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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:14:46

Title: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:14:46
Ok, so I had a crazy idea.

As a community we've generated a lot of custom keycaps, but how about a flocked keycap?

Flocking is a process by which small fibers are embedded into an object's surface to give it a soft, felt or suede-like texture. It's used on toys, fishing rods, car interiors, etc. I figured it might be cool to make a keycap with a soft texture. I'm using rayon fibers that are 1mm in length. I have found a company willing to make me .38mm fibers if necessary, if this experiment seems to be worth pursuing. My concern is that the fibers will be too long and make the experience ... well, not enjoyable on a tactile level.

My technique was to paint the keycaps using a paint that was a similar color to my flocking material. I used black flocking. There are two major techniques for flocking. In the first method, you paint the material or surface, and then the fibers are puffed out at the painted object and the fibers adhere. The second method is to negatively charge the fibers, and then ground the object you plan on flocking. The fibers follow the magnetic lines. This is a bit more complicated, but most people seem to think it makes for a thicker 'pile' on the finished object, and more uniform coverage.

I decided to use a blank set of 101 BS caps from Unicomp that I was mistakenly shipped a few months ago. I kept the stems attached to the caps, and used the stems to hold all the keycaps onto a piece of cardboard. I figured I would need to coat all the keycaps quickly, and then flock them as a group in order to get good coverage. I didn't photograph the cardboard assembly before flocking, and I didn't have time to photograph the painting, but here are some photos of the flocked group of keycaps.



Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:18:09
The flocking looks more grey here, but it's actually black.

The next step is to let the whole thing dry, undisturbed for at least 24 hours. According to the flock manufacturer, it may take up to a week for everything to cure fully. But once the 24 hours are up I can start to remove the excess flock (there's a lot of excess flock) and then clean up the bottoms with a blade, if needed. Notice the stepped caps lock at the front. The flock seemed to really wrap around the entire keycap, so I'm feeling pretty good about how it came out.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:20:22
And here's a close-up -- again, I think a lot of this is excess material, and the final keycaps will (hopefully) just have a thin veneer of fabric. Then there's the issue of how strongly the fibers hold. Will they hold up to regular usage? I did not 'roughen up' or prime the caps at all -- just straight from Unicomp. I probably should have done more experimenting to see which would work better, but I'm hoping to get an entire set (or maybe just modifiers) out of this experiment.

If it works, keycaps could be partially flocked -- maybe just the top surface, or maybe just a section of the top?

Any comments, ideas or suggestions are welcome!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:30:02
I didn't read anything but I want one.

What the flock!

Edit: I read it. This is really cool, I'm interested to see what comes from all this flocking.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Game Theory on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:43:10
Please keep us updated.  Seems like a cool project.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:52:18
Krog

Have you considered flocking a case?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Sat, 17 August 2013, 18:56:37
Interesting idea!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 19:03:41
Krog

Have you considered flocking a case?

Absolutely. I'm going to see how these work out, and then I have a slightly cracked model m case to experiment on. Some of the model m cases have intricate channels that may not receive flock very well. But there are modern cases that are smooth and regular enough. Maybe I could attempt to flock just the bottom of the case first and if that works do the whole thing.

Masking areas off could produce some interesting results too.

I flocked a single clear DCS cap from SP Friday afternoon. I'll be at work tomorrow anyway so it should be dry enough for me to remove the excess flock. Also, because it is clear I plan on illuminating it from below to check my coverage.

Maybe Binge could use this process on his new caps? Mohawk.... Sideburns... Stubble... AFRO CAP!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 17 August 2013, 19:11:12
Krog

Have you considered flocking a case?

Absolutely. I'm going to see how these work out, and then I have a slightly cracked model m case to experiment on. Some of the model m cases have intricate channels that may not receive flock very well. But there are modern cases that are smooth and regular enough. Maybe I could attempt to flock just the bottom of the case first and if that works do the whole thing.

Masking areas off could produce some interesting results too.

I flocked a single clear DCS cap from SP Friday afternoon. I'll be at work tomorrow anyway so it should be dry enough for me to remove the excess flock. Also, because it is clear I plan on illuminating it from below to check my coverage.

Maybe Binge could use this process on his new caps? Mohawk.... Sideburns... Stubble... AFRO CAP!

Pure genius! :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: vun on Sat, 17 August 2013, 19:18:04
Is this the same stuff that's used to make grass for tabletop game scenery? Because if so I'd love to have a set of caps(and a case) with this stuff on it, although wouldn't it wear off fast and end up making a mess of both your board and the area surrounding it?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 17 August 2013, 19:41:49
Is this the same stuff that's used to make grass for tabletop game scenery? Because if so I'd love to have a set of caps(and a case) with this stuff on it, although wouldn't it wear off fast and end up making a mess of both your board and the area surrounding it?

Same technique but the flock used in those cases are usually longer. Between 2 and 6 mm. They also mix up the fiber lengths to get a more rough, natural look. My hope is for a microfiber-like finish. It may end up with more of a 'pile' than I expect, but maybe I'll like it? Also, a grass like surface might be cool. Who knows? That's why I'm doing this. But you're absolutely right about durability ... None of this matters if it doesn't adhere well or hold up to constant finger presses.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: MOZ on Sun, 18 August 2013, 02:25:02
Interesting project.

What was your source for the flock?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Michael on Sun, 18 August 2013, 02:47:54
Mohawk.... Sideburns... Stubble... AFRO CAP!


(http://i.imgur.com/IuhJVC2.jpg)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: vun on Sun, 18 August 2013, 08:00:19
Is this the same stuff that's used to make grass for tabletop game scenery? Because if so I'd love to have a set of caps(and a case) with this stuff on it, although wouldn't it wear off fast and end up making a mess of both your board and the area surrounding it?

Same technique but the flock used in those cases are usually longer. Between 2 and 6 mm. They also mix up the fiber lengths to get a more rough, natural look. My hope is for a microfiber-like finish. It may end up with more of a 'pile' than I expect, but maybe I'll like it? Also, a grass like surface might be cool. Who knows? That's why I'm doing this. But you're absolutely right about durability ... None of this matters if it doesn't adhere well or hold up to constant finger presses.

Could still be used on a case, though, but it'd probably be a good idea to leave some areas bare. Although going with the wargames terrain train of thought you could make a rocky surface on the areas that would see heavy skin traffic. Would be a badass looking board, with black flock and black rocky terrain, paint the plate orange and use black caps.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sun, 18 August 2013, 08:53:28
Is this the same stuff that's used to make grass for tabletop game scenery? Because if so I'd love to have a set of caps(and a case) with this stuff on it, although wouldn't it wear off fast and end up making a mess of both your board and the area surrounding it?

Same technique but the flock used in those cases are usually longer. Between 2 and 6 mm. They also mix up the fiber lengths to get a more rough, natural look. My hope is for a microfiber-like finish. It may end up with more of a 'pile' than I expect, but maybe I'll like it? Also, a grass like surface might be cool. Who knows? That's why I'm doing this. But you're absolutely right about durability ... None of this matters if it doesn't adhere well or hold up to constant finger presses.

Could still be used on a case, though, but it'd probably be a good idea to leave some areas bare. Although going with the wargames terrain train of thought you could make a rocky surface on the areas that would see heavy skin traffic. Would be a badass looking board, with black flock and black rocky terrain, paint the plate orange and use black caps.

I picture a completely black flocked keyboard -- keycaps, and case, all in a matte flocked black. The cool thing about this flock is that you can mix different colors of flock similar to paint, to get some new colors -- people do it all the time for flocking duck hunting decoys.

I just got to work and checked out my very first flocked keycap (it's had the most time to cure) and it looked (after flocking) a lot like the full set I have drying at home -- and I honestly expected a lot of that flock to fall away, but it didn't. It's a really fluffy-looking keycap. I ended up missing a single spot on the keycap  :confused: but otherwise the cap appears fully functional! I will post some pics when I get home.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: RabRhee on Sun, 18 August 2013, 12:56:51
I think this is a great idea, hope it works out well. It did remind me of this, the suede/velvet covered Ferrari:

[attach=1]


I can also envisage a purple set with Zap Brannigan saying 'mmm, velour'
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: vun on Sun, 18 August 2013, 14:00:29
I think this is a great idea, hope it works out well. It did remind me of this, the suede/velvet covered Ferrari:

(Attachment Link)


I can also envisage a purple set with Zap Brannigan saying 'mmm, velour'

I might be in the minority here, but I would love to have that car. Just saying.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: TheSoulhunter on Mon, 19 August 2013, 04:44:29
I guess my GF would love a pink fluffy keyset and case :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Mon, 19 August 2013, 05:05:56
I think this is a great idea, hope it works out well. It did remind me of this, the suede/velvet covered Ferrari:

(Attachment Link)


I can also envisage a purple set with Zap Brannigan saying 'mmm, velour'

That car is sexy, but can you imagine how much of a pain it would be to clean? It'd get so dirty, so fast!

Also, I really like the idea, but considering how much paints that are specifically intended to defeat our ever persistent fingertips, I'm not confident how well these will hold up under the same circumstances.

Would it be possible to use a dyed epoxy in place of paint, to attempt to overcome the wear issue?

Also, Flocked wrist rests?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 19 August 2013, 07:12:33
That car is sexy, but can you imagine how much of a pain it would be to clean? It'd get so dirty, so fast!

I waited 24 hours to try to remove some of the keycaps from my cardboard holder, and I think I rushed it. For one, some of the paint (which is also a glue in this case) passed underneath the keycaps, and so was not fully dry. Also, I painted them quickly -- as in, not as perfectly even as I would have liked, so that also caused some drying issues. I'm going to leave them alone for another 24 hours minimum. The adhesion seems pretty good, however.

The kit I got for this was black suede -- these are rayon fibers, 1mm -- I got it from http://www.flockit.com/ -- it was maybe $40 if I remember correctly. The length of the fibers doesn't seem to be an issue. I think if I had painted and flocked each one individually, or as many as I could do in a span of say 5 minutes, artfully, would have been better. I'm thinking that I could attach the keycaps to sticks, paint them, stick them into some floral foam, flock them, and then let them dry.

The trick is that the flocking gets everywhere. It's so fine that it almost resembles paint itself, sticking to everything. I'm going to build a plastic lined box, and line it with floral foam, so the sticks can be held up and rotated during the flock spraying. The flock is sprayed out using a cardboard tube assembly the "puffs" it out as a cloud. I'm still not sure if I should be priming the keycaps. According to Donjer, the surface that is being flocked should not absorb any of the paint/adhesive -- that it should be 'sealed'. The plastic felt pretty non-porous to me, but maybe if I roughed it up with some sandpaper after priming, it would help.

The few samples I have seem pretty good, and they feel good. My spacebar came out great. There are some caps that lost a bit of flocking on the back side because I put down the adhesive in a half-assed, rushed way. Where the adhesive was a bit too thick, the flocking seems more likely to able to be pulled off. The directions claim that the adhesive will not fully cure for up to a week, so, I'm going to try to be more patient.

I tried taking photos, but I really need my wife's DSLR to take better closeups, so you can see the flock.

Quote
Also, I really like the idea, but considering how much paints that are specifically intended to defeat our ever persistent fingertips, I'm not confident how well these will hold up under the same circumstances.

Yeah, that's going to be something we'll find out. Even after only about 24 hours for the BS caps, and a single DCS cap that had over 48 hours to cure, the flocking seems surprisingly durable. I think the process suffered more from my technique than from a failure of the flocking itself. Bottom line: I think it worked, and I think there's some potential for the process.

Quote
Would it be possible to use a dyed epoxy in place of paint, to attempt to overcome the wear issue?
The flocking 'paint' that I used is made specifically for flocking, so it's got properties that are similar to a glue. My research has shown that people use everything from white Elmer's glue, to Rustoleum (for duck decoy flocking) to more specialized coatings. Again, I won't know how long the flocking will hold up until I give it time to fully cure, and then start banging away on the keycaps.

Maybe what I'll do is make some spacebars and then ship 'em out to people to test, and see how well it works.

I'm very excited about how this could work because there are a lot of possibilities -- mix a small amount of reflective flock into the black flock and you've gone from a matte black to a faintly shimmery black, and as I stated earlier, flocking can be mixed like paint. And it feels like you're touching the inside of a jewelry box. I won't know how it feels on entire board until a few more days, but I think it will be pretty awesome.

Quote
Also, Flocked wrist rests?
Yeah, I think Beast could make good use of this process. Coat the bottom of a wooden wrist rest with the adhesive, and then flock it for a nice, soft finish. Or maybe even on the top side, as a single stripe -- just mask the areas you don't want flocked. The flocking I used didn't seem to be fazed by the contours of the caps at all, so flocking the bottom of a rest should be even easier.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Mon, 19 August 2013, 07:20:11
Maybe what I'll do is make some spacebars and then ship 'em out to people to test, and see how well it works.


(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8e0qbMGHi1rcxefho1_250.gif)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Mon, 19 August 2013, 07:25:46
Oh, and can I just say how much I appreciate your avatar? He is, to this day, one of my favorite characters from anything. Every word out of his mouth was unadultered brilliant writing.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 19 August 2013, 07:48:57
Oh, and can I just say how much I appreciate your avatar? He is, to this day, one of my favorite characters from anything. Every word out of his mouth was unadultered brilliant writing.

Coach McGuirk: "Remember, You made someone do something bad with swords."
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Mon, 19 August 2013, 15:13:56
Coach McGuirk: This sausage is probably eighteen years old... This sausage could vote. It could go to war and die for its country.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:30:47
Ok, here's an update of sorts.

The results were somewhat mixed.

If you look at the earlier photos, the keycaps are basically covered in a layer of flocking. The problem is, if you attempt to just tear the keycaps out, you tear the flocking itself. The flocking won't slip off the keycap easily, but I was left with ragged edges to my keycaps. I think the problem was, well, me.

In my eagerness to flock an entire set of keys, I made a bathmat with some keys underneath it.

So, I used a very sharp hobby knife to cut them loose, but the keys still required some 'trimming' of excess flock. Also, my painting technique absolutely did not help.

Notice in the photo below how uneven my paint job was -- I was rushed because there's maybe a 5 minute window after application of the coating to apply the flock; wait too long and the coating will 'skin over' and the flocking won't adhere very well. An uneven, rushed coating yielded uneven flocking, and a mess.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:33:20
Here's a shot of the same keycap, from the front, which doesn't look so bad, and has a nice feel to it, if nothing else.

I think for my next attempt I'm going to mask the bottom of the cap, suspend it on a stick, and then coat only as many keycaps as I can reliably and perfectly coat within 5 minutes, and then suspend those sticks and flock them.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:34:28
Here's a closeup of the spacebar, which of all the keys, came out the best, and (what a coincidence) was the key I spent the most time coating carefully.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Tym on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:39:44
The Bath mat analogy made me giggle, very interesting project,  my only flaw is I really dont like the feel of the texture, but good loom to you!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:41:19
Here's a shot of some modifiers. This is about 48 hours after flocking. I've only just shaken off any excess flock, and discovered that if I work at the edge of a keycap I can remove the flock with a fair amount of effort. I wouldn't say the flock didn't adhere well, maybe it needed more time, and the uneven coating didn't help. But the flock won't come off on it's own.

The modifiers look alright here -- missed a spot on one modifier, on the corner -- but the left Shift, once depressed, will not come back up again. The flock from one key is interfering with the flock from the Control key. Remove the Caps Lock and Control key, and it works again.

Ok, so unless much finer flock is used, it may not be possible to flock all the keys. So I tried just the function row. The spacebar and Alt keys worked fine, but not the Function row keys. This made me sad. But, being afflicted with a terminal case of optimism, maybe just the tops of the keycaps can be flocked!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:43:34
The Bath mat analogy made me giggle, very interesting project,  my only flaw is I really dont like the feel of the texture, but good loom to you!

Thanks for the support Tym. I feel like the George Washington Carver of flocking right now.
As you'll recall, he died penniless, trying desperately to play a record with a peanut. Also, glad I could make you giggle, my sense of humor is going to carry me through this project, I just know it! .... or not.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: esoomenona on Tue, 20 August 2013, 19:47:51
How is the durability? Does it scratch off?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 20 August 2013, 20:09:59
Does it flatten after some use?  Or stay furry?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: MOZ on Wed, 21 August 2013, 03:50:53
Interesting results.

What was the source of the flock?

Also, do you think that overtime, some of the flock fibers would break-off from the keycaps and accumulation of these could be an issue, much like pet hair?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 21 August 2013, 06:32:59
How is the durability? Does it scratch off?

The flock stays on -- if I use a knife and scrape along the felt, you can scrape it off -- but I think that falls within the range of intentional defacement so I'm not worried. At 48 hours after flocking, I removed some of the keys from the 'bath mat' and some still had remnants of wet coating -- the flock in those areas could be ripped up with some effort -- but it wouldn't just fall off on it's own. 72 hours afterwards, a BS keycap that I intentionally tried to deface is somewhat more difficult to deface. Rubbing the felt coating with a fingertip or fingernail is NOT ENOUGH to get the flock off. To do that I have to find the edge of the flocked surface and get a fingernail and work at it for a little while, and then a small section can be removed.

I think the keycap would survive typical use without a problem. Also, the manufacturer claims that the coating requires up to a week to cure completely, and by day three the flocking feels stronger. For that reason, I'm going to leave the bulk of the keycaps in the 'bath mat' matrix until the weekend and see if more time to cure helps. It seems that wherever I put down an uneven layer of the coating, that led to an uncured "wet" area that made it easier to pull off the flocking.

Does it flatten after some use?  Or stay furry?

It doesn't have a 'pile' -- not like a carpet that you could write your name on it with your finger. The fibers aren't nearly long enough. The texture doesn't seem to change. The feeling is like touching the inside of a jewelry box -- soft.

Interesting results. What was the source of the flock? Also, do you think that overtime, some of the flock fibers would break-off from the keycaps and accumulation of these could be an issue, much like pet hair?

My source of flock is this: http://www.flockit.com/index.php/order/rayon-mini-flocker-kit-flock-fibers.html

Geekhack has lots of makers and tinkerers, so please, feel free to try it out yourself. At $24.95, it's not a huge risk -- use some crap bag reject caps as guinea pigs! But please, post the results. Maybe roughing up and/or priming the keycaps will yield even better results. I'm not done experimenting, however, not by a long shot. I just need to slow down, and be more careful.

As for the flock fibers breaking-off -- I honestly don't know. The excess fibers you can see in the photos may be breakage, but more likely they're just excess that was not fully shaken off by me. If I had waited a full week, and then shook off the excess and then vacuumed each keycap, you probably wouldn't see that. There's no way to know for sure how well the flock will hold up. They say that electrostatic flocking results in better coverage and more forcible application of the flock -- which means the fibers stand up straight in the coating, and penetrate further into the coating. Sounds, obscene, right?  :)) Maybe that would yield an even better result. Also, my flock source is willing to make flocking fibers that are .38mm in length -- I used 1mm flock for this experiment, and it still felt like it was fabric dust being used. To go even smaller might even make the stuck key issue go away.

All I really wanted to know was whether a flocked keycap would feel good -- it does -- and whether it had any potential -- I think it does. Here's what electrostatic flocking looks like:

-- in that video, you've got to put the alligator clip or T-pin into the adhesive coating. Doing that to an adhesive-coated keycap could be problematic. Maybe the keycaps themselves are conductive enough? I honestly don't know. I could see putting the clip on the bottom of the keycap stem (cruciform area) but would that be sufficient to electrostatically flock?

-- this guy built a cabinet for his flocking. (facepalm)

Anyway, please share your comments and ideas -- I'm all ears.


Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 26 August 2013, 07:38:24
An update on the durability -- after a week of allowing the flocked keys to cure, the coating seems a lot more durable, but not as good as it could be. The blank Unicomp keys that I flocked are not as durable as I would like. They received no prep besides a bath in soapy water. I didn't roughen them up or prime them. The undercoat that holds the flocking can be peeled off with some effort, and I don't like that.

However, the spacebar (which I think may also be a different material) is holding up a lot better.

Also, I painted a single clear DCS keycap from SP (so it has no paint, or anything else) and that one seems to have the most durable surface coating. I can hardly get the flock off even with a lot of trying. I have to get the point that I'm damaging the underlying cap before the coating starts to scrape off. 2-3 days after flocking, however, it was possible to damage that coating. A week later, nope.

So I'm going to buy a complete blank set and experiment with those next.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: StrikeEagleCC on Tue, 27 August 2013, 04:14:19
Krogenar, this looks really interesting--I never would have thought of this. I'm sure that some additional prep will help the paint adhesion, but depending it sounds like you may not need it. I imagine different caps may be coated with something like a mold release agent or something that should be removed.

What did you use for paint? I once used Krylon Fusion to paint a monitor frame, and although it took a VERY long time to cure fully, it adhered incredibly well. After about two weeks, I couldn't damage the paint without damaging the plastic underneath.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 27 August 2013, 06:16:55
Krogenar, this looks really interesting--I never would have thought of this. I'm sure that some additional prep will help the paint adhesion, but depending it sounds like you may not need it. I imagine different caps may be coated with something like a mold release agent or something that should be removed.

What did you use for paint? I once used Krylon Fusion to paint a monitor frame, and although it took a VERY long time to cure fully, it adhered incredibly well. After about two weeks, I couldn't damage the paint without damaging the plastic underneath.

I used a paint/adhesive included by the flock manufacturer. The adhesive is colored so that it matches the color of the flock. Another tip I learned from them is that after flocking you should shine a light on the surface you are flocking -- any shiny spots means you need to put down more flocking. It's been a busy week for me, but I'll be back to flocking very soon. :)

And yes, you're right -- I needed more prep.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 05 September 2013, 08:18:01
Ok, an update!

I took my remaining three clear DCS keycaps from SP, and preparing them for Round 2!

1. Washed them all in warm soapy water to remove any excess oils.
2. Masked the bottoms of all three so that there would be no excess flock there.
3. Masked second one halfway up -- so that we would be flocking just the top half, like a flocking hat.
4. Masked third keycap on all sides, leaving only the surface open to flocking.
5. To make priming, painting, flocking possible, put them all on bamboo spears.
6. Two primer coatings.
7. Painted with black adhesive/paint coating.
8. Flocked all three -- checked using a flashlight to spot any shiny (that is, unflocked) areas on caps.

Now I'm just leaving them the hell alone for a minimum of a week.

Here's a shot of the three primed keycaps:

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:16:45
Ok, a week later, some good results and some bad results.

1. The primed keycaps are more durable for sure. Again, if you really work at it, you can remove the undercoat, but the level of work required doesn't rise to the level you would see in actual use -- it rises to the level of vandalism. So I solved that issue.

2. Coverage is an issue. I'm using a cardboard tube system to sort of 'air propel' the flocking fibers at the coated surfaces, walking around the keycaps as I go to try to get even coverage. As per instructions, I use a lot more flock than I think I'll actually require. The problem is that in nearly every keycap there are some shallow spots where less flock adhered. The side edges of the keycaps are where you can it the worst.

[attach=1]

This is a day or two after flocking, just checking on it. Coverage looks excellent, but the final coverage after using a vacuum to remove any excess flock, is not as good.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:33:06
Ok, here's the half-flocked keycap, sideview:

[attach=1]

Ok, the primer leaked beyond my masking. But the adhesion is excellent. But look at the side edge -- you can see the edge sort of peeking through the flocking, and that's not good.

My theory is that the flock is being laid down too haphazardly to get really great, even coverage, so I'm going to try to go the electrostatic route.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:35:31
So how long till we can buy some afro caps or garden caps.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:39:36
So how long till we can buy some afro caps or garden caps.

Ray, thanks for the support! PM me your address and I'll send you out a BS spacebar (fully flocked) and one of my prototypes, if you want. I'm going to try to electrostatically flock my QFR cases within the next two weeks. For one, I need the right tool, and second, the weather has to improve. It's so humid here, I doubt it would work right now.

EDIT: Here's a top view of another keycap:

[attach=1]

Looks good here, but I don't want to rely on luck to get even coverage.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:43:42
I was kind of just keeping tabs on this thread, but those last pics sold me.

I want some flock up in here!  Really curious what a spacebar would feel like.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: pixel5 on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:50:40
Must resist urge to make football turf keycaps to go with this:
(http://www.japantrendshop.com//img/filco/midori-turf-keyboard-grass-1.jpg)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:51:39
I was kind of just keeping tabs on this thread, but those last pics sold me.

I want some flock up in here!  Really curious what a spacebar would feel like.

PM me your address Boiler, and I'll send you some of them. I have a whole keyboard set for BS, but some are good, some not so good. I'll send out what I can, but be gentle, these are prototypes! The spacebar for BS actually came out the best of all, but the adhesion, again, is not going to be the best. If you don't actively try to harm the coating you'll be fine. It's a good indicator, though, of how it feels -- which is great! Maybe at some point we can find a flocking company to flock some stuff en masse.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 08:56:22
Must resist urge to make football turf keycaps to go with this:
Show Image
(http://www.japantrendshop.com//img/filco/midori-turf-keyboard-grass-1.jpg)


Yeah, I saw this! I think flocking a case will be a lot easier than keycaps. The BS keycaps did not have enough space between them to work properly -- the flocking (thin as it is) interferes with keys to the left and right. That's why I tried to do a half-cap, and a surface cap. The "surface" cap is not bad at all (if you can overlook the poor masking job) but the shallow portion of the keycap surface is not as densely flocked. I'll post some more pics in a bit.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 09:03:24
Ok, here's the surface- and full-flock keycaps. There's a lot of flash problems (just a camera phone pic) but you can see the coverage issues. The shallow surface on the surface-flocked keycap is less densely flocked. And yet, on the fully-flocked keycap, the shallow area is fine. But even on the fully-flocked keycap, the edges didn't hold onto the flock as well as the flatter areas of the keycap.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: AGmurdercore on Wed, 11 September 2013, 10:01:06
I REALLY want to feel this caps. Can i get any? :)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 11 September 2013, 10:15:07
I REALLY want to feel this caps. Can i get any? :)

I could send you some, but I'm not as proud of them as I would like to be. I'm going to send out a BS spacebar and a few of the better BS keycaps that I flocked to Ray, and I'm going to send Boiler the fully flocked keycap for now, no charge because I don't think they're as good as they could be just yet. I could send you some BS keycaps, but like I said, they're not great. If you try to rip off the undercoating that holds the flocking, say, with a fingernail, you can.

Here's one of the BS keycaps that I was able to strip of it's flocking:

[attach=1]

This section of flocking I removed from the keycap with my fingernail. The BS keycaps I have are unprimed, and that was a mistake. But they do feel pretty good. Also, check out the bottom edge of the same keycap, from a different angle:

[attach=2]

Ragged edge looks crappy. Had these keycaps been primed, the edges would have been better. I was so excited, you see, to flock that I went nuts, and didn't prepare properly. If all this is acceptable to you, then yeah, I can send you some. But you've been warned.

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Binge on Wed, 11 September 2013, 12:55:18
flock my stache  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: ITzNybble on Wed, 11 September 2013, 12:58:07
Science! I love it!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: AGmurdercore on Thu, 12 September 2013, 01:33:45
I REALLY want to feel this caps. Can i get any? :)

I could send you some, but I'm not as proud of them as I would like to be. I'm going to send out a BS spacebar and a few of the better BS keycaps that I flocked to Ray, and I'm going to send Boiler the fully flocked keycap for now, no charge because I don't think they're as good as they could be just yet. I could send you some BS keycaps, but like I said, they're not great. If you try to rip off the undercoating that holds the flocking, say, with a fingernail, you can.

Here's one of the BS keycaps that I was able to strip of it's flocking:

(Attachment Link)

This section of flocking I removed from the keycap with my fingernail. The BS keycaps I have are unprimed, and that was a mistake. But they do feel pretty good. Also, check out the bottom edge of the same keycap, from a different angle:

(Attachment Link)

Ragged edge looks crappy. Had these keycaps been primed, the edges would have been better. I was so excited, you see, to flock that I went nuts, and didn't prepare properly. If all this is acceptable to you, then yeah, I can send you some. But you've been warned.
I have no intentions of removing the flock with my fingernails to be honest, so i will be honored if you can toss any keys my way. ^^
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 13 September 2013, 12:51:34
AGmurdercore, Ray and Boiler,

I was slammed pretty hard at work this week, so I haven't been able to ship anything out yet. I did, however, grade all the keycaps, and I'm going to ship this weekend for sure. AGmurdercore, I am not sure I want to ship internationally. PM me your ship to address and I'll check at the post office.

After grading them, I found that some of them were actually not so bad in terms of coverage.

Sorry for the delay.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 13 September 2013, 13:20:33
EDIT: Sending the keys to Boiler and Ray today by FedEx ground. PMs sent, would appreciate if you could cover shipping. I just wrapped them twice in bubble wrap, and put them in the smallest boxes I had on hand.

Also, I have a bunch of BS spacebars and DCS keycaps that I plan on flocking very, very soon.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Sat, 14 September 2013, 15:17:38
Paid Shipping - Excited to see results!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: damorgue on Sat, 14 September 2013, 15:49:26
How does the flocked translucent cap look with a LED underneath?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sun, 15 September 2013, 06:01:39
How does the flocked translucent cap look with a LED underneath?

Good question. The one DCS that turned out well is on its way to Boiler ... My guess is that the primer will block most of the light. And the adhesive above that is black, so probably zero.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 16 September 2013, 18:16:15
UPDATE: I flocked four keycaps today using the electrostatic method tonight.

I did a DCS keycap and spacebar, and a BS spacebar and keycap. Here's what's different from my last two experiments:

1. Masked the bottoms of the keys to protect against excess coating. (Actually did this for second round, but clumsily.)
2. Primed! (Using the Duplicolor Adhesion Promoter suggested by Photoelectric)
3. Electrostatically flocked.
4. Full coverage on keycaps, no partial flocking this time around. (I'm not flocking around.)

Each keycap had to be on its own cardboard skid because the electrostatic method requires that the grounding pin be inserted in the coating itself. I couldn't coat them all at once because I couldn't ground all the keycap coatings simultaneously. (Although I may commandeer my wife's cookie drying rack, maybe I can rig it up as a larger grounding surface?) So each keycap had it's own little cardboard carrier. I used a pencil to mount the pin, so I could manipulate it better when touching it against the keycap. When I was flocking, it didn't really look very different from the 'puffing' method, but when I 'dusted' the flocking fibers from a decent height (8") they did seem to land on the keycaps with more accuracy than I would attribute to chance, so I think it worked. When I was done, I got a nice spark afterwards, so I know there was a potential being created.

 I hope:

1. The primer will work.
2. The coverage will be more even (no more shallow spots, or less frequent) - electrostatic should help in this area.
3. Deeper penetration (shut up) since instead of the fibers just being 'thrown' at the coating (puffing method) they are now drawn to it.
4. Better coverage on the edges, again, having the fibers drawn to all surfaces electrostatically should improve edge coverage.

If it all works out, then I'll be flocking a case very soon! Boiler and Ray should be getting their keycaps sometime tomorrow -- I'm excited to get a second opinion.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:02:09
A photo of my two new flocking fiber colors:

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:08:23
Here are my four 'skids' 24 hours post-flocking. I've very lightly shaken off any excess flock and brought them indoors to cure more completely.

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:13:36
A photo of my two new flocking fiber colors:

(Attachment Link)

All I can think seeing those colors is a joker inspired faux suede keyboard :eek:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Binge on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:28:50
how suede-like are these SpAmRaY?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:37:27
how suede-like are these SpAmRaY?

I'm poor at explaining things but to me it's like tactile suede. In other words suede with the feels. It's like a cross between microfiber and suede. Very soft but you still get the nice 'tiny hair' feel of the fibers.

If flock could be combined with the hair/beard etc on binge caps there would be so much awesome I think it might create a black hole  ??? (specifically in my wallet)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:38:11
Krogenar is a wizard!

I got some flocked keys yesterday and they look and feel awesome.  I am taking one for a test drive today and will post more comments later.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 18 September 2013, 08:56:15
If flock could be combined with the hair/beard etc on binge caps there would be so much awesome I think it might create a black hole  ??? (specifically in my wallet)

I would love to flock the sideburns or eyebrows of a Bingecap! The pile on these is very small, so if we do an afro, it's got to be a tight afro. You know, just in case we do an Bingecap with an afro.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 19 September 2013, 09:04:56
How does the flocked translucent cap look with a LED underneath?

This is my third batch, the DCS keycap, which was translucent, with black flocking on my Ducky:

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]

You'll notice the edges are where most of the light comes through. Looking straight down at the keycap and you can make out the edges as well, but in the flatter areas the flock blocks the light. The primer I used for this batch is clear, so the light can come through.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: damorgue on Thu, 19 September 2013, 13:02:01
Are there more translucent flocking fibers available? Something like small strands of nylon fibers or such?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 19 September 2013, 13:07:47
Are there more translucent flocking fibers available? Something like small strands of nylon fibers or such?

There are white flocking fibers, but I have not encountered clear flock -- that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, though. These fibers are rayon, which is best used indoors. There are nylon fibers, which are more durable, and might have more of a sheen to them, if that's what we're after. The undercoatings that I'm using are matched to the color of the flock, and it is available in a clear form, so maybe clear fibers could be made.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 20 September 2013, 07:54:26
Mixed results on batch three. My DCS spacebar looks good, feels good (I can feel the 'pile' on the top) but I got the wrong damn size!

[attachimg=1]

Krog: "FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU---"

Ok, so the others I have not yet flocked are most likely useless anyway. *sigh* Who uses 6-unit spacebars anyway?
Also, five days post flocking, I can peel up the edge of the flocking with a fingernail. I'm going to wait another two days and continue to test this spacebar -- maybe I didn't prime evenly? I don't think so. Maybe it needed even more time to cure? Possibly. If this primer didn't work, I'll go back to my previous primer, which did work, but had to be applied by brush.

Some photos:

[attachimg=2]
See, I could rip that off with my fingernail. Failure of the primer, or I didn't wait long enough for undercoat to cure. Feels slightly tacky to the touch. I will wait a few more days and try again to remove the flocking some more, or from another area of the spacebar.

[attachimg=3]
Looks and feels promising, but not perfect yet. Still some more shallow areas of flocking, but seems better than my first few attempts. Maybe the electrostatic didn't work as well as I hoped?

[attachimg=4]
The spacebar, with a similarly flocked DCS keycap on the ESC key.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 20 September 2013, 07:57:30
Do you think it would make a difference if you lightly sanded the surface of the key cap before priming? (Or maybe you already did that, I don't always read everything)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 20 September 2013, 08:07:00
Do you think it would make a difference if you lightly sanded the surface of the key cap before priming? (Or maybe you already did that, I don't always read everything)

I think that could be a possibility because my BS spacebars seem great on the surface, and I noticed that the surface of the BS spacebar is textured. The undercoating for the DCS was still slightly tacky. I did not sand any of the keys, ever, Ray. But maybe I should. I'll give that a try next. How's your spacebar holding up? I was happily typing away on this one, and it felt very weird, and then I noticed I got the size wrong! Grrr... I'm retarded.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 20 September 2013, 09:49:38
I like it. It is very smoooooth. And just the fact its a little different provides something other than the norm.

I'lll be sending my keys in two different direction soon so others can try them out!!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 23 September 2013, 07:59:50
Well some updates -- the BS spacebar came out great! It's very full, even -- but when placed on my Model M (silver label) the extra full flock on the sides interferes with the spacebar's operation! Also, it seems that the primer didn't work as well as I hoped. So I'm going to try some spacebars (BS only) with some sanding, then my original brushed on primer (2 coats) and I will attempt to do a 'hat' for the spacebar. I think just a shade less than half of the cap will allow for actuation.

The DCS 1-unit key seems the best of the bunch so far, although I think the primer issue will be present. It's not so bad really, so long as you don't actively try to rip off the flocking.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 24 September 2013, 08:13:04
I've got two BS spacebars, 2 DCS 1-units, and 5 BS 1-units ready for flocking tonight. I did some thinking about the BS spacebars (I'm leaving aside DCS spacebars until I get some 6.25 units available to me) and I think I have a solution to the activation issue: the backside of the BS spacebar will only have flocking at the top third of the keycap, the sides will be flocked 50% at a nearly 45-degree angle, and the top and front will be fully flocked.

Also, as suggested by Ray and others, the keycaps are sanded before priming (primer does seem to adhere better). I'm also going back to my original brush on primer.

I'm also trying to figure out the best way to ground the keycaps during flocking, without leaving a slight indentation in the surface. Maybe I can ground them from the backside, where it won't matter? Still thinking about it.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 12:05:54
Flocked "Batch 4" keycaps last night, and will provide some photos tonight after I release some of the excess flock from them. This time around there are two new colors! One is a sage sort of green (I really liked the way the keycaps looked), some black, and a mixture of the two. So I've got one sage-colored spacebar (it's a pale green) and gray/green spacebar. I've got a combination of those colors in 2 DCS single units, and 5 BS single units.

The single units I think may only work properly for ESC key locations -- but at least I'll be able to test them out on a function row to see if that's so. When I flocked these keys, my electrostatic tool was working perfectly. In fact, I felt the static electricity on my forearms, my face, everywhere -- and by the time it was over I was covered in flocking fibers.

Tonight I'll remove the excess flocking, and remove the masking from the spacebars (fingers crossed) and bring the keys in from my cold garage.

Photos to follow.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 25 September 2013, 12:13:16
When I flocked these keys, my electrostatic tool was working perfectly. In fact, I felt the static electricity on my forearms, my face, everywhere -- and by the time it was over I was covered in flocking fibers.

just think of the halloween costumes you could pull off hahaha
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 12:14:10
When I flocked these keys, my electrostatic tool was working perfectly. In fact, I felt the static electricity on my forearms, my face, everywhere -- and by the time it was over I was covered in flocking fibers.

just think of the halloween costumes you could pull off hahaha

If I can get longer flock, with brown and black coloring -- The Wookie Keycap
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 25 September 2013, 12:17:11
When I flocked these keys, my electrostatic tool was working perfectly. In fact, I felt the static electricity on my forearms, my face, everywhere -- and by the time it was over I was covered in flocking fibers.

just think of the halloween costumes you could pull off hahaha

If I can get longer flock, with brown and black coloring -- The Wookie Keycap

:eek: don't tease like that bro.....that would be an awesome keychain cap
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 13:50:12

If I can get longer flock, with brown and black coloring -- The Wookie Keycap

:eek: don't tease like that bro.....that would be an awesome keychain cap

Paint a bandolier on it, then flock around it ... WRAR!!!!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: MOZ on Wed, 25 September 2013, 14:06:43
What if Binge caps were flocked? Image the bear or WASDson!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 17:24:46
Ok, photo time.

[attach=1]

These are my two newest spacebars (BS) and I'm very pleased with them. Here's a closeup:

[attach=3]

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 17:30:04
Also, my actuation issue may be solved with this experimental batch:

[attach=1]

The edges are nice and clean, and because the flocking only covers maybe the top third of the backside of the keycap, actuation of the keycap shouldn't be a problem anymore -- no matter how luxuriously thick and rich the flocking might be! I'm going to go ahead and allow myself a mwuh-hahaha, just for a bit. :)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 25 September 2013, 17:32:37
And my singlestons. More about them later.
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 25 September 2013, 19:47:43
Looking really good!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 26 September 2013, 06:33:33
Looking really good!

Thanks Ray.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Thu, 26 September 2013, 07:02:54
I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 26 September 2013, 07:12:33
I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?

I can send him some, I've got a pile of red and blue DSA caps from my crap bag that aren't going to be good for anything else!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Thu, 26 September 2013, 07:20:44
I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?

I can send him some, I've got a pile of red and blue DSA caps from my crap bag that aren't going to be good for anything else!

Oh, I totally meant SA profile. FML.

Somebody (I, unfortunately, do not remember who to thank for this) hooked me up with about 15 SA profile caps from their crap bag.
Maybe it was you, Ray.

I'm definitely keeping a select few, but the rest are no use for me to keep, so I'd happily send out 10 or so.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 26 September 2013, 07:27:36
I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?

I can send him some, I've got a pile of red and blue DSA caps from my crap bag that aren't going to be good for anything else!

Oh, I totally meant SA profile. FML.

Somebody (I, unfortunately, do not remember who to thank for this) hooked me up with about 15 SA profile caps from their crap bag.
Maybe it was you, Ray.

I'm definitely keeping a select few, but the rest are no use for me to keep, so I'd happily send out 10 or so.

Yes I sent those! When did you get them? Just curious to see how long shipping takes?

I'm sure they were very random I mainly just wanted you to be able to observe SA profile in person in a few different colors.

I can also send Krog some SA crap bag caps as well!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Thu, 26 September 2013, 07:30:22
Luckily, my mail dude has to put his pickup date on everything he picks up from post. They came in on 11 Sep 2013. I just forgot who sent 'em, so I couldn't thank you!

So,
THANK YOU
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 26 September 2013, 08:21:20
I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?

I can send him some, I've got a pile of red and blue DSA caps from my crap bag that aren't going to be good for anything else!

I keep forgetting and rediscovering this thread.

I'm gonna get huffy real soon.

Quote
And I keep getting desperate for a batch. I think these would look VERY good in DSA profile.
Also, I'd love to see transparent keycap, white adhesive, LED under it (for a more evenly diffused light, shouldn't show off the edges as much)

Well, for a clear keycap, it gets the white primer, and then over that there's an adhesive matched to the color of the flocking, so I don't know how much will come through -- but I imagine some light would make it. As for the edges showing less ... I don't know, it seems that the flocking always is a bit thinner at the base of the cap. It doesn't matter what flocking method I use. It's not noticeable unless the undercoating is a different color (visible in the singletons picture I recently posted) ... or if it's lit from behind! The white primer is just a single layer for the latest batch. I'm thinking of starting an IC for my earlier batches, to finance some more flocking.

Quote
If I sent you some DSA caps, would you sand 'em and flock em up? See how the come out in spherical?

Sure, send me a single unit and spacebar from DSA and SA profiles, and I'll try it. Maybe the DSA singletons won't have an actuation issue? Would you mind if I charged you, say, $5 to flock them? The DSA profile doesn't have that high wall at the back of the key that was a problem with the BS singletons. I'll be able to test DCS singletons next to each other by the weekend, to see if there's a problem. For BS singletons I don't think it would be possible without some very tedious masking.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 27 September 2013, 07:10:34
I confirmed this morning that the flocked BS spacebars now actuate without any problems. I need to get some DCS and DSA spacebars made up, but right now SP doesn't appear to have any 6.2 units in stock.

EDIT: Here are three keycaps from the fourth batch. The middle key has black flocking over light green adhesive -- that's why it's a bit weird. The far right one is from the third batch.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 30 September 2013, 12:57:00
I'm pretty happy with my latest batch of keycaps and spacebars! One of the singletons actually was hand-washed by accident, and it was just fine -- maybe even a little bit 'fluffier' for its little adventure. I'll post more by the end of the week.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 01 October 2013, 07:19:32
Batch #5 is:

5 - BS spacebars
18 - BS single units
4 - DCS single units

I spent last night taping and sanding and priming this next batch. It's not my largest batch to date (that was the first, flawed "bathmat" batch) but it's a lot of work, and think these are better. First, everything gets a wash, then when dry I tape the spacebars, then sand the exposed areas, then mount them on their cardboard skids. The single units get sanded on all sides (surface is textured already, so not needed) along with the edges and corners, very lightly.

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

After sanding everything gets a rubdown with a moistened paper towel, then a quick dry, and then I mount them to their skids. The spacebars all get their own skid, but I put multiple single units on a skid. This makes priming and flocking them a lot easier, because you don't have to touch the keycaps, you can just manipulate the cardboard.

I notice some other people paint keycaps -- how do you make the keycap stationary while painting?

When it's time for flocking, the spacebars stay on their skids, but the singletons I cut apart. I do one at a time; coat it with the adhesive, and then electrostatically flock, then set aside. That's for tonight. My breakdown is going to be two black spacebars, one sage green, and two in the magenta color, then six BS singletons of each color, and the four DCS will all be the magenta.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 03 October 2013, 06:50:21
Flocked everything I had last night -- but all of it was flocked in the magenta flocking color because it looked great to me. Pics in a few days.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Thu, 03 October 2013, 10:14:50
I have to say, I have been loving my flocked key...it is holding up well and feels oh so nice to press!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 03 October 2013, 11:29:21
I have to say, I have been loving my flocked key...it is holding up well and feels oh so nice to press!

Glad to hear it Boiler! :) On my Model M, with a flocked spacebar, I don't even usually notice it's flocked... until I stroke the spacebar, ever so gently.

Is that weird? Yeah... yeah it is. Luckily, I don't care.

I realize the BS market is ... somewhat small. After this batch I'm going to focus exclusively on DCS profile stuff. I'm very curious to see if they will work side-by-side on a 'board, or if I'm going to have to try to flock them only partially.

EDIT: In the next week or so I'll be attempting to make a flocked mod set -- spacebar, shift keys, etc. for DCS.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:35:47
Ok, presenting Batch 5:

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 03 October 2013, 17:37:46
^ like velvet :)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 05 October 2013, 08:08:25
Ok, presenting Batch 5:



That is hot!

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: mkawa on Sat, 05 October 2013, 08:44:11
you are so close to the dog car from dumb and dumber it's scary. WHERE'S DEMIK!?!?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Badwrench on Sun, 06 October 2013, 15:19:30
Ok, presenting Batch 5:

Those are sweet!  Where do I sign up? 

As far as painting rigs, this is what I use:
[attachimg=1]

I use 3/4" long #6 screws to "mount" the single keys so that I can paint them all together.  Just a slight turn will mount an mx key without leaving any marking.  The screws are threaded in the box from the inside and as long as you don't keep tightening them, are very stable.  When I paint single keys, I use a round toothpick.  I can then stick it in a piece of cardboard to let it dry. 

[attachimg=2]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sun, 06 October 2013, 15:22:02
Badwrench, very clever -- I like the idea of the screws holding the keys in place.

Here are some pictures of Batch 5 (typing on them now) in place on my Model M silver label. My wife thinks they look "weird".

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: TheFlyingRaccoon on Sun, 06 October 2013, 15:47:59
Badwrench, very clever -- I like the idea of the screws holding the keys in place.

Here are some pictures of Batch 5 (typing on them now) in place on my Model M silver label. My wife thinks they look "weird".

I think they look awesome! I love the purple. Does the flocking interfere with key operation though?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: mkawa on Sun, 06 October 2013, 15:51:15
... until I stroke the spacebar, ever so gently.

this is the first speech bubble sticker page i'm going to print, just fyi
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 07 October 2013, 04:21:06
Badwrench, very clever -- I like the idea of the screws holding the keys in place.

Here are some pictures of Batch 5 (typing on them now) in place on my Model M silver label. My wife thinks they look "weird".

I think they look awesome! I love the purple. Does the flocking interfere with key operation though?

Thank you! The single units function fine, but there is the occasional two keys that don't work side by side, so I either trim them a bit at the bottom or shuffle them a bit. Only the space bar is partially flocked for the sake of actuating better.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 07 October 2013, 06:49:49
... until I stroke the spacebar, ever so gently.

this is the first speech bubble sticker page i'm going to print, just fyi

My flocking prowess is quotation fodder -- I accept this.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:07:51
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:09:21
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



:eek:

sMoOtH Operators
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:15:18
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



:eek:

sMoOtH Operators

(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)

... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:25:23
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



 :o

sMoOtH Operators

(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)

... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).

 :thumb:

black 7x cherry profile if you've got it ;)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:31:54
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



 :o

sMoOtH Operators

(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)

... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).

 :thumb:

black 7x cherry profile if you've got it ;)

... no?  :(
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:32:48
I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



 :o

sMoOtH Operators

(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)

... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).

 :thumb:

black 7x cherry profile if you've got it ;)

... no?  :(

Ok then let me think about it!

Or what do you have?

I could always send you a spacebar to flock for me right?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 08 October 2013, 10:40:49
Ok then let me think about it!

Or what do you have?

I could always send you a spacebar to flock for me right?

Well for now I'm focusing on MX (DCS profile) 6.25 universals. I can definitely do black flocking, that's not a problem. Yeah, if you send me one, I'll flock it.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 11 October 2013, 11:02:58
Nothing to report in a while -- it's very rainy where I am, so I'm focusing on sanding and prep work.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Binge on Fri, 11 October 2013, 13:32:22
bingecaps is secretly in love with this thread and fuzzy keys.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 11 October 2013, 13:49:18
bingecaps is secretly in love with this thread and fuzzy keys.

Thank you sir! Keeping tabs on your stuff as well -- really love those Bear caps! Feels like Christmas.
(http://i.imgur.com/qrKYAGf.jpg)

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: JPG on Fri, 11 October 2013, 13:52:42
Pink is not my kind of color, but pink flocking could make a pimp keyboard!

How is the feel when yo type on it? Rough or soft?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 11 October 2013, 14:06:20
Pink is not my kind of color, but pink flocking could make a pimp keyboard!
The photos I posted have a purplish, sort of 'smoking jacket" color. I was going to call them 'plum', but figured 'merlot' would sound more sophisticated.[/quote]

Quote
How is the feel when yo type on it? Rough or soft?

They feel very, very soft -- but not distractingly so. When I typed on these, I didn't even really notice the difference. Some people are 'the princess and the pea' about keycap materials, switch-feel, etc., but I'm not. The key works, and every now and then (when I'm pretty sure I'm alone) I run my finger across the top, and shudder just a little. Then the keycap rolls over and rolls it's eyes. No, seriously, they feel very good, and they look snazzy to boot.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 11 October 2013, 14:15:19
Some logo ideas! Feedback would be appreciated.
[attach=1]
[attach=2][attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 11 October 2013, 14:21:47
Some logo ideas! Feedback would be appreciated.
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

 I like the cursive smooth and the plush that looks like a hedge ;)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 11 October 2013, 14:31:03
Some logo ideas! Feedback would be appreciated.
(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

 I like the cursive smooth and the plush that looks like a hedge ;)

Yeah that's what I'm leaning towards as well. I can't help looking at the cursive one and humming, "Smooooooth oper-ray-tuh..."
(http://www.thecompleteperformer.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/the-continental2.jpg)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 17 October 2013, 06:22:23
Prep work for QFR case flocking.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 17 October 2013, 06:56:24
:eek: so much flock.....this will be awesome
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 17 October 2013, 07:09:38
:eek: so much flock.....this will be awesome

I'm crossing my fingers. I've got to coat it fast (pre-coated it this time, so the inner walls would match, but not be flocked) and then flock the heck out of it.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 17 October 2013, 07:14:04
:o so much flock.....this will be awesome

I'm crossing my fingers. I've got to coat it fast (pre-coated it this time, so the inner walls would match, but not be flocked) and then flock the heck out of it.

So do you just sprinkle the flocking fibers over things or use a sprayer or what?

I googled and found this

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 17 October 2013, 07:23:22

So do you just sprinkle the flocking fibers over things or use a sprayer or what?

I googled and found this

(Attachment Link)

That's the second route -- the first few sets I did I used an air puffing method. You use a cardboard tube with another slightly smaller tube inside it. The larger tube has some holes poked in it, and when you fill this setup with flocking and then make a pumping motion, the flocking is propelled at whatever surface you want to flock. The one you show here requires an air compressor (which I don't have at home) and is probably for doing something really large, like an automobile interior roof -- but it's still very cool!

I'm using an electrostatic device that model railroad and miniature artists use for coating bases and landscapes with flock to simulate landscapes. It's electrostatic, and there's this metal pin attached to it that makes whatever it is attached to into the 'target' of the field that is created. So the flock "flies" along those field lines, and (hopefully) into the target with more force (and greater density) than air flocking. It's called Scooters Flocking Stick -- right here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Scooters-Static-Stick-Grass-Flock-Applicator-/220774262653

It's a pretty simple device, and there are people online who have hacked flashlight cases into flocking applicators. I'm not an engineer, or even an electrician, so I opted for just getting what I hope is the right tool. I haven't suffered any shocks just yet. There are more professional electrostatic flocking wands out there, but they cost in the hundreds and thousands, so, I'll pass.

So this time around, I've covered my cardboard skid with aluminum foil in the hopes that it will make it a better target for the flock. I need the skid so that I can turn the whole thing around to do the sides as well, and the trick seems to be to put down what seems like way more flock than you actually need. Which is okay, because you can recover the excess flock afterwards. This QFR is going to get the sage-colored flocking. I'm most concerned about the corners of the function row "wells" -- the masking will keep the straight line edges pretty well, but those turns... we'll see. I'm going to get a small brush and just try to be careful -- as quickly as I can, LOL!

No matter how it turns out, I'm excited about trying to flock a case.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sun, 20 October 2013, 09:59:57
My QFR case, immediately after flocking. There's a lot of excess flocking laid down, but that's normal. I'm going to let this sit until Wednesday, and then then I'll let any excess flock fall away and bring it indoor to fully cure. When I first started laying down the adhesive, I was being very careful not to let it drop down into the curved well walls, where the keys come out, but it was very time consuming, and the adhesive is only "open" for maybe 5 minutes. So, I put down a nice coat, maybe a bit more than I needed, and focused on smoothing it out, making it even. Then I flocked it, and here we are.

I don't think the aluminum foil base made a great difference. Maybe it will be different for individual keycaps -- I'm going to try to line the insides with foil on my next attempt.

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

Crossing my fingers, hope I got good coverage.

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 24 October 2013, 08:35:11
^^ That is so cool!!

And just FYI fohat is now in possession of some flocked caps!

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 24 October 2013, 09:02:05
^^ That is so cool!!

Thanks, Ray! Yeah, I pulled off the masking tape, and the frame is still curing. But it looks like it came out pretty well. There are some minor issues, but I think I can fix them. I also do not own a QFR, so I can't test how well it connects with the lower half of the case. I'll post some photos tonight. Maybe I'll sell it; I don't think I should buy another keyboard right now, LOL!

Quote from: SpamRay
And just FYI fohat is now in possession of some flocked caps!

Thanks for sending those along to him -- I'd love to get some feedback from him. Hope they're working for him. How about Snoopy? Did he get the spacebar?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 24 October 2013, 09:05:12
^^ That is so cool!!

Thanks, Ray! Yeah, I pulled off the masking tape, and the frame is still curing. But it looks like it came out pretty well. There are some minor issues, but I think I can fix them. I also do not own a QFR, so I can't test how well it connects with the lower half of the case. I'll post some photos tonight. Maybe I'll sell it; I don't think I should buy another keyboard right now, LOL!

Quote from: SpamRay
And just FYI fohat is now in possession of some flocked caps!

Thanks for sending those along to him -- I'd love to get some feedback from him. Hope they're working for him. How about Snoopy? Did he get the spacebar?

Soon on snoopy I've been lazy :(
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Fri, 25 October 2013, 07:26:47
Ok, here are some pictures of the QFR case, showing where some excess flocking had to be trimmed.

[attach=1]
[attach=2]

Those little edges came off with a sharp scissor for most, and a craft knife for the rest. To be honest, I'm not really all that pleased with the case. During flocking some of the fibers hit the case not as individual particles, but as clumps, and that hurt the consistency of the coverage. Where that happened, the flocking is not soft, it's hard. So, not thrilled with this case. It still feels good for the most part, but I think the other QFR case will get a nice paint job, and then a flocking strip or band as an embellishment, but not a complete treatment.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Badwrench on Fri, 25 October 2013, 23:26:45
Ok, here are some pictures of the QFR case, showing where some excess flocking had to be trimmed.

(Attachment Link)
(Attachment Link)

Those little edges came off with a sharp scissor for most, and a craft knife for the rest. To be honest, I'm not really all that pleased with the case. During flocking some of the fibers hit the case not as individual particles, but as clumps, and that hurt the consistency of the coverage. Where that happened, the flocking is not soft, it's hard. So, not thrilled with this case. It still feels good for the most part, but I think the other QFR case will get a nice paint job, and then a flocking strip or band as an embellishment, but not a complete treatment.

Bummer about the clumps.  On a positive note though, the inside edges have a nice tight line  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Photoelectric on Fri, 25 October 2013, 23:40:15
Once you perfect the technique, you can open a Flocking Shoppe and do all sorts of flocking lengths!  Fuzzed, brushed, or braided!  I still think you need a long-haired flock with a mustache in the center :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Sat, 26 October 2013, 05:25:43
Once you perfect the technique, you can open a Flocking Shoppe and do all sorts of flocking lengths!  Fuzzed, brushed, or braided!  I still think you need a long-haired flock with a mustache in the center :D

I'm considering getting a longish brown and red flock, mixing them, and then having Doogan paint me some caps with bandoliers across them, and then making Wookie 'Caps.

Wookie Caps.

WOOKIE.

CAPS.

 :-X
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 28 October 2013, 13:19:43
Once you perfect the technique, you can open a Flocking Shoppe and do all sorts of flocking lengths!  Fuzzed, brushed, or braided!  I still think you need a long-haired flock with a mustache in the center :D

I'm considering getting a longish brown and red flock, mixing them, and then having Doogan paint me some caps with bandoliers across them, and then making Wookie 'Caps.

Wookie Caps.

WOOKIE.

CAPS.

 :-X


[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 28 October 2013, 14:17:25
I'm working on a batch of 6 DCS profile spacebars -- I'm going to do full coverage and hope it still fits.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 30 October 2013, 14:38:47
Ok, I electro-flocked the six DCS spacebars while at work today (ended up 3 full coverage, and 3 with the partial backside coverage) and did them all in black. It goes with everything, colorwise. Also, for the first time, post-flocking heating! I took an old radiant heater I used for curing digital prints, and set it up to cure these suckers. It will be nice to not have to wait four days without touching these spacebars.

It's all about the touching, after all.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 30 October 2013, 14:43:44
[attachimg=1]

touching is good  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CalmB4tehPwn on Wed, 30 October 2013, 21:00:36
This project is looking great. I'm excited to see it all come together.

Kroegnar, if you're in the mood for a project, I've got a QFR plate on hand that was destined for the garbage. Pick up a phantom PCB for ~$25, and some switches. You're in business. Unless you want the QFR PCB I destroyed on my first desoldering attempt, but you'd be spending more than $25 of your time trying to get all the keys working again.

If nothing else, it could help you sell it. Just pop some switches into the plate and put it in the case for show when you go to sell it.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Photoelectric on Wed, 30 October 2013, 23:57:19
I can just see the sale title:
''Furry Phantom looking for a good home.
- Comes with a built-in hand warmer doubling as a wrist rest and a mouse cozy''  :p
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 06:34:21
This project is looking great. I'm excited to see it all come together.

Kroegnar, if you're in the mood for a project, I've got a QFR plate on hand that was destined for the garbage. Pick up a phantom PCB for ~$25, and some switches. You're in business. Unless you want the QFR PCB I destroyed on my first desoldering attempt, but you'd be spending more than $25 of your time trying to get all the keys working again.

If nothing else, it could help you sell it. Just pop some switches into the plate and put it in the case for show when you go to sell it.

I've been considering finding a QFR to try out these cases on, but I've already got too many keyboards! My wife is going to threatening to start buying purses again in protest. How will I maintain my position of "no new purses" if I buy another keyboard? I was also amazed to discover that almost no one but CoolerMaster makes replacement cases available. Which is a shame -- making those case tops available would unleash a lot of creativity.

Thanks for the offer Calm (also, thanks for your leadership on the Calm Depths GB, sorry I missed out) but I don't have any spare switches lying around. I do enjoy soldering, however! I'm going to be selling the QFR case I flocked at some point -- it won't cost much, as I don't think it's all that great. It's got a spot where it's missing flocking near the arrow cluster (FUUUUUUUUUU!!!) -- which couldn't have been a less conspicuous spot. I'll post some better photos of it soon. It'll be an oddity for someone to try out, as I proselytize for flocking.

Again, I think a single flocked stripe on a case would be cool without being overbearing (or difficult to pull off) -- maybe flocking it around the entire edge of the case? That would work. I just hate sanding entire cases. It's back to flocking spacebars for now!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 07:01:15
My wife is going to threatening to start buying purses again in protest. How will I maintain my position of "no new purses" if I buy another keyboard?

Walk away slowly and don't make eye contact.....that's about the only solution....;)

But really....what if you flocked a GH on a case.....what I had in mind was rough stencil a G and H on a larger part of a case then perhaps somehow magically sand only that area, apply glue/primer whatever it is you put on it to get the flocking to stick and the flock it....just a random early morning though that I will read later and wonder what the heck I was thinking...
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 07:15:47
Walk away slowly and don't make eye contact.....that's about the only solution....;)

Ray... there are purses inside of purses, which are inside other purses! And then there's the mind-numbing differences (Mrs. Krog: "That's not a purse -- it's called a 'clutch'.") and if I don't watch my keyboard purchases all of my financial/moral authority will be gone. GONE. And I will wake up one day inside a giant purse.

Quote from: Ray
But really....what if you flocked a GH on a case.....what I had in mind was rough stencil a G and H on a larger part of a case then perhaps somehow magically sand only that area, apply glue/primer whatever it is you put on it to get the flocking to stick and the flock it....just a random early morning though that I will read later and wonder what the heck I was thinking...

No, that's a fantastic idea. I have access to a vinyl cutter, so I could cut out a decent GH stencil, apply it, and then flock it. I think the adhesive will hold well enough if it's given a nice long period to cure -- like a week. And if you don't attack the flocked design with knives, fingernails, etc. it will hold up nicely. The flocking has masked very well in the past, and flocking something flat is a lot easier.

Very, very doable.

I'm going to unmask my new spacebars towards the end of the day. They got about 2 hours under the curing lamp yesterday, and about 1.5 hours so far today, plus overnight curing. So by 11 am EST they should have about 7 hours under the heat -- plenty of time to shake off the excess flock.

Here they are:

[attachimg=1]

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 07:18:13
Walk away slowly and don't make eye contact.....that's about the only solution.... ;)

Ray... there are purses inside of purses, which are inside other purses! And then there's the mind-numbing differences (Mrs. Krog: "That's not a purse -- it's called a 'clutch'.") and if I don't watch my keyboard purchases all of my financial/moral authority will be gone. GONE. And I will wake up one day inside a giant purse.

Quote from: Ray
But really....what if you flocked a GH on a case.....what I had in mind was rough stencil a G and H on a larger part of a case then perhaps somehow magically sand only that area, apply glue/primer whatever it is you put on it to get the flocking to stick and the flock it....just a random early morning though that I will read later and wonder what the heck I was thinking...

No, that's a fantastic idea. I have access to a vinyl cutter, so I could cut out a decent GH stencil, apply it, and then flock it. I think the adhesive will hold well enough if it's given a nice long period to cure -- like a week. And if you don't attack the flocked design with knives, fingernails, etc. it will hold up nicely. The flocking has masked very well in the past, and flocking something flat is a lot easier.

Very, very doable.

I'm going to unmask my new spacebars towards the end of the day. They got about 2 hours under the curing lamp yesterday, and about 1.5 hours so far today, plus overnight curing. So by 11 am EST they should have about 7 hours under the heat -- plenty of time to shake off the excess flock.

Here they are:



Interested to see how your space bars turn out  :thumb:

My wife doesn't specify she just buys lots of everything....

And what were saying is we could make flocked decals/stickers right?

[attachimg=1]

so you could make me one of these ^^ with a flocked beard  :o
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 07:34:25
And what were saying is we could make flocked decals/stickers right?
(Attachment Link)
so you could make me one of these ^^ with a flocked beard  :o

Well, no, I was saying I could use a cut vinyl sticker as a mask. I could cut something like what you've got there, but I don't see where it would fit on a keyboard! Maybe a 'stache to the left, and then the text to the right? That could work. A flocked sticker should be possible, though. Just make a square and then silk-screen the adhesive down, then flock.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 07:36:17
And what were saying is we could make flocked decals/stickers right?
(Attachment Link)
so you could make me one of these ^^ with a flocked beard  :o

Well, no, I was saying I could use a cut vinyl sticker as a mask. I could cut something like what you've got there, but I don't see where it would fit on a keyboard! Maybe a 'stache to the left, and then the text to the right? That could work. A flocked sticker should be possible, though. Just make a square and then silk-screen the adhesive down, then flock.

Oh...we are past keyboards!!!

flocked decals to stick on everything else... FTW!!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:05:55
It seems that the DCS profile spacebar can be completely flocked, and it will still work on a keyboard. I used my shop vacuum to clean off two of the spacebars, and they work. I'm going to leave the other four to rest, but they look and feel really good!

[attachimg=1]
That's the one I'm using right now.
[attachimg=2]
The spacebar on the top is partially flocked on the back and sides, but fully flocked on the front and top. The next batch will be 100% fully flocked.  :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:08:27
What size are these?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:11:36
What size are these?

6.25 Universals -- they fit my Ducky perfectly.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:16:05
What size are these?

6.25 Universals -- they fit my Ducky perfectly.


What size are these?

6.25 Universals -- they fit my Ducky perfectly.

I've sent out a batch of these guys to Boiler, and we'll see if we can sell them or not. I'm thinking of calling them....

PLuSHcaps and PLuSHbars.

 :blank:

Every PLUSHbar and PLUSHcap comes complete with a smoking jacket and a brandy snifter. (brandy not included)



:eek:

sMoOtH Operators

(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)

... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).

^^ Is that still good?? I'll take one :P
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:34:34
Quote from: Ray
Quote from: Krog
sMoOtH Operators
(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)
... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).
^^ Is that still good?? I'll take one :P

You got it. I'll put this one in the mail.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 11:46:32
Quote from: Ray
Quote from: Krog
sMoOtH Operators
(Krog stops idly spinning his brandy snifter, and let's his monocle drop.)
... I like it! This entitles you to a color customized spacebar (right is transferable).
^^ Is that still good?? I'll take one :p

You got it. I'll put this one in the mail.  :thumb:

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 31 October 2013, 13:40:09
Shipped it. I also tossed in a sage flocked Esc key.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 31 October 2013, 13:41:47
Shipped it. I also tossed in a sage flocked Esc key.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: CPTBadAss on Sun, 03 November 2013, 21:13:50
Krog if these are yours (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=techkeys&utm_content=Bring+Romance+Back+to+the+Keyboard), congratulations are in order!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Sun, 03 November 2013, 21:15:00
They are and CONGRATS!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Photoelectric on Sun, 03 November 2013, 21:20:39
Just saw that e-mail and immediately thought of Krog!  Congratulations  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Swoon on Sun, 03 November 2013, 21:49:48
Just ordered a red flock  ;D Are there going to be any green flocked mx cherry, would go well with my green ducky :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 03 November 2013, 21:57:56
Krog if these are yours (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=techkeys&utm_content=Bring+Romance+Back+to+the+Keyboard), congratulations are in order!

Why does that say "These skull keys are individually crafted ..."?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Sun, 03 November 2013, 22:40:56
Copy / Paste Error :)

Fixed
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: dgreekstallion on Sun, 03 November 2013, 22:50:30
This is freaking awesome. These would look great on my Model F.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 04 November 2013, 04:07:20
Just saw that e-mail and immediately thought of Krog!  Congratulations  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Email! What I signed up for the mailing list but didn't see this.

Guess I need to check again.

Congrats krog!

PS: what happened to calling them smooth operators haha!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 04 November 2013, 06:48:54
Krog if these are yours (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps?utm_source=getresponse&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=techkeys&utm_content=Bring+Romance+Back+to+the+Keyboard), congratulations are in order!

They are and CONGRATS!

Just saw that e-mail and immediately thought of Krog!  Congratulations  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

This is freaking awesome. These would look great on my Model F.

Just saw that e-mail and immediately thought of Krog!  Congratulations  :thumb: :thumb: :thumb:

Email! What I signed up for the mailing list but didn't see this.

Guess I need to check again.

Congrats krog!

PS: what happened to calling them smooth operators haha!

Thanks everyone for the support! I just hope people buy them and love them. I think my favorites so far are the BS spacebars. They came out really great. I'm very curious to see if people enjoy them, so please, if you buy one, let me know what you think. As for calling them "SmoothOperator" keycaps, I didn't brand these at all for Boiler -- I just sent him what I had, so thanks Boiler for doing so much of that legwork. The photographs look great!

... flocking. :D
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:06:13
Also, a photo showing the Mint and Minty-Black BS spacebars (on sale now at techkeys) -- the Minty-Black was my favorite of the bunch.

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Shadovved on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:11:21
Also, a photo showing the Mint and Minty-Black BS spacebars (on sale now at techkeys) -- the Minty-Black was my favorite of the bunch.

(Attachment Link)

Patiently waiting for my orange :))

*twiddles thumb*
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: goobus on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:28:33
These look great.  I want to rub my face and other body parts in them.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:32:19
These look great.  I want to rub my face and other body parts in them.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Shadovved on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:37:36
These look great.  I want to rub my face and other body parts in them.

These may come off with excessive friction, yknow :))

You dont want to flock your other body parts  :p
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 04 November 2013, 08:40:02
Also, a photo showing the Mint and Minty-Black BS spacebars (on sale now at techkeys) -- the Minty-Black was my favorite of the bunch.

(Attachment Link)

Patiently waiting for my orange :))

*twiddles thumb*

Orange will be on the menu eventually. Along with blue.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Melvang on Mon, 04 November 2013, 13:21:23
These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Binge on Mon, 04 November 2013, 13:23:23
Love that these hit techkeys :D  Grats friend!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 04 November 2013, 13:30:46
These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps)

Most of them are :p
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 04 November 2013, 13:47:42
These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps)

Most of them are :p

Yeah, the majority are BS. (Wait, that came out wrong.)

Ray, your spacebar and singleton should arrive today. Feedback, please!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 04 November 2013, 13:56:04
These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

These are AMAZING.  Now we just need flocked caps for BS.

http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps)

Most of them are :p

Yeah, the majority are BS. (Wait, that came out wrong.)

Ray, your spacebar and singleton should arrive today. Feedback, please!

For a minute there I thought you called me a simpleton  :)) :p

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 05 November 2013, 08:00:32
  I'm really liking having a flocked spacebar!!

I think I'd use an entire keyboard full of flocked keys actually :eek:

But I do think the stabilizers on this ducky are little off kilter because not all spacebars that should fit do fit. This one barely did!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 05 November 2013, 08:40:15
  I'm really liking having a flocked spacebar!!

I think I'd use an entire keyboard full of flocked keys actually :eek:

But I do think the stabilizers on this ducky are little off kilter because not all spacebars that should fit do fit. This one barely did!

Glad you're enjoying it!  :thumb: Any issues with the mods to the left or right of the spacebar?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 05 November 2013, 08:55:50
  I'm really liking having a flocked spacebar!!

I think I'd use an entire keyboard full of flocked keys actually :eek:

But I do think the stabilizers on this ducky are little off kilter because not all spacebars that should fit do fit. This one barely did!

Glad you're enjoying it!  :thumb: Any issues with the mods to the left or right of the spacebar?

No issues it's just right up against the left alt but I don't feel any interference, it is close enough a piece of paper won't fit between them.

I'm thinking purple/maroon whatever that color is flocked case with all black flocked caps, call it the Swag board!!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 06 November 2013, 12:29:25
This is freaking awesome. These would look great on my Model F.

Well then go buy one, dammit!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 06 November 2013, 12:36:28
So have I mentioned how much I like this flocked space bar.

I'm really wondering what the deal is because I swear it's even quieter to.

Maybe it's all a placebo.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 06 November 2013, 13:09:46
So have I mentioned how much I like this flocked space bar.

I'm really wondering what the deal is because I swear it's even quieter to.

Maybe it's all a placebo.

You do touch the flocked spacebar once in a while, don't you? I don't mean actuate it (pressing it down), I mean touch it.
I'm making you uncomfortable, aren't I?  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 06 November 2013, 13:12:06
Up next -- MX spacebars, orange flocking on white.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 06 November 2013, 13:12:56
So have I mentioned how much I like this flocked space bar.

I'm really wondering what the deal is because I swear it's even quieter to.

Maybe it's all a placebo.

You do touch the flocked spacebar once in a while, don't you? I don't mean actuate it (pressing it down), I mean touch it.
I'm making you uncomfortable, aren't I?  :thumb:

goosebumps....hairs standing up....tingly feelings.....it's not quite as soft as my new puppy :p
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Shadovved on Wed, 06 November 2013, 20:52:45
Up next -- MX spacebars, orange flocking on white.

WHOOOOOOPIE!

But no BS? :(
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 06 November 2013, 21:05:34
Up next -- MX spacebars, orange flocking on white.

WHOOOOOOPIE!

But no BS? :(

Almost everything is for BS right now. All the flocked spacebars on techkeys are buckling spring.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 12 November 2013, 09:52:18
Hey, Ray, how's that spacebar holding up? My MX is showing some wear on the leading edge. The top is still fluffy, but it seems that on the leading edge there is some loss (or flattening) of the flock. You experiencing anything similar? I will post a photo soon.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 12 November 2013, 10:00:12
Hey, Ray, how's that spacebar holding up? My MX is showing some wear on the leading edge. The top is still fluffy, but it seems that on the leading edge there is some loss (or flattening) of the flock. You experiencing anything similar? I will post a photo soon.

Some slight wear on the EDGE! ;)

Makes it very obvious where I hit the space bar.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]


And the green esc key is still interesting...

[attachimg=3]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 12 November 2013, 10:06:47
First, thanks for posting those, Ray.

Yup, this is exactly what I am seeing as well on my MX. Top feels good, but where the edge is the fibers get worn away. Also, they catch every bit of lint imaginable. The Esc keep is probably going to hold up -- a straight press should be fine. That ESC key looks like a sea cucumber, doesn't it? LOL! I have some orange flocking fibers in rayon (which is what I've been using so far) and some white nylon fibers (slightly longer length). The nylon fibers are for outdoors, mostly for things like duck decoys and custom fly fishing rod handles. But I think wherever you get a hard edge the flock is going to suffer.

I'm thinking maybe my experiment is at a close.  :)

EDIT: For keycaps, anyway.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 12 November 2013, 10:21:54
I know it sounds gross, but to me it's cool, I like to think of the green as mold haha :P

The spacebar is very comfy, it's weird and I like it!

Oddly enough I still think it is quieter, perhaps it just the type of space bar or the fit, I dunno.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Computer-Lab in Basement on Tue, 12 November 2013, 10:23:00
I know it sounds gross, but to me it's cool, I like to think of the green as mold haha :P

That green looks like ganja to me...
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 12 November 2013, 16:05:00
I know it sounds gross, but to me it's cool, I like to think of the green as mold haha :P

The spacebar is very comfy, it's weird and I like it!

Oddly enough I still think it is quieter, perhaps it just the type of space bar or the fit, I dunno.

Or moss - a mossy Esc :)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 12 November 2013, 16:21:27
Actually lets call it 'wasabi'
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 13 November 2013, 09:04:23
Some masking experiments. I used banner vinyl for this, so maybe it wasn't ideal, but I had some spacebars that were useless to me (6 units) and a QFR case that I mutilated, and here are the resulting horrific failures.  :D

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

Behold, my mutant keycaps. The QFR case wasn't so horrible, actually.



Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 13 November 2013, 09:12:56
Abstract keyboard art...nice. :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 13 November 2013, 12:56:38
Meh.

[attach=1][attach=2]

Flocked some spacebars (one aluminum) and one is a white Universal. Coverage was not great. I'm going to wait for Friday, when the weather will not be so bone-numbingly cold. The metal spacebar actually was flocked twice. The first time I got clumped flock on it (invented some new obscenities in the process) and the whole thing had to be dropped into some solvent to clear it off and try again.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: stancato9 on Wed, 13 November 2013, 12:58:46
Meh.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

Flocked some spacebars (one aluminum) and one is a white Universal. Coverage was not great. I'm going to wait for Friday, when the weather will not be so bone-numbingly cold. The metal spacebar actually was flocked twice. The first time I got clumped flock on it (invented some new obscenities in the process) and the whole thing had to be dropped into some solvent to clear it off and try again.

What do you mean meh? That looks awesome!  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 14 November 2013, 12:19:25
What do you mean meh? That looks awesome!  :thumb:

Thanks, but the flock coverage is very uneven compared to my previous spacebars. On the bright side, now that I'm doing this at my workshop, instead of in my garage, it's a lot easier to setup, try new things, and find out what really works. The masking experiments at least proved to me that an ABS spacebar doesn't need any kind of primer. I just roughed up the surface, and the undercoat adhesive holds. So that's one whole step I can now skip, thankfully.

I was able to take the aluminum spacebar and give it a turpentine bath. After a few minutes it shed it's flocking. I washed it, hit it with rubbing alcohol, and then let it dry off completely and flocked it again. Here's the problem: the flocking on the aluminum spacebar was nowhere near as dense as I want it to be.

[attach=1]

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 14 November 2013, 12:33:15
So, I cleaned the aluminum one up (like it was never even flocked) put it on a skid and prepared to flock. For the previous flocking run, everything was electrostatically done. I purchased a hobby flocking unit that generates a charge. To "target" the object you want to flock, you have to put a 't'-pin into the base of the object. Since this particular flocker is mostly for making wargaming models and model railroading, it handles mostly flat substrates.

So I stick the t-pin into the cardboard, and this usually does the trick. The first time I tried flocking the aluminum spacebar I pinned the cardboard and it reacted very strangely. The fibers almost seemed to avoid the spacebar. So this time around, I did this instead:

[attach=1]

Ok, so now I'm hoping the entire spacebar will be charged, and we'll get a nice, dense coating.

[attach=2][attach=3][attach=4]

The last image in that series is the adhesive-coated spacebar. It should be a nice thick coating and as even as you can make it. You also have to flock as quickly as you can after coating, before it "skims over". The wand that holds the flock has a screen placed over the end, and it's shaken over the targeted object. Overall, it seemed to have worked. The flock had some issues with clumping -- it looked for a few moments like I was making orange cotton candy; strands of fibers locking together. :(
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 14 November 2013, 12:35:52
And some post flocking photos of the aluminum spacebar:

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

If you do all this over a plastic bag you can reclaim a lot of the flocking. In order to do it right you have to put down a lot more flocking than you think you
ll need. The excess falls into the bag, which you can then shake until the flock collects in a corner. Then I bunch it up around that corner, and cut off the tip of the bag, and empty it back into the main bag of flock.

It's also important to not jostle the flocked pieces because you could disturb the fibers enough that they'll fall out of the adhesive coating. So the excess removed here is only what will fall off naturally. The rest will remain on the spacebar. I put this guy under a heat lamp for a few hours, and by tomorrow I'll be able to tap off any remaining excess, and I'll see how I did. Crossing my fingers.

EDIT: If this fails to give a good result I may try the air blown flocking method.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 18 November 2013, 08:49:13
Here's one of the orange rayon flocked spacebars on my Ducky:

[attach=1][attach=2]

And this morning I flocked white nylon (slightly longer fibers) to see if there's a better "pile" on them.

[attach=3][attach=4]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 10:43:28
Here's one of the orange rayon flocked spacebars on my Ducky:

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

And this morning I flocked white nylon (slightly longer fibers) to see if there's a better "pile" on them.

(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

^^ those bottom one's are snow caps!

That orange looks like it is waiting for some fingers to come take a nap.

Have I mentioned how insanely cool I think flocked key caps are!

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 18 November 2013, 11:26:15
Have I mentioned how insanely cool I think flocked key caps are!

Thank you, sir.

How's the ganja cap?  :p

EDIT: *gasp* "SNOCAPS!"
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Mon, 18 November 2013, 11:28:09
Have I mentioned how insanely cool I think flocked key caps are!

Thank you, sir.

How's the ganja cap?  :p

I find myself touching it often, I actually use 'esc' quite a bit to cancel commands...
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 18 November 2013, 13:05:21
They're not done curing completely, but after a few hours under the heat lamps, I've just brushed my finger over the new, nylon flocked keycaps --- very nice! The extra length did give them a better pile.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 18 November 2013, 14:41:13
[attach=1][attach=2]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: stancato9 on Mon, 18 November 2013, 20:56:39
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

That cap reminds me of Christmas time.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 19 November 2013, 06:26:38
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

That cap reminds me of Christmas time.

Thanks! I'm not sure how it looks on your monitor, but it's not as brilliant a white as seen in the photos. It's got a creamier sort of color.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: AGmurdercore on Tue, 19 November 2013, 06:47:25
OMG these caps look sooooo awesome! Great job!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 19 November 2013, 06:49:41
OMG these caps look sooooo awesome! Great job!

Thanks! There are a limited number of BS spacebars available on techkeys.us -- also some MX stuff, single unit keys. I'm really, really liking the nylon. I'm doing a big run of these on Friday (warmest day this week remaining in NYC) and letting them cure over the weekend.  :thumb:
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: AGmurdercore on Tue, 19 November 2013, 06:54:00
OMG these caps look sooooo awesome! Great job!

Thanks! There are a limited number of BS spacebars available on techkeys.us -- also some MX stuff, single unit keys. I'm really, really liking the nylon. I'm doing a big run of these on Friday (warmest day this week remaining in NYC) and letting them cure over the weekend.  :thumb:
Yeah i saw them since day one on the website and i follow this thread since day one too. Sadly the total cost of the caps (+shipping) is way out of my range but i support you and i wish you good luck with this!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 19 November 2013, 07:09:21
(Attachment Link) (Attachment Link)

That cap reminds me of Christmas time.

Thanks! I'm not sure how it looks on your monitor, but it's not as brilliant a white as seen in the photos. It's got a creamier sort of color.

I would have a hard time resisting the urge to eat that one.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 19 November 2013, 07:25:56
Here are better photos of the white, compared to unflocked white keycaps:

[attach=1][attach=2][attach=3]

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 19 November 2013, 07:44:24
Krog any thoughts on flocking fibers getting into switches?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Tue, 19 November 2013, 08:31:59
Krog any thoughts on flocking fibers getting into switches?

I've had no issues at all, and I've probably had more flocked keycaps/spacebars than anyone else. The flocking itself resembles (and behaves) like a very fine dust. Which means it cleans up just as dust would -- a vacuum.

I pass each key over a shop vac after a few days to suck off any excess fibers. This is after I gently tap off the excess that will fall off. The suction is so strong that I've actually had a few keys get sucked in -- they survive their adventure unharmed. The fibers don't really seem to come off. The hurdle I had to overcome was getting the undercoating to resist fingernail removal. That's been solved with roughening/cleaning the surface. I thought it was a priming issue -- it was not. Even then, removing the undercoating with a fingernail or a tool takes the flocking with it .

As for flocking coming off the keycaps during usage, I don't think it's a problem. Flocking fibers are used on automobiles, and are highly resistant to wear. Here'a video from a UK company that flocks automobiles.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=323931367737101&set=vb.121796507950589&type=3&theater

It's a video of a flocked car hood being washed.

Also, these fibers are very, very small -- your own body cruft, dandruff, is probably larger. So even if you did have an issue, a quick vacuum (probably what keyboard hobbyists already do normally) would remove any stray fibers. I haven't had an issue with fibers coming loose from keycaps. I even soaked one of my orange keycaps in undiluted turpentine and nothing came off. I removed flocking once from a metal keycap using turpentine, but it required a soak and brush, and another soaking.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Thu, 21 November 2013, 15:00:39
Snowy!

[attach=1]
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 22 January 2014, 08:09:39
Just so people know, if you want to give MX Snowball Flocked keycaps a try, this batch is available for sale here. (http://techkeys.us/collections/artisan/products/flocked-keycaps)
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 22 January 2014, 08:11:39
Krog...I...errr...misplaced that key I was going to send you to flock for me...when I find it I'll let you know.
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 22 January 2014, 08:38:02
These are awesome - I'm using one now and it feels so good!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Wed, 22 January 2014, 08:53:28
Krog...I...errr...misplaced that key I was going to send you to flock for me...when I find it I'll let you know.

(stares at the postbox)

Sure, Ray, I get it.

I kid. No worries -- I'm not flocking around until the springtime anyway. The humidity and temperature are ALL WRONG right now. Also, I've got a few new idea on how to improve my flocking. I'm going to stop using skids altogether and suspend the caps in the air (chopstick painting, woohoo!) or figure out a way to use the skids, but keep the keycaps from resting on them. Also, I might try my hand at building a flocking cabinet, because the larger runs left me literally (proper use of the word, in this instance) covered in flocking fibers.

I highly recommend trying out the white flocked keycaps -- they're my best so far. Nylon fibers on those and slightly longer.

Which one are you using Boiler? The orange one, or the white one?
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Wed, 22 January 2014, 13:13:41
I really like the white one
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 05 May 2014, 06:37:56
I don't think I posted this, but I discovered two things about my latest nylon white flocked spacebars.

1. They get dirty. Finger oil, dust and dirt make them 'grey' or worse over time.
2. A little hand soap and some gentle washing will remove the discoloration!

[attach=1][attach=2]

Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: i3oilermaker on Mon, 05 May 2014, 09:08:01
Good to know!  I've been using mine for a few months now and there is a little dirt accumulation on the left side where my left thumb hits it...I was actually kinda liking the discoloration, but I might try this out.

I can't say enough how much I love a fuzzy spacebar under my thumb!
Title: Re: Keycap Flocking Experiment
Post by: Krogenar on Mon, 05 May 2014, 09:15:15
Good to know!  I've been using mine for a few months now and there is a little dirt accumulation on the left side where my left thumb hits it...I was actually kinda liking the discoloration, but I might try this out.

I can't say enough how much I love a fuzzy spacebar under my thumb!

I was just amazed at how utterly filthy my thumb gets. LOL, glad you're still enjoying the spacebar. I've got to get started on a new enclosure, something a bit more permanent.