failed RIT dye keycap experiment :(

[BossBorot]

I just took the plunge to my abs mouse to wipe out the logitech logo. It worked out well at 140-150 F so I threw in the default keycaps off of my numpad as well to match my minimalist engraved pbt keyboard while maintaining the right keys in the right place unlike my previous setup.



for reference here is what the mouse looked like before along with the numpad when it had engraved pbt instead.



Also here is the difference between black engraved pbt black dyed on the left and stock on the right.

[hashbaz]

BossBorot, I think you're the first person to report successfully dying ABS.

[hashbaz]

?  No.  Another trick is to use a bit of acetone to let the dye soak in better.

I've heard of that working on ABS in other contexts (yo-yos I think it was).  But has anyone on geekhack actually dyed ABS keycaps without warping them?  I think BossBorot is the first.

[hashbaz]

Oh, derp, I knew that.  They're kind of a special case though because they're so thick.  BossBorot, your numpad keys are standard thin Filco ABS right?  How long were they in the water?

[lorem3k]

?  No.  Another trick is to use a bit of acetone to let the dye soak in better.

I thought that only worked with PBT. :lever:

[dorkvader]

I thought that only worked with PBT. :lever:

Yes, I was wondering about the acetone thing: Isn't that bad for ABS?

[lorem3k]

Yes. Only dye PBT with acetone. Use a 2:1 ratio of acetone:dye. Definitely won't wreck your PBT caps, no siree. Don't question it just do it.

[BossBorot]

Oh, derp, I knew that.  They're kind of a special case though because they're so thick.  BossBorot, your numpad keys are standard thin Filco ABS right?  How long were they in the water?

less than two hours but around that time frame. It took at least an hour to get the dye into the pad printing before they seemed at all different. To be honest I threw them in as an afterthought after the mouse came out well.

Also I am not 100% sure that the keycaps off of the numpad are abs as their texture is closer to my pbt engraved keycaps then my old ninja abs set. However I do know that my mouse was abs as it was stamped on the inside.