle rockets at the same time ) ), but it might significantly improve your casts for very little money.

demolder also makes a big difference, actually, and costs way less than a pressure chamber. talk to binge about trasys. you'll still have imperfections due to bubble formation, but in the areas where you _don't_ have bubble formation, you'll retain a heck of a lot more detail.

soda bottles are carefully engineered pressure vessels that are made to hold a small amount of pressure (carbonation) and to fail in a relatively safe way. balloons are another example of a safely engineered pressure vessel. however, you must be intimately aware of what the specifications of your repurposed vessel are. a stainless steel sphere and a thin plastic soda bottle are simply not going to have the same working pressures. if you try to treat them the same way, you can and will probably severely injure yourself or others.

i love the enthusiasm we're getting for casting at home, but as always, BE SAFE. life and limb is not worth risking to make a keycap.

[user10192]

Can you make keycap thick like bro cap?

[SSIPAK]

yes, it is a TERRIBLE idea to jury rig a pressure or vacuum chamber without calculation of safety margins and other aspects of proper engineering. pressure and vacuum are an expression of force in the same way that a train hitting you is an expression of force. similarly, they are not something to take lightly.

there ARE ways to safely take advantage of other people's engineering efforts without spending a huge amount of money, but you have to be very careful and make SURE you do not exceed the safety envelope of the systems you re-use.

i sent this separately to ssipak in a PM, but it's probably worth repeating:

PET bottles (soda bottles) can take 5-7psi easily and is designed to fail by rupturing through a small crack or the threads and will release pressure slowly instead of in a huge explosion. use a new bottle every time you pressurize and depressurize by poking a tiny hole in it. there are a couple of ways you could pressurize it. the first is to take a bottle top and secure a tube into it that runs out to a check valve (one way valve). then using a tiny bike pump, pump like once or twice at most.

it's a lot of backyard hacking (although you can double duty by making soda bottle rockets at the same time ) ), but it might significantly improve your casts for very little money.

demolder also makes a big difference, actually, and costs way less than a pressure chamber. talk to binge about trasys. you'll still have imperfections due to bubble formation, but in the areas where you _don't_ have bubble formation, you'll retain a heck of a lot more detail.

soda bottles are carefully engineered pressure vessels that are made to hold a small amount of pressure (carbonation) and to fail in a relatively safe way. balloons are another example of a safely engineered pressure vessel. however, you must be intimately aware of what the specifications of your repurposed vessel are. a stainless steel sphere and a thin plastic soda bottle are simply not going to have the same working pressures. if you try to treat them the same way, you can and will probably severely injure yourself or others.

i love the enthusiasm we're getting for casting at home, but as always, BE SAFE. life and limb is not worth risking to make a keycap.

I think I finally created a mold that can produce 90 to 95% perfect keycaps (5 to 10% being tiny bubbles which I have no control over unless I purchase a pressure pot)
I am very excited about this 

Any love for Purple or Grey? <3

Show Image

Show Image

Yeah man! Maybe you could improvise a mild pressure chamber like Mkawa suggested - bike pump/mattress pump with hose hooked up to a sealed chamber (**** could be an ikea trashcan with a plastic top you epoxy on)

Purple looks great, might match the Bro Set! 

uh no.  Please don't ever jerry-rig a pressure chamber.  We've had this discussion many many times on the forum, in podcasts, and in private.  Do not suggest anything potentially harmful unless you have a great deal of experience or qualifications in a field which uses such equipment.

I really appreicate both of you for looking out after me. I will make sure not to blow myself up

[SSIPAK]

Can you make keycap thick like bro cap?

Show Image

I will be able to in the future (need access to 3d printer) but for now thickness will be indetical to Realforce Keycap for Topre and GMK for MX (which I think its already thick and nice)

[terrpn]

great forum, community guys....................

everybody tag teaming, giving advise to help each other

keep up the good work ssipak

[dustinhxc]

Book of the dead! That's pretty sweet, great movies!

[mkawa]

great forum, community guys....................

everybody tag teaming, giving advise to help each other

keep up the good work ssipak

 

making stuff together is always a team effort 

[SSIPAK]

great forum, community guys....................

everybody tag teaming, giving advise to help each other

keep up the good work ssipak

great forum, community guys....................

everybody tag teaming, giving advise to help each other

keep up the good work ssipak

 

making stuff together is always a team effort 

couldnt agree more, I am so grateful that I found this forum. I feel home when I am on geekhack, forum made of best people in the world! 
Btw I hope everyone had a great 4th of july! Even though I was busy experimenting all day

[SSIPAK]

Book of the dead! That's pretty sweet, great movies!

Hey Dustin,

Thanks for your compliment, I thought it won't be easy to impress a member such as yourself since you are used to great artisan keycaps such as binged, clacks, kbk, and brocaps.

I will try my best to produce quality keycaps so stay tuned

[dustinhxc]

Book of the dead! That's pretty sweet, great movies!

Hey Dustin,

Thanks for your compliment, I thought it won't be easy to impress a member such as yourself since you are used to great artisan keycaps such as binged, clacks, kbk, and brocaps.

I will try my best to produce quality keycaps so stay tuned

You're welcome.  I do love key caps and their makers. Seems like you're taking in some great crafting tips. Just remember to keep prices decent and keep learning. I look forward to your crafting.

[SSIPAK]

Book of the dead! That's pretty sweet, great movies!

Hey Dustin,

Thanks for your compliment, I thought it won't be easy to impress a member such as yourself since you are used to great artisan keycaps such as binged, clacks, kbk, and brocaps.

I will try my best to produce quality keycaps so stay tuned

You're welcome.  I do love key caps and their makers. Seems like you're taking in some great crafting tips. Just remember to keep prices decent and keep learning. I look forward to your crafting.

Will do, thanks!

[SSIPAK]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1

[Binge]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

Congratulations!  You've graduated casting class :-) A+

[dustinhxc]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

OJ Book of the Dead! Rad dude! Is it thick too? Congrats!

[exitfire401]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

Congratulations!  You've graduated casting class :-) A+

[SSIPAK]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

Congratulations!  You've graduated casting class :-) A+

its an honor to hear that from you binge, I couldnt have done it without your help and everyone's support. I truly appreciate it.

[SSIPAK]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

OJ Book of the Dead! Rad dude! Is it thick too? Congrats!

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

Congratulations!  You've graduated casting class :-) A+

Show Image

Thank you, im so stoked! Current BOD CH1 is using realforce Topre keycap, but MX version will have same thickness as GMK keycap ;)

[SSIPAK]

PO-TA-TO shot  with matching blank Topre cap )

[dustinhxc]

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

OJ Book of the Dead! Rad dude! Is it thick too? Congrats!

Bubbles? Care to explain what that is? 

I present to you, bubble free BOD CH1
(Attachment Link)

Congratulations!  You've graduated casting class :-) A+

Show Image

Thank you, im so stoked! Current BOD CH1 is using realforce Topre keycap, but MX version will have same thickness as GMK keycap ;)

GMK, Fantastic!

[SSIPAK]

just came back from the post office, everyone should be receiving their pre Independence day keycaps soon

[HoffmanMyster]

Great to see all the work you're doing here!  Looks like you're making great progress.  Keep it up!  I look forward to someday being able to acquire one of your caps.   

[SSIPAK]

Great to see all the work you're doing here!  Looks like you're making great progress.  Keep it up!  I look forward to someday being able to acquire one of your caps.   

Thanks Hoffman! Never thought I would get this much love and support. I love it 

[SSIPAK]

My weapon of choice


Something is definitely getting cooked up over here.... stay tuned 

[Zekromtor]

This doesn't look like a healthy obsession.

[DamnDan]

Moving really fast i see Congratz on the bubble free cap How did you achieve it ? Also dem sculpting tools! o.o
Photo with tools really looks like a set that "Dexter" would use xD NICE!