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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: rowdy on Sat, 19 October 2013, 02:39:36

Title: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 19 October 2013, 02:39:36
We have a couple (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=6827.0) of threads (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=27755.0) already about swapping keyboards.

How often do you swap keycaps on the keyboard you are using (full sets or just customs)?

Full sets: I tend to keep a set on until I get a new set to replace it.

Customs: These I put on when I get them, keep them for a week or two, and then swap for something else I found in my collection.  Every now and again I will revert to all stock caps (or all caps from whatever set is on there at the time).
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: yearn4 on Sat, 19 October 2013, 05:08:05
I don't like swapping. I will use my cherry ds sets until they become as shiny as the sun!
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Austin Powers on Sat, 19 October 2013, 05:28:36
Once in a lifetime. Unless there is corrosion or undefined situation. If it's sweat stain, maybe I wash it but I'm not swapping to another brand new ones because they're thick pbt.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: snoopy on Sat, 19 October 2013, 05:30:01
I normally only swap clacks (on esc position)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Martyr on Sat, 19 October 2013, 05:40:37
Don't have any key sets, but swap novelty's in and out nearly everyday. Depends how I'm feeling.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 19 October 2013, 05:42:30
Heh just sitting back and waiting for someone to say "I never switch keycaps, I just buy a new keyboard to put the new keycaps on" ;) :))
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Austin Powers on Sat, 19 October 2013, 06:08:33
Heh just sitting back and waiting for someone to say "I never switch keycaps, I just buy a new keyboard to put the new keycaps on" ;) :))

That's my dad, I persuade him to change those keycaps and he says "why buy $95 thick pbt keycaps when you can change them?"
He's not a touch-typist though, so he doesn't know how various types of keycap construction works. I wanted to change mine because ABS grips my finger and prevents them from sliding to another key to actuate the other keystroke.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sat, 19 October 2013, 06:18:17
Whenever a new GMK set comes out ;)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: terran5992 on Sat, 19 October 2013, 06:22:26
When i feel bored
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 19 October 2013, 15:16:03
Whenever I find GMK for cheap.

Hasn't happened yet.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: LaugeGregers on Sat, 19 October 2013, 15:17:27
I've not replaced my keys with a full set yet, though I do like to swap customs when I get bored/annoyed, which is around once a month.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Pacifist on Sat, 19 October 2013, 15:28:19
Swap every day
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: YoungMichael88 on Sat, 19 October 2013, 15:36:42
I keep my poker and LZGH pretty much the same all the time but I swap novelties on my Vomit race that I take to work and back all the time. Also when I would watch an episode of Breaking Bad, that set would go into my page up/down cluster on my LZGH until the end of the episode then it switched back to all klaxon.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Niomosy on Sun, 20 October 2013, 02:17:15
Thus far, never.  Then again, I have none to swap around.

Yet.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 20 October 2013, 02:19:31
Thus far, never.  Then again, I have none to swap around.

Yet.

You will ... you will ... ;)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Niomosy on Sun, 20 October 2013, 03:27:19
Thus far, never.  Then again, I have none to swap around.

Yet.

You will ... you will ... ;)

I accept this fate.  The Dasher 200 color scheme calls to me.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: cherpalla on Fri, 25 October 2013, 13:24:45
Heh just sitting back and waiting for someone to say "I never switch keycaps, I just buy a new keyboard to put the new keycaps on" ;) :))

.... I thought this was everyone............................................................ :-[
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Kabuks on Fri, 25 October 2013, 14:28:22
Rarely I usually just buy another board when I get a new keyset.  :thumb:
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: metalliqaz on Fri, 25 October 2013, 14:32:03
I swap keycaps after every keystroke.  This post took 45 minutes to compose.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Phedran on Fri, 25 October 2013, 14:46:08
Just swapped a couple keys for the first time yesterday. Added a WASD cluster to my Leopold to mitigate the additional wear and staining, and a red Esc just cause.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Hyde on Fri, 25 October 2013, 18:29:49
Just whenever I buy new sets I guess.  So I'll use it until the next set arrives.

Though I don't buy keycap set that frequent so probably twice a year or so.  :D
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Fri, 25 October 2013, 19:17:07
I went through my keycap box the other day and found a few keycaps I forgot I had, so I swapped one or two of them onto my current board.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Fri, 25 October 2013, 20:23:32
Like almost never, and when I do it's usually just some other color modifier or wasd or something. I have this white on black Cherry set on my daily that I've been using for a few years now, that has followed 3 keyboards. They are all shiny and slick... and I have several other Cherry sets that are like new sitting in boxes mostly on other keyboards I don't use. I just can't be bothered :))
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 26 October 2013, 00:30:33
Like almost never, and when I do it's usually just some other color modifier or wasd or something. I have this white on black Cherry set on my daily that I've been using for a few years now, that has followed 3 keyboards. They are all shiny and slick... and I have several other Cherry sets that are like new sitting in boxes mostly on other keyboards I don't use. I just can't be bothered :))

Also sounds like you have found a set that you are happy with.

The BumbleBee set is close for me (especially being yellow), but I'm eager to see what the PBT dyesub R2 set is like.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: frogamic on Sat, 26 October 2013, 19:35:48
I rearrange and swap my novelties as a form of procrastination
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: ctbear on Sun, 27 October 2013, 13:24:07
Usually when I feel the caps are getting dirty and I need to clean them...since I have to take them all out anyways I might as well switch to another set.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 27 October 2013, 13:27:07
swapping caps is bad for the switch/solder joint/pcb   whole keyboard in general...   You don't do this unless you HAVE TO..

Unless you don't love your keyboard... (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 27 October 2013, 14:13:42
swapping caps is bad for the switch/solder joint/pcb   whole keyboard in general...   You don't do this unless you HAVE TO..

Unless you don't love your keyboard...
Show Image
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif)


That's the sort of thing I was wondering about (http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=49060.0).
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 27 October 2013, 14:29:44
swapping caps is bad for the switch/solder joint/pcb   whole keyboard in general...   You don't do this unless you HAVE TO..

Unless you don't love your keyboard... (https://lh3.ggpht.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif) (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif)


[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: tp4tissue on Sun, 27 October 2013, 15:05:49
swapping caps is bad for the switch/solder joint/pcb   whole keyboard in general...   You don't do this unless you HAVE TO..

Unless you don't love your keyboard... (https://lh3.ggpht.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif) (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0RYo1nA-RNU/TdU3AShORxI/AAAAAAAADjU/6rDlHFLKffs/s1600/tuzki71.gif)


[attachimg=1]

If you love your keyboard... then you must stop
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Sun, 27 October 2013, 15:26:03
Maybe I hate my keyboard and want it to suffer...
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: xmagusx on Mon, 28 October 2013, 15:54:26
If you hate it, just hang it on the wall of your local community college with a sign above it reading "how many words per minute can you twerk?"

In answer to the OP's question, I have not swapped mine yet, I expect to do so when I find something better than the set included with my ErgoDox group buy at a not insane price.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: romevi on Tue, 14 May 2019, 22:19:40
6 months.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: SpAmRaY on Tue, 14 May 2019, 22:21:34
Whenever a new GMK set comes out ;)
This didn't age well, haven't bought a GMK set since.

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: phinix on Wed, 15 May 2019, 20:45:10
I think every 3-4 months. When I get bored with the set.
I used to have 4 keyboards, but sold most of them and now have two. I think I have 6 sets of SA and one retro Cherry.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: ArchDill on Wed, 15 May 2019, 21:49:01
I think every 3-4 months. When I get bored with the set.
I used to have 4 keyboards, but sold most of them and now have two. I think I have 6 sets of SA and one retro Cherry.

When I find a set that I like, I will stick with it for quite a bit. I used Skeletor for a solid two years. I have been using WoB quite a bit.

On my hhkb, I swap about every two months.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 15 May 2019, 21:57:45
I went through my keycap box the other day and found a few keycaps I forgot I had, so I swapped one or two of them onto my current board.

I went through my storage unit the other day and found boxes of keycaps I forgot I had.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Sintpinty on Thu, 16 May 2019, 05:37:23
I can't swap keycaps since most of them do not ship to canada  :(
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Gabbzan on Sat, 25 May 2019, 16:47:31
i've never swapped keycaps except artisans :/
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Bahm78 on Mon, 03 June 2019, 02:55:28
When I was first interested, I changed often, but ...
It's very annoying now. Even if I buy a new one, I don't change it.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 04 June 2019, 22:04:45
i've never swapped keycaps except artisans :/

I like the OEM look of some keyboards.  Of course, other keyboards have atrocious keycaps that are asking to be changed.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 04 June 2019, 22:05:10
When I was first interested, I changed often, but ...
It's very annoying now. Even if I buy a new one, I don't change it.

I've swapped a couple around recently - I find it somewhat relaxing :)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: DivineElegy on Sun, 09 June 2019, 16:11:40
i don't swap very often but i've ordered a ton of different keycap sets lately so we'll see :p
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: ARKEYS on Fri, 14 June 2019, 23:16:18
When i feel bored

could't agree more  ;D
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: phinix on Sat, 15 June 2019, 07:58:04
For some reason I get bored every few months.
I noticed lately I have put away my favourite Realforce with SA Carbon and I've been using GMMK ISO TKL with Tealios v2 and retro Cherry white and beige.

I thought I would never like RGB keyboards, but this GMMK looks so nice, colors set to wave motion and even with non-transparent caps, it looks nice. Maybe I'm getting old... ;)
Only thing that bugs me with this GMMK is that it has opened/uncovered switches - I don't like it, I prefer full bodied case/chassis.
So lookign forward to my lately ordered KBD8X Mk2. Will solder in those Tealios and put on purchased GMK Space Cadet.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 15 June 2019, 20:21:12
why are we posting in this 6 year old thread
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Sifo on Sat, 15 June 2019, 20:29:34
haven't swapped the lz-s' caps in like 6 years :) only added some more clacks.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: ideus on Sat, 15 June 2019, 21:29:23
I don't like swapping. I will use my cherry ds sets until they become as shiny as the sun!


+1 for og cherry ds until they shine as diamonds.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: phinix on Mon, 17 June 2019, 10:51:35
why are we posting in this 6 year old thread

cause its interesting to see how often peeps swap their caps:)
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: yuppie on Mon, 17 June 2019, 11:06:33
Probably around every two months I'll rotate out one set for another. It's usually tied to getting new artisans and wanting to match different colors together.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 23 June 2019, 22:11:49
why are we posting in this 6 year old thread

New members, new insights, and established members becoming accustomed to their keyboards.

I find myself swapping keycaps less often than I used to, although having had most of my sets in a remote storage facility for more than a year may have contributed a bit.
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: bz on Sat, 29 June 2019, 18:39:26
Only when i need to clean my keyboard
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: Sintpinty on Tue, 02 July 2019, 15:41:43
Only when i need to clean my keyboard

Same
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: richfiles on Wed, 03 July 2019, 15:11:38
Heh just sitting back and waiting for someone to say "I never switch keycaps, I just buy a new keyboard to put the new keycaps on" ;) :))

Buy a new keyboard!?!?
Grabs a custom plate from my pile and my soldering iron

... Then never gets it properly programmed, cause my feature set is beyond my programming knowledge
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 03 July 2019, 22:10:09
Only when i need to clean my keyboard

And how often is that?
Title: Re: How often do you swap keycaps?
Post by: SmithHovie on Fri, 23 August 2019, 21:50:44
when i dieded  :cool: