Wood Poker/Pure/GH60 case, a work in progress.

[nubbinator]

If you can't tell already from my wooden wrist wrests and key cap pullers, I love woodworking.  So I decided to undertake another woodworking project, this time a wooden 60% case. 

Update

The case is now done.  Here's the pics:









It's not 100% perfect and has a few small flaws, mostly with the lining, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.  It looks sexy, simple, and classy and is a one of a kind unique case that no one else has.  It definitely was a fun little project and I'm thinking about maybe making a couple more, this time without a lining.



Original Post:  So far, I have the case made up, but I'm waiting on some more supplies to arrive before I install the standoffs, make a hole for the USB cable, finish the case, and line the interior.  This is what it looks like so far:







Once the standoffs come in the mail, I can drill the holes for them and expoxy them in place, then mark out the hole for the USB hole and cut/drill it out.  Following that, it's finishing the wood, maybe installing a thin edge of purpleheart in the interior lip, and either flocking or leather lining the inside of the case.

[rowdy]

That looks brilliant!  Does it change the sound of the keyboard much?

[SpAmRaY]

Awesome!

[nubbinator]

I haven't had a chance to type with it in it yet.  I have to install the standoffs and cut the USB hole first.  I just dropped the keyboard in to give and idea.  I imagine it should dampen it a little, especially once I have the liner in it.

[kenmai9]

It looks very good so far man.

[germy]

Absolutely beautiful. Love the attention to detail with the wooden feet.

[nubbinator]

Absolutely beautiful. Love the attention to detail with the wooden feet.

They're probably my favorite part.  I may play around and make some in different woods.

[Smeagol_RP]

Just perfect. Now...

[nubbinator]

Just perfect. Now...

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Sorry, I'll probably only be making this one and one or two more in different woods for myself.  They're pretty time intensive to make.

[Smeagol_RP]

Just perfect. Now...

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Sorry, I'll probably only be making this one and one or two more in different woods for myself.  They're pretty time intensive to make.

No problem. One day you'll have to sell it.  ;D

Just kidding.

[SpAmRaY]

Nubs you should make one to match that Wood rest you made!

I would love a phantom case like this!

[Photekq]

That looks really nice nubbinator. I'm afraid I'm just not a very big fan of wood as a material

[nubbinator]

Nubs you should make one to match that Wood rest you made!

I would love a phantom case like this!

Poplar with a redheart or purpleheart strip or purpleheart or redheart with a poplar strip could look nice with it.

That looks really nice nubbinator. I'm afraid I'm just not a very big fan of wood as a material

It's love it or hate it.  I wanted something different and like it.

[rurushu]

Nubbinator, your wood work never ceases to impress me, your wooden keypuller and wrist rests, they're awesome, and now your wooden case... they're just 

what will you make with wood next? keycaps?

[nubbinator]

Nubbinator, your wood work never ceases to impress me, your wooden keypuller and wrist rests, they're awesome, and now your wooden case... they're just 

what will you make with wood next? keycaps?

You mean like this?

[Sent]

That wood cap is so nice.  Nubs, you wouldn't happen to be taking any special requests or orders for those would you?

[TheSoulhunter]

Soon: The "How to remove termites from my keyboard'" guide

[rowdy]

LOL I thought that was a cheese keycap )

[SeriouSSpotS]

That is pretty cool.

[SpAmRaY]

LOL I thought that was a cheese keycap )

Edible key caps .....that would be a never ending business strategy.......they always would be buying more.....brb.....gonna need some cheese, dry ice, shipping containers and web store.....

[rurushu]

very nice woodwork nubs! forgot that i saw your wood keycap before 

need more love for wood works!

[Smeagol_RP]

What if you make a case with wrist rest? One piece.

[rurushu]

What if you make a case with wrist rest? One piece.

you mean like SS 7G's style? that would be awesome!!!

[Smeagol_RP]

What if you make a case with wrist rest? One piece.

you mean like SS 7G's style? that would be awesome!!!

Kind of, not exactly that giant thing.  )

This one that he made would be great: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46803.0

[rurushu]

What if you make a case with wrist rest? One piece.

you mean like SS 7G's style? that would be awesome!!!

Kind of, not exactly that giant thing.  )

This one that he made would be great: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=46803.0

haha... that one is nice... curled maple...

[nubbinator]

Soon: The "How to remove termites from my keyboard'" guide

Only if someone messes the finish up.  It will be sealed in polyurethane, so its nice and protected from buggers.

LOL I thought that was a cheese keycap )

Nope, Pau Amarello.  It's a beautiful yellow wood.

What if you make a case with wrist rest? One piece.

That was actually something I was thinking about.  The hard part is figuring out how to do it and how to do it safely.  The one way I can think of safely doing it right now would be incredibly time intensive.

That wood cap is so nice.  Nubs, you wouldn't happen to be taking any special requests or orders for those would you?

I'm not since they take more time than it's worth, but I may do some from time to time.

[Thimplum]

Nubbinator, your wood work never ceases to impress me, your wooden keypuller and wrist rests, they're awesome, and now your wooden case... they're just 

what will you make with wood next? keycaps?

You mean like this?

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nice

[nubbinator]

And update of case in action.  I'll get some proper shots of it all once I get the suede leather lining in.  I was also playing around with what cap I liked best for the Esc key, hence why there are several photos that have very little difference between them.





[img]http://i.imgur.com/bKnROwy.jpg">>

[evolyn]

awesome !!!

[rurushu]

And update of case in action.  I'll get some proper shots of it all once I get the suede leather lining in.  I was also playing around with what cap I liked best for the Esc key, hence why there are several photos that have very little difference between them.

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[img]http://i.imgur.com/bKnROwy.jpg">>

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the wristrest is just awesome...

[Badwrench]

Looks great with all 3 of the esc. keys.  Nice work 

[jdcarpe]

You know you cannot just go around making beautiful cases like this. It causes too much jelly, and everyone will want one.

[YongJK]

does wood casing absorb much of the shock/vibration when typing ?

[nubbinator]

the wristrest is just awesome...

Thanks, it's Pau Amarello.  It looks even sexier with my Cyan QFR.

Looks great with all 3 of the esc. keys.  Nice work 

Thanks, though I think the first one is my favorite.

You know you cannot just go around making beautiful cases like this. It causes too much jelly, and everyone will want one.

Nothing's stopping anyone else from making their own

I may make a few more for sale if there's enough interest, but they take more time to make than I'd care to admit. It is a fun little project though.  I was planning on making another with curly maple, pau amarello, sappelle, canarywood, or something like that since this first one was by and large a learning project.  I have some red gum lying around that I may use for a second.  The trick is figuring out what wood to pair it with for the feet.

does wood casing absorb much of the shock/vibration when typing ?

It's a pretty solid little case.  It feels a little more solid to me than typing in the stock Pure/Poker case, but that could also be from swapping out the stock Pure caps.  It also doesn't hurt that I have silicone pads in holes I drilled to size on the bottom of the wooden feet on the back of the case.  That helps dampen it more and helps hold the keyboard in place without ruining the look of the case.

[nubbinator]

And updated the OP with new pics of the finished product.

[nubbinator]

Starting of a prototype of a second style of wood 60% case I wanted to try and make.  I'm still debating if I want a rounded foot or if I want disc style feet like I have on the one I made of poplar.  This one may or may not be suede lined as well.  It depends on how I feel about it once I make the case.

This one is done in Red Gum and Purpleheart and I may be making another two in Walnut and Padauk and Red Gum and Padauk.

[SpAmRaY]

Thats sweet nubs!!

[Thimplum]

Starting of a prototype of a second style of wood 60% case I wanted to try and make.  I'm still debating if I want a rounded foot or if I want disc style feet like I have on the one I made of poplar.  This one may or may not be suede lined as well.  It depends on how I feel about it once I make the case.

This one is done in Red Gum and Purpleheart and I may be making another two in Walnut and Padauk and Red Gum and Padauk.

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Nice...

[nubbinator]

Thats sweet nubs!!

I can also turn it into a "travel case" easily if I want to by making a matching top piece that I can have either secured with clasps or hinged and clasped.  I may also try a glue up style one of these with a band of wood down the middle back of the case.

[SpAmRaY]

Thats sweet nubs!!

I can also turn it into a "travel case" easily if I want to by making a matching top piece that I can have either secured with clasps or hinged and clasped.  I may also try a glue up style one of these with a band of wood down the middle back of the case.

roll top bro!!

[Photekq]

Starting of a prototype of a second style of wood 60% case I wanted to try and make.  I'm still debating if I want a rounded foot or if I want disc style feet like I have on the one I made of poplar.  This one may or may not be suede lined as well.  It depends on how I feel about it once I make the case.

This one is done in Red Gum and Purpleheart and I may be making another two in Walnut and Padauk and Red Gum and Padauk.

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That's the first wooden keyboard accessory that I actually want. I absolutely love it!

[nubbinator]

roll top bro!!

More

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That would be pretty ridiculous, but I'd think I'd have to build a mechanism for the keyboard to lift up to make that work.  It would be absurd and fun, just too much work.

That's the first wooden keyboard accessory that I actually want. I absolutely love it!

Thanks, I do try and make fun and sexy stuff out of wood.  It's a fun little project.  A lot of work, but fun.  I'm planning on a few more color combos and it will be a simple drop in case.  I'll probably be making two Red Gum and Purpleheart cases and one Red Gum and Padauk case or just one of each if someone hits me up for a clamshell travel case.  I have some Walnut that I might do a case with as well.

And I figured I might as well post a pic of the unfinished matching wrist wrest:



I did a Purpleheart inlay instead of a glue up. It's a little more work, but it makes for a stronger piece and it's a little cheaper materials cost wise. 

And who knows, I may do a case and complementary wooden key set at some point.  It would be a fun little addition to the wood cases.

[nubbinator]

Teaser of the new case:




There are a few more with different woods, just posting the one matched case and wrist wrest.

[Puddsy]

:O

Very nice!

[sprit]

Wood, I love You Woods ! 

[nubbinator]

Thanks.  They're a bit of work, but fun to make.

Here's a case/wrist wrest combo I'm making for Cottonsox and am almost done doing:

[Cottonsox]

Looks awesome!!

[Badwrench]

Absolutely beautiful.  Love the look of the heavy grain with the dark accents.  I would love to see one of these done in Walnut. 

[nubbinator]

Absolutely beautiful.  Love the look of the heavy grain with the dark accents.  I would love to see one of these done in Walnut.

You're in luck.  I'm finishing up a pair of Walnut ones, one with Purpleheart accents and one with Padauk accents.

[Badwrench]

Absolutely beautiful.  Love the look of the heavy grain with the dark accents.  I would love to see one of these done in Walnut.

You're in luck.  I'm finishing up a pair of Walnut ones, one with Purpleheart accents and one with Padauk accents.

Nice!  I have really come to love the look of walnut lately.  My parents are doing a massive remodel and have done over 50 linear ft. of custom walnut cabinets/island.  In addition, my Dad has made all of the bedroom furniture out of solid walnut. 

Here is a portion of it:

[catnipz0098]

Are you going to make more?

[Puddsy]

Are you going to make more?

I know factually that there are going to be at least 5 of these in existence (all styles). I would assume for the right price nubs would make more.

I hope he makes more, they look great.

[nubbinator]

Are you going to make more?

I've made two Red Gum and Purpleheart (one is on the way to kenmai), an Ash an Purpleheart (soon to be on the way to cottonsox), a Walnut and Padauk, and a Walnut and Purpleheart and am making a lidded case for TacticalStache, but outside of those, I'm not really planning on making more.  I might be willing to, but I like doing small runs.

[nubbinator]

Necroing my own post since I didn't want to make a new topic.

I decided I wanted to try something a little different.  Unlike my previous cases that had a palm rest and a case as two separate parts, I decided to make one that has an integrated palm rest.

This is purpleheart and paduak and will be a rich red and dark dark purple when finished.  Currently they the case has been sanded down to 1000 grit.  I'll be drilling the hole in the back for the USB cable, using a jig to drill holes for the standoffs, and then trimming up and seating the foot.  After that comes the finishing and the really hard part, deciding if I'm going to go Alps or MX and what cap set to use with it.




I also decided to try something a little different and put an angle on each side of the palm rest.  This enables a slightly more natural wrist position when my hands rest on the rest.



Edit:  Noticed this had been in the media thread instead of making things together.  Oh well.

[Air tree]

I really love all these exotic colour woods, it just ruins it for me to know that they will turn a dark brown or some such colour with age. 


Anyways, nice work nubs. 


now you have to make a wooden HHKB case.

[nubbinator]

I really love all these exotic colour woods, it just ruins it for me to know that they will turn a dark brown or some such colour with age. 


Anyways, nice work nubs. 


now you have to make a wooden HHKB case.

Depending on how it's finished, it doesn't have to change.  If you avoid oil finishes and use a finish that will retard oxidation (any kind of hard finish), you can keep the vibrant colors for much longer.  I have some pau amarello that's still a sexy shade of yellow.

I think I might do one in figured maple with a two tone dye job to get it looking really sexy.  Something nice and tacky to get it ready for Manly Unicorn.

[inanis]

Necroing my own post since I didn't want to make a new topic.

I decided I wanted to try something a little different.  Unlike my previous cases that had a palm rest and a case as two separate parts, I decided to make one that has an integrated palm rest.

This is purpleheart and paduak and will be a rich red and dark dark purple when finished.  Currently they the case has been sanded down to 1000 grit.  I'll be drilling the hole in the back for the USB cable, using a jig to drill holes for the standoffs, and then trimming up and seating the foot.  After that comes the finishing and the really hard part, deciding if I'm going to go Alps or MX and what cap set to use with it.

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I also decided to try something a little different and put an angle on each side of the palm rest.  This enables a slightly more natural wrist position when my hands rest on the rest.

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Edit:  Noticed this had been in the media thread instead of making things together.  Oh well.

This looks great! Did you notice that the Padauk swells up at all? I've found that it has a tendancy to do that. I love the combo of the purpleheart and padauk. Padauk is something I've only recently started seeing more of, and that vibrant red/orange color it has is amazing.

Great work. 

[nubbinator]

No swelling that I noticed.  I gave it a couple of weeks to get acclimated to my work area.  It's a weird wood though since it has large pores.  It's hard, but can chip if you're not careful when cutting it across the grain.  You also need to wipe it really well with mineral spirits since the pores will clog with sawdust.

One of my favorite woods is bloodwood, but it's so damn hard to work with.  Verawood is another favorite, but the same problem.

[inanis]

Those damn pores! You are so right. I had issues with the swelling when I  wasn't careful while applying the finish. It soaked it up and swelled up the first time worked with it. I wasn't happy since it was part of an inlay. 

Bloodwood is hard, like super hard, if I recall correctly. Similar to Zebrawood (which I love). I know with zebrawood it dulls my blades out pretty quick - even quicker than purpleheart. I'm guessing bloodwood is similar.

[nubbinator]

Bloodwood is the hardest wood I've ever worked with.  I turned a piece and it took so much force and time to turn, made worse by the constant need to hone the edge.  It's a pain to finish because it's so hard.  You don't really need to oil it or do anything else, but you have to sand it perfectly down to 1000 or greater or every imperfection shows.

[Pwner]

Damn, that one piece case/rest is beautiful!

What do you use on the inside to mount the pcb to?

[nubbinator]

Damn, that one piece case/rest is beautiful!

What do you use on the inside to mount the pcb to?

I have a jig for drilling standoff holes and various height standoffs to try and make the plate flush with the case.  I usually cork line the base.  I may also suede line the case or flock it.

[Pwner]

Damn, that one piece case/rest is beautiful!

What do you use on the inside to mount the pcb to?

I have a jig for drilling standoff holes and various height standoffs to try and make the plate flush with the case.  I usually cork line the base.  I may also suede line the case or flock it.

Ah, thanks.  I can't wait to see that finished. 

[nubbinator]

Still deciding if I want to do MX or Alps in it, but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.  There are some small flaws, but I was going for proof of concept over perfection.  I couldn't find the cork I usually use in cases, so I tried a new one.  It was definitely a much lower quality cork, but it did the job.  I may still flock it, but I think I like the simple cork only filler.

The wood was sanded to 1000 grit and finished with oil and then a coat of paste wax on top of that.  Normally I would use Deft Danish oil, but it disappeared on me and I had to use the inferior Watco.  A quick wipe down with mineral spirits after it was allowed to soak in some did seem to make it a little less awful.




It's hard to tell, but the integrated palm rest has a curve to it.  It's almost perfectly centered.  This allows me to rest my palms on the case at a more natural slightly angled position.




The foot is a routered piece of purple heart that's glued in place.  I can't tell you the exact angle it gives the case, but I believe it's around 7 degrees.  The USB hole was drilled and filed to size and shape.




I've noticed in the past that the plain brass standoffs can be problematic, so I decided to try something new.  I found some nylon spacers, bored them out to the right size since they were a little too narrow, then cut them and sanded them down to size.  I slipped them over standoff after I seated it and slipped an o-ring on top of the spacer and around the standoff.  This should give it a nice snug fit against the PCB that should make it more solid feeling while also protecting the PCB.




And placeholder PCB.  The plate is nice and flush with the case.  I used 8mm standoffs that are anchored in roughly 3mm deep holes.

[njbair]

Where was purple heart ten years ago? I grew up on a steady diet of New Yankee Workshop and the like, and I never heard of purple heart or padauk. Now it seems to be all the rage.

[keshley]

Where was purple heart ten years ago? I grew up on a steady diet of New Yankee Workshop and the like, and I never heard of purple heart or padauk. Now it seems to be all the rage.

My dad was putting purple heart strips, amongst other woods, in cabinets about 20 years ago. Maybe it took some time to become popular on the east coast?

[nubbinator]

Better pics to come, but I love the combo.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, clear MX stems, 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, lubed with Krytox, with the Cyan GMK set.

[Yoe]

Better pics to come, but I love the combo.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, clear MX stems, 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, lubed with Krytox, with the Cyan GMK set.

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Daeumn this looks good! Also, clever thing with the standoffs.

[nubbinator]

And finished.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with Krtox lubed MX Clears with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, and 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, with the Cyan GMK set and one of the GMK Esc caps from Ivan's buy.

[frosty]

Nice, keep up the good work pal!

[crayzieap]

And finished.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with Krtox lubed MX Clears with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, and 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, with the Cyan GMK set and one of the GMK Esc caps from Ivan's buy.

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Looks great!

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[3K]

And finished.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with Krtox lubed MX Clears with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, and 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, with the Cyan GMK set and one of the GMK Esc caps from Ivan's buy.

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Man, that color is just WOW! Love your work.

[romevi]

Ha ha, cute.

[kenmai9]

nice

[romevi]

And finished.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with Krtox lubed MX Clears with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, and 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, with the Cyan GMK set and one of the GMK Esc caps from Ivan's buy.

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That's a real beaut right there.

[Badwrench]

And finished.  FaceW PCB (but the damn Fn key doesn't work) with Krtox lubed MX Clears with AboStudio clear tops, purple switch stickers, and 67g springs, blue (cyanish color) anodized plate, with the Cyan GMK set and one of the GMK Esc caps from Ivan's buy.

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That's a real beaut right there.

As good as the the pictures are, feeling the finish of the case in person really shows off nubbinators talent. 

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