BPA / Heavy Metals Testing

[Current Keyboards]

So I'm curious if anybody has done BPA / Heavy Metal testing on their keyboard runs. I'm about to run a group buy with a built in wrist rest and am a little bit concerned about BPA from polycarb as I know it has been an industry issue from my drinkware designing days. I'm not too familiar with anodizing toxicity though. I imagine there are no concerns there as the outer layer is just aluminum oxide and they make food ware all the time with it. I know testing is an astronomical $2000+ plus a few sample pieces for each material so I definitely don't think I'll have the cheese to drop ~$12k just to get everything tested.

Anybody have thoughts on this? I wouldn't be worried if the users weren't in direct skin contact for maybe a few hours a day. It's not food though so I don't really know where this falls on the "worry-o-meter"

[Leslieann]

BPA is a concern with ingestion, not skin contact. Anodizing is even less a concern.
In both cases, so long as you don't grind it up and dust it in your drink you're fine.

[nevin]

...or put it in the microwave

[Leslieann]

...or put it in the microwave

But those make everything better!

[nevin]

...or put it in the microwave

But those make everything better!

was just giving a reason some of the plastics may have been flagged in the testing. not only gassing out during manufacturing, but when warmed up in a microwave.

[Leslieann]

...or put it in the microwave

But those make everything better!

was just giving a reason some of the plastics may have been flagged in the testing. not only gassing out during manufacturing, but when warmed up in a microwave.

It was meant to be silly.

[nevin]

i know. just clarifying for other readers, there was a reason for my little smart@ssed comment.

[Current Keyboards]

I know BPA from people who handle plastic receipt paper is an issue so I know skin contact can cause problems. Might just leave polycarb off the list for now to play it safe. Don't know how they'd handle that much wear anyway.

Anodizing I have very little worry about.

[Current Keyboards]

This also shoots my cereal bowl / polycarb keyboard combo case in the foot unfortunately.

[nevin]

This also shoots my cereal bowl / polycarb keyboard combo case in the foot unfortunately.

Split keybaord with the bowl in the middle.... Sounds like a great idea! Does it come with a robotic spoon arm?

[bananasplit_00]

I know BPA from people who handle plastic receipt paper is an issue so I know skin contact can cause problems. Might just leave polycarb off the list for now to play it safe. Don't know how they'd handle that much wear anyway.

Anodizing I have very little worry about.

So no Polycarb hatchets then? Not that im buying one because i dont like 60%:s but that was def the sexiest version imo

[Current Keyboards]

I know BPA from people who handle plastic receipt paper is an issue so I know skin contact can cause problems. Might just leave polycarb off the list for now to play it safe. Don't know how they'd handle that much wear anyway.

Anodizing I have very little worry about.

So no Polycarb hatchets then? Not that im buying one because i dont like 60%:s but that was def the sexiest version imo

It's a 65% now. I may still do it. Looking into BPA free polycarb. I think with the polycarb I'm also a bit worried the matte finish might wear down to look somewhat shiny after years of use. I would feel bad selling somebody a $485 keyboard that looked like crap after a year or two.

[Leslieann]

I know BPA from people who handle plastic receipt paper is an issue so I know skin contact can cause problems.

Never heard of that (I just looked into it).
To be fair it would depend on how the case was built as to whether there would be much if any contact but since you want a wrist wrest, I agree I do think I'd avoid it just to be safe.

As for how it looks in two years, avoid using clear and whites, the rest tend to do better.