PBT keycaps on older keyboards

[zippox]

Is there a way to tell if the keycaps on an older board are PBT? Has ABS basically always been the standard?

[Pacifist]

acetone, salt water test

[zippox]

acetone, salt water test

So what's a socially acceptable way for me to find out if I were looking at a keyboard at a garage sale?

[Lastpilot]

PBT sink like rocks in water. Link

So I guess you could grab a cup of water at the garage sale and test it lol.

[Pacifist]

at a garage sale, there's really no point in differentiating whether or not the caps are PBT

all you need to do is take off a key and see if its mechanical. I really doubt somebody is trying to get a lot of money out of a board at a yard sale, and thus will price it really cheap. If its a mech, buy it no matter if its abs or pbt. If its PBT but not a mech, what are you wasting your time for, you won;t be able to use it on any mechs

[zippox]

at a garage sale, there's really no point in differentiating whether or not the caps are PBT

all you need to do is take off a key and see if its mechanical. I really doubt somebody is trying to get a lot of money out of a board at a yard sale, and thus will price it really cheap. If its a mech, buy it no matter if its abs or pbt. If its PBT but not a mech, what are you wasting your time for, you won;t be able to use it on any mechs

Are there any old-school keyboards that have caps that aren't pull-off-able? I.e. is it a safe bet if I try to rip of the Esc key that I won't break it?

[Pacifist]

at a garage sale, there's really no point in differentiating whether or not the caps are PBT

all you need to do is take off a key and see if its mechanical. I really doubt somebody is trying to get a lot of money out of a board at a yard sale, and thus will price it really cheap. If its a mech, buy it no matter if its abs or pbt. If its PBT but not a mech, what are you wasting your time for, you won;t be able to use it on any mechs

Are there any old-school keyboards that have caps that aren't pull-off-able? I.e. is it a safe bet if I try to rip of the Esc key that I won't break it?

most boards should be able to pull off the keys. I do not know of any mech that doesn't, hell even all the RDs are easily removeable

[rowdy]

Just carry around a keycap remover, preferably a wire one, when you visit such sales.

Less risk of damage to the keyboard if you decide not to buy it.

[jacobolus]

most boards should be able to pull off the keys. I do not know of any mech that doesn't, hell even all the RDs are easily removeable

Take this with a grain of salt. There certainly exist types of switches/keycaps which are relatively easy to break if you aren’t careful when removing the caps. Many keycaps will pop off pretty easily with a keycap puller (or a pair of paper clips, or a butter knife, ...), but if you’re getting a lot of resistance, don’t just yank on it full strength. :-)

[fohat.digs]

There are compatible keycaps on rubber dome keyboards, sometimes PBT. There are doubleshots out there as well. For example, first-generation Apple Design Keyboard and Gateway 2000 Anykey have nice caps.

Carrying around a keycap puller is a good idea. Be especially careful if you think that it is Space Invaders, those springs fly away in a blink.