Author Topic: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review  (Read 60005 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline ideus

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8123
  • Location: In the middle of nowhere.
  • Björkö.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #50 on: Wed, 05 March 2014, 08:38:40 »
i got a set of these from a fellow geekhacker to test out the DSA profile and i have to say i freaking love it :)

i only installed the main cluster because i don't fancy blanks, so the whole board is gonna be changed up when i get a full DSA set (be it the macross, DSA Hyper Fuse or the Retro)

can't freakin wait :D

Now the macros has almost reached its MOQ and the upcoming PBT gray or charcoal set with sublimated legends is in the making at the IC level. For the pleasure of DSA lovers.

Offline geniekid

  • Posts: 763
  • Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #51 on: Thu, 13 March 2014, 23:55:35 »
I recently installed a set of SP DSA caps on my QFR Red.  The stems do indeed feel a little loose - I had to use saran wrap to get the stabilizer clips to stay in.  Previously I had OEM caps with black landing pads - because these caps are so short the landing pads still work even though the caps have no crossbars.  Since they are so short, however, the loss in travel distance is very noticeable and I decided to not used any dampeners.  Turns out I don't really miss the dampeners because, as mentioned by others, this profile really reduces the rate of bottoming out while typing significantly.

All in all I prefer these caps for gaming, and OEM caps for typing.  I've never tried cherry profile caps or SA profile caps (though that may change as certain GBs enter production :) ).

57389-0
« Last Edit: Fri, 14 March 2014, 00:10:04 by geniekid »

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #52 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 00:28:11 »
I recently installed a set of SP DSA caps on my QFR Red.  The stems do indeed feel a little loose - I had to use saran wrap to get the stabilizer clips to stay in.  Previously I had OEM caps with black landing pads - because these caps are so short the landing pads still work even though the caps have no crossbars.  Since they are so short, however, the loss in travel distance is very noticeable and I decided to not used any dampeners.  Turns out I don't really miss the dampeners because, as mentioned by others, this profile really reduces the rate of bottoming out while typing significantly.

All in all I prefer these caps for gaming, and OEM caps for typing.  I've never tried cherry profile caps or SA profile caps (though that may change as certain GBs enter production :) ).

(Attachment Link)

That's interesting that they were loose, because usually SP DSA keycaps are tight.

In fact SP have a specific FAQ entry about it.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline tbc

  • Posts: 2365
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #53 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 00:34:27 »
mine were loose too.  nothing plastic couldn't fix though.

is this something that happens when moulds get old?
ALL zombros wanted:  dead or undead or dead-dead.

Offline geniekid

  • Posts: 763
  • Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #54 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 17:18:22 »
I recently installed a set of SP DSA caps on my QFR Red.  The stems do indeed feel a little loose - I had to use saran wrap to get the stabilizer clips to stay in.  Previously I had OEM caps with black landing pads - because these caps are so short the landing pads still work even though the caps have no crossbars.  Since they are so short, however, the loss in travel distance is very noticeable and I decided to not used any dampeners.  Turns out I don't really miss the dampeners because, as mentioned by others, this profile really reduces the rate of bottoming out while typing significantly.

All in all I prefer these caps for gaming, and OEM caps for typing.  I've never tried cherry profile caps or SA profile caps (though that may change as certain GBs enter production :) ).

(Attachment Link)

That's interesting that they were loose, because usually SP DSA keycaps are tight.

In fact SP have a specific FAQ entry about it.

Yes, I have read that FAQ entry.  I had assumed I would never get the stabilizer clips out of the DSA keys once they went in since I have a hard enough time pulling them out of my WASD caps.  Imagine my surprise when I found they were too loose! 

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #55 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 23:47:03 »
I recently installed a set of SP DSA caps on my QFR Red.  The stems do indeed feel a little loose - I had to use saran wrap to get the stabilizer clips to stay in.  Previously I had OEM caps with black landing pads - because these caps are so short the landing pads still work even though the caps have no crossbars.  Since they are so short, however, the loss in travel distance is very noticeable and I decided to not used any dampeners.  Turns out I don't really miss the dampeners because, as mentioned by others, this profile really reduces the rate of bottoming out while typing significantly.

All in all I prefer these caps for gaming, and OEM caps for typing.  I've never tried cherry profile caps or SA profile caps (though that may change as certain GBs enter production :) ).

(Attachment Link)

That's interesting that they were loose, because usually SP DSA keycaps are tight.

In fact SP have a specific FAQ entry about it.

Yes, I have read that FAQ entry.  I had assumed I would never get the stabilizer clips out of the DSA keys once they went in since I have a hard enough time pulling them out of my WASD caps.  Imagine my surprise when I found they were too loose! 

Perhaps customer feedback, or perhaps a new demographic, has prompted them to make the stems a little looser.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Pacifist

  • Report me *again* if there are gifs in my sig
  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 3599
  • Location: Cali
  • on hiatus
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #56 on: Fri, 14 March 2014, 23:52:11 »
Hopefully with clears they are snug

Offline jacobolus

  • Posts: 3661
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #57 on: Sat, 15 March 2014, 00:15:32 »
Hopefully with clears they are snug
Not necessarily. Some of them are still kinda loose. Just add a small piece of plastic wrap though, and they work fine.

Offline Hyde

  • Posts: 2643
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • White Tofu Extraordinaire
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #58 on: Wed, 19 March 2014, 23:05:06 »
I actually bought these a long time ago, but never got around to post proper pictures.

So here they are:

:)

58031-0

58033-1

58035-2

58037-3

58039-4

58041-5

58043-6

58045-7

58047-8

58049-9

Archiss ProgresTouch Retro - Gateron Yellow  |  Topre Realforce 104UW - 45g Silent  |  Topre Type Heaven  |  Beige Filco Ninja 104 - MX Red  |  Das Keyboard - MX Brown  |  Poker II - MX Red  |  Race II - MX Brown  |  Matias Quiet Pro - Matias Dampened ALPS  |  Logitech K840 - Romer G  |  Cherry MX Board 2.0 - MX Red  |  Cherry G84-4100 - ML  |  IBM Model M
Roccat Kone Pure  |  Logitech G203  |  Logitech G303  |  Logitech G302  |  Razer Naga  |  CM Storm Xornet  |  Razer Goliathus Mobile Stealth  |  Razer Goliathus Control  |  Artisan Hien  |  Artisan Hayate  |  Artisan Shiden

Offline jacobolus

  • Posts: 3661
  • Location: San Francisco, CA
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #59 on: Thu, 20 March 2014, 05:57:21 »
Sorry to bug you folks. I’m going to try to see if I can use Photoshop trickery to try to make relatively realistic mock-ups of keycap legends (e.g. Matt3o’s upcoming pbt dye-sub group buy).

So I have a favor to ask.

Would someone mind taking a relatively high-resolution picture of an SP DSA keycap from directly above, i.e. with the camera looking straight down on a keycap centered underneath? Ideal would be a gray or white cap surrounded by other same-color caps (i.e. on a keyboard), but some other color (ideally not too dark) would also probably work (and if you know which SP color code, that would be amazing). The best lighting would be relatively diffuse (e.g. from a window facing away from the sun) from a high diagonal angle relative to the keycap. Don’t worry about post processing, I can handle that part.

Even awesomer would be to also get a similar picture of a DCS keycap. But that one’s not at all urgent.

Thanks so much!
« Last Edit: Thu, 20 March 2014, 06:00:52 by jacobolus »

Offline ideus

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8123
  • Location: In the middle of nowhere.
  • Björkö.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #60 on: Thu, 20 March 2014, 10:08:20 »

Offline Hyde

  • Posts: 2643
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • White Tofu Extraordinaire
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #61 on: Fri, 21 March 2014, 10:49:59 »
Sorry to bug you folks. I’m going to try to see if I can use Photoshop trickery to try to make relatively realistic mock-ups of keycap legends (e.g. Matt3o’s upcoming pbt dye-sub group buy).

So I have a favor to ask.

Would someone mind taking a relatively high-resolution picture of an SP DSA keycap from directly above, i.e. with the camera looking straight down on a keycap centered underneath? Ideal would be a gray or white cap surrounded by other same-color caps (i.e. on a keyboard), but some other color (ideally not too dark) would also probably work (and if you know which SP color code, that would be amazing). The best lighting would be relatively diffuse (e.g. from a window facing away from the sun) from a high diagonal angle relative to the keycap. Don’t worry about post processing, I can handle that part.

Even awesomer would be to also get a similar picture of a DCS keycap. But that one’s not at all urgent.

Thanks so much!

I'll try to see if I can get this done for you this weekend.  :)

This is keyboard porn. Now I want my new PBT DSA set, yes now!

Haha thanks, glad you like it.  Time to visit Signature Plastics' website then lol.

Archiss ProgresTouch Retro - Gateron Yellow  |  Topre Realforce 104UW - 45g Silent  |  Topre Type Heaven  |  Beige Filco Ninja 104 - MX Red  |  Das Keyboard - MX Brown  |  Poker II - MX Red  |  Race II - MX Brown  |  Matias Quiet Pro - Matias Dampened ALPS  |  Logitech K840 - Romer G  |  Cherry MX Board 2.0 - MX Red  |  Cherry G84-4100 - ML  |  IBM Model M
Roccat Kone Pure  |  Logitech G203  |  Logitech G303  |  Logitech G302  |  Razer Naga  |  CM Storm Xornet  |  Razer Goliathus Mobile Stealth  |  Razer Goliathus Control  |  Artisan Hien  |  Artisan Hayate  |  Artisan Shiden

Offline Angrychair

  • Posts: 29
  • Location: Saint Louis Missouri USA
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #62 on: Wed, 16 April 2014, 23:22:32 »
I installed my SP DSA's today, I like them, but they are really hard to remove.  thankfully I have the wired keypuller, but can you describe jiggling a little better?  Jiggling like left and right twisting motion while pulling?  My keyboard has plate mount switches, do I have to worry about ripping a switch off my board?

Sprit60      Poker II      Code                  Corsair K70

Offline ideus

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8123
  • Location: In the middle of nowhere.
  • Björkö.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #63 on: Wed, 16 April 2014, 23:33:03 »
First hand experience report on DSA caps: I received my DSA new caps out of the Skull Sq. Set GB yesterday. I installed them in my FC660M (plate mounted) with browns with no issue. I removed them from the FC and installed them in my Poker X (PCB mounted) again with no issues. The caps fit the stems on both boards properly, perfect fit. Just for the record.

Offline KaLam1ty

  • Posts: 88
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #64 on: Thu, 17 April 2014, 00:32:06 »
My guess is that the general mass produced DSA have lower tolerance?
Seems like of all of the GB DSA, people don't have problems.

Offline ideus

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8123
  • Location: In the middle of nowhere.
  • Björkö.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #65 on: Thu, 17 April 2014, 00:35:38 »
My guess is that the general mass produced DSA have lower tolerance?
Seems like of all of the GB DSA, people don't have problems.


Some of the stock caps may be old stock, while GB caps are recent manufacturing runs. Thus, old ones may have some issues that were fixed in recent runs.

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #66 on: Thu, 17 April 2014, 01:13:52 »
The tightness is part of the design.

See SP FAQ #22: http://keycapsdirect.com/faq.php#22

Apparently the tolerances have been relaxed a bit for these new group buys.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Angrychair

  • Posts: 29
  • Location: Saint Louis Missouri USA
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #67 on: Sat, 19 April 2014, 02:07:11 »
good to know, guess I'll be really careful if/when I pull them off.  Does my key switches being plate mounted make it any more or less safe?

Sprit60      Poker II      Code                  Corsair K70

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #68 on: Sat, 19 April 2014, 02:11:56 »
good to know, guess I'll be really careful if/when I pull them off.  Does my key switches being plate mounted make it any more or less safe?

Nope.

Unless ... being plate-mounted might give the switches a bit more stability; PCB-mounted might be slightly more fragile.  But only slightly.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Txduck

  • Posts: 80
  • Location: Texas
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #69 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 03:26:05 »
As for loose stems, I use plumber's tape and it seems to do the trick:  http://kitchenbathroomfixtures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/teflon_tape.jpg  .......

I can't speak from experience yet, but that Teflon tape sounds like a great idea! That should work good on a less than snug fit.  :thumb:
« Last Edit: Sun, 20 April 2014, 05:28:35 by Txduck »

Offline FreeCopy

  • * Destiny Supporter
  • Posts: 667
  • Location: AZ, US
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #70 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 06:42:19 »
As for loose stems, I use plumber's tape and it seems to do the trick:  http://kitchenbathroomfixtures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/teflon_tape.jpg  .......

I can't speak from experience yet, but that Teflon tape sounds like a great idea! That should work good on a less than snug fit.  :thumb:

That is exactly what I used and it's been working great.
Keyboards
More
Poker II | Leopold fc500r | Bolt Modded M 1391401 x2 08NOV90 - 19NOV90 | FK-2001 White Alps Clones | Filco MJ2 104Bolt Modded SSK 1391472 27JUL87 | Winkeyless B.87 TKL | MiniVan GateReds 62g

Offline Txduck

  • Posts: 80
  • Location: Texas
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #71 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 19:24:41 »
As for loose stems, I use plumber's tape and it seems to do the trick:  http://kitchenbathroomfixtures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/teflon_tape.jpg  .......

I can't speak from experience yet, but that Teflon tape sounds like a great idea! That should work good on a less than snug fit.  :thumb:

That is exactly what I used and it's been working great.

Cool! How did you apply it, did you try and wrap the stem or just laid a piece over the top before inserting the key or ??
« Last Edit: Sun, 20 April 2014, 19:33:41 by Txduck »

Offline KaLam1ty

  • Posts: 88
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #72 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 21:47:13 »
As for loose stems, I use plumber's tape and it seems to do the trick:  http://kitchenbathroomfixtures.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/teflon_tape.jpg  .......

I can't speak from experience yet, but that Teflon tape sounds like a great idea! That should work good on a less than snug fit.  :thumb:

That is exactly what I used and it's been working great.

Cool! How did you apply it, did you try and wrap the stem or just laid a piece over the top before inserting the key or ??

Normally how I do it is I cut a small square just less than a 1cm2 and lay it on the
"x" of the switch. Then just press the cap over on top of it. The size doesn't have to be perfect, but it shouldn't be too small that it just gets stuck on the top inside of the stem.

Ripster had a good visual on how to do it with scotch tape:

Offline geniekid

  • Posts: 763
  • Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #73 on: Sun, 20 April 2014, 23:22:27 »
I put small pieces of saran wrap over the switch and stick the cap on.  I go as big as 2x2cm since a lot of it ends up in the stem and that makes it easier to remove if/when I want to switch out the cap.

Offline Txduck

  • Posts: 80
  • Location: Texas
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #74 on: Mon, 21 April 2014, 04:32:40 »
Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it.   :thumb:

Offline Johan

  • Posts: 241
  • Location: Stockholm, Sweden.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #75 on: Sat, 26 April 2014, 12:30:44 »
I'm really considering buying a set of gray with red mods. Does anyone know how the red they use compares to filcos red case? I thought green or blue might work otherwise.
Edit: Would it look awful with the dcs ISO keys?
« Last Edit: Sun, 27 April 2014, 04:53:16 by Johan »
Uh, stuff.

Offline sebk

  • Posts: 9
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #76 on: Tue, 29 April 2014, 15:24:59 »
Those look pretty neat. Sometimes I hate living in Europe :/

Offline ideus

  • * Exalted Elder
  • Posts: 8123
  • Location: In the middle of nowhere.
  • Björkö.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #77 on: Mon, 09 June 2014, 08:14:31 »
DSA top's typing area is a little smaller than cherry and its equivalents. So you should type in an accurately way than when using other profile caps, just my cent to add to this review.

Offline Hyde

  • Posts: 2643
  • Location: Toronto, Canada
  • White Tofu Extraordinaire
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #78 on: Tue, 10 June 2014, 12:11:28 »
Yeah I find when I first got it I keep hitting the keycap edge, you eventually get used to it but I think I still prefer cylindrical top than spherical top.

Oh and plumber's tape works too.  (Those white wrap that you use to wrap the joint before you screw in any pipe)

Archiss ProgresTouch Retro - Gateron Yellow  |  Topre Realforce 104UW - 45g Silent  |  Topre Type Heaven  |  Beige Filco Ninja 104 - MX Red  |  Das Keyboard - MX Brown  |  Poker II - MX Red  |  Race II - MX Brown  |  Matias Quiet Pro - Matias Dampened ALPS  |  Logitech K840 - Romer G  |  Cherry MX Board 2.0 - MX Red  |  Cherry G84-4100 - ML  |  IBM Model M
Roccat Kone Pure  |  Logitech G203  |  Logitech G303  |  Logitech G302  |  Razer Naga  |  CM Storm Xornet  |  Razer Goliathus Mobile Stealth  |  Razer Goliathus Control  |  Artisan Hien  |  Artisan Hayate  |  Artisan Shiden

Offline Aidenknives

  • Posts: 208
  • Location: U.S.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #79 on: Sat, 12 July 2014, 11:48:10 »
Quick question. Do these keycaps go anywhere on your board as long as the size is correct? Basically the row doesn't matter just the key sizes? I ordered a standard set and a modifier set for my poker so I just want to know before they ship considering they are blanks.

Offline geniekid

  • Posts: 763
  • Location: Chicago, IL
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #80 on: Sat, 12 July 2014, 11:50:14 »
Quick question. Do these keycaps go anywhere on your board as long as the size is correct? Basically the row doesn't matter just the key sizes? I ordered a standard set and a modifier set for my poker so I just want to know before they ship considering they are blanks.

That is correct.

Offline Aidenknives

  • Posts: 208
  • Location: U.S.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #81 on: Sat, 12 July 2014, 11:55:22 »
Quick question. Do these keycaps go anywhere on your board as long as the size is correct? Basically the row doesn't matter just the key sizes? I ordered a standard set and a modifier set for my poker so I just want to know before they ship considering they are blanks.

That is correct.
Okay thanks! And damn, those F and J keys seem to really bulge from the board. I suppose since I am using them on a poker I could probably just use two regular caps instead if I don't like them.

Offline Sklarzo

  • Posts: 3
  • Location: Long Island
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #82 on: Mon, 14 July 2014, 12:34:37 »
So I actually received my bag of these keys from SP today and tried them out on my Das. Got the base/modifier/numpad sets in white/green.

Took the numpad keys out to put on my keyboard and was pretty unhappy to see lots of little pieces of plastic sticking off of the edges of all the keys, like you see in cheap plastic toys.  Then I realized that the Enter, + and 0 keys were all different sizes. I was able to put the + and Enter keys on, but the 0 key would not fit at all.

So far, just going by the numpad keys I got (will inspect the rest when I get home) I am not very impressed

Edit:
The spacebar is severely bent and chipped along the edges. Seriously unhappy with the quality of these keys
« Last Edit: Mon, 14 July 2014, 12:57:07 by Sklarzo »

Offline Aidenknives

  • Posts: 208
  • Location: U.S.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #83 on: Mon, 14 July 2014, 15:23:26 »
So I actually received my bag of these keys from SP today and tried them out on my Das. Got the base/modifier/numpad sets in white/green.

Took the numpad keys out to put on my keyboard and was pretty unhappy to see lots of little pieces of plastic sticking off of the edges of all the keys, like you see in cheap plastic toys.  Then I realized that the Enter, + and 0 keys were all different sizes. I was able to put the + and Enter keys on, but the 0 key would not fit at all.

So far, just going by the numpad keys I got (will inspect the rest when I get home) I am not very impressed

Edit:
The spacebar is severely bent and chipped along the edges. Seriously unhappy with the quality of these keys
Wow that is horrible. I would contact them. Mine just shipped out today and if mine come in a similar condition I will definitely be contacting Signature Plastics...

Offline iLLucionist

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 2734
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Topre is Love.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #84 on: Wed, 16 July 2014, 05:34:18 »
Thinking about ordering these, but some questions:

- Given they're low profile, can I still fit o-rings?
- What does 'DSA' mean, doubleshot? I always thought DSA means 'Double Shot ABS', but it's PBT.
- How's the spacebar considering it's PBT? Is it ok?
- Does low profile keys mean it reduces travel a bit? Or is that completely dependent on the switch?
MJT2 Browns o-rings - HHKB White - ES-87 Smoke White Clears - 87UB 55g

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #85 on: Wed, 16 July 2014, 05:43:08 »
Thinking about ordering these, but some questions:

- Given they're low profile, can I still fit o-rings?
- What does 'DSA' mean, doubleshot? I always thought DSA means 'Double Shot ABS', but it's PBT.
- How's the spacebar considering it's PBT? Is it ok?
- Does low profile keys mean it reduces travel a bit? Or is that completely dependent on the switch?

- Yes.
- Just the family - describes the general shape of the keycap.  I'm not sure that it actually stands for anything.
- Mine are both fine.
- Nope - doesn't affect the switch operation at all.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ

Offline Mooby

  • Posts: 160
  • Location: Germany
  • Funployee
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #86 on: Wed, 16 July 2014, 06:19:51 »
Regarding the spacebar: shape is very good. I was expecting much more warping on this key, but stabilisers are very loose with my one. Practically not usable without saran/when you don't hit it in the middle because it will get stuck on one side.

Offline rowdy

  • HHKB Hapster
  • * Erudite Elder
  • Posts: 21175
  • Location: melbourne.vic.au
  • Missed another sale.
Re: Signature Plastics DSA Keycap Review
« Reply #87 on: Wed, 16 July 2014, 06:22:32 »
Regarding the spacebar: shape is very good. I was expecting much more warping on this key, but stabilisers are very loose with my one. Practically not usable without saran/when you don't hit it in the middle because it will get stuck on one side.

Loose stabilisers (Costar stabiliser inserts?) is not a problem.  I prefer them looser because I can easily put a bit of tape or plastic in to make it tighter.  But tight ones are just a complete pain to get out, and I have nearly lost fingernails trying to get a couple out, not to mention tales of people breaking them by trying to lever particularly obstinate ones out with something metal.
"Because keyboards are accessories to PC makers, they focus on minimizing the manufacturing costs. But that’s incorrect. It’s in HHKB’s slogan, but when America’s cowboys were in the middle of a trip and their horse died, they would leave the horse there. But even if they were in the middle of a desert, they would take their saddle with them. The horse was a consumable good, but the saddle was an interface that their bodies had gotten used to. In the same vein, PCs are consumable goods, while keyboards are important interfaces." - Eiiti Wada

NEC APC-H4100E | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED red | Ducky DK9008 Shine MX blue LED green | Link 900243-08 | CM QFR MX black | KeyCool 87 white MX reds | HHKB 2 Pro | Model M 02-Mar-1993 | Model M 29-Nov-1995 | CM Trigger (broken) | CM QFS MX green | Ducky DK9087 Shine 3 TKL Yellow Edition MX black | Lexmark SSK 21-Apr-1994 | IBM SSK 13-Oct-1987 | CODE TKL MX clear | Model M 122 01-Jun-1988

Ị̸͚̯̲́ͤ̃͑̇̑ͯ̊̂͟ͅs̞͚̩͉̝̪̲͗͊ͪ̽̚̚ ̭̦͖͕̑́͌ͬͩ͟t̷̻͔̙̑͟h̹̠̼͋ͤ͋i̤̜̣̦̱̫͈͔̞ͭ͑ͥ̌̔s̬͔͎̍̈ͥͫ̐̾ͣ̔̇͘ͅ ̩̘̼͆̐̕e̞̰͓̲̺̎͐̏ͬ̓̅̾͠͝ͅv̶̰͕̱̞̥̍ͣ̄̕e͕͙͖̬̜͓͎̤̊ͭ͐͝ṇ̰͎̱̤̟̭ͫ͌̌͢͠ͅ ̳̥̦ͮ̐ͤ̎̊ͣ͡͡n̤̜̙̺̪̒͜e̶̻̦̿ͮ̂̀c̝̘̝͖̠̖͐ͨͪ̈̐͌ͩ̀e̷̥͇̋ͦs̢̡̤ͤͤͯ͜s͈̠̉̑͘a̱͕̗͖̳̥̺ͬͦͧ͆̌̑͡r̶̟̖̈͘ỷ̮̦̩͙͔ͫ̾ͬ̔ͬͮ̌?̵̘͇͔͙ͥͪ͞ͅ