Author Topic: I got my first custom cap today (Read 5061 times)

hudson0804 · « **on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 05:15:42 »

It may be of no interest but i need to tell someone who understands.

I got my first custom keycap today.

Its nothing flash or even remotely rare but its a start.

You could say i popped my cherry (mx)

For interest, it was this - http://www.inet.se/produkt/6606608/ducky-nordic-the-ancient-metal-cap-cherry-mx#/specs

Thanks

H

fanpeople · « **Reply #1 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 05:21:04 »

Hey

That key looks pretty cool, have you ever considered the church of HHKB

?

hudson0804 · « **Reply #2 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 05:35:52 »

Quote from: fanpeople on Mon, 26 October 2015, 05:21:04

Hey

That key looks pretty cool, have you ever considered the church of HHKB ?

I certainly would like to hear more of this church you speak of

CaplockJack · « **Reply #3 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 09:04:25 »

Who is the Artisan?

hudson0804 · « **Reply #4 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 10:16:26 »

Quote from: CaplockJack on Mon, 26 October 2015, 09:04:25

Who is the Artisan?

I assume this question is to me.

I have no idea, i purchased it form that exact link on a Swedish website.

Can in the post several weeks later.

I assume they're just mass produced but i thought he looked cool.

H

Aengus · « **Reply #5 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 10:37:18 »

Congrats! Those are pretty cool looking caps. I am looking forward to getting my first custom caps myself. Which of the three skulls did you get?

hudson0804 · « **Reply #6 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 11:34:41 »

I went with this one.

The ancient.

Butter · « **Reply #7 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 11:51:01 »

It look pretty good, nice price as well. Too bad can't get it in US.

My_Thoughts · « **Reply #8 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 11:53:52 »

That's a nice cap

swimmingbird · « **Reply #9 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 11:55:25 »

Man that metal has a really nice finish to it
Congrats on the cap

mrgoldenzombie · « **Reply #10 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 22:54:13 »

How much in USD was it?

1swt2gs · « **Reply #11 on:** Mon, 26 October 2015, 22:55:34 »

Not my taste but congrats on your first artisan!

hudson0804 · « **Reply #12 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 03:50:15 »

Quote from: mrgoldenzombie on Mon, 26 October 2015, 22:54:13

How much in USD was it?

Roughly about $35 plus shipping on top.

SploogeFactory · « **Reply #13 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:09:14 »

Quote from: hudson0804 on Tue, 27 October 2015, 03:50:15

Quote from: mrgoldenzombie on Mon, 26 October 2015, 22:54:13
How much in USD was it?

Roughly about $35 plus shipping on top.

Damn dude, that's pretty expensive considering it being mass produced as well, but I guess the material comes in as a factor. Looks good quality though

hudson0804 · « **Reply #14 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:17:45 »

Yeah its fairly weighty too - which worries me as I'm guessing its not good for the switch.

But considering the cost of some of the artisans and then additional getting them to the uk, it didn't sting too much.

suicidal_orange · « **Reply #15 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:30:06 »

Very nice, there should be more designs with trans eyes. Where are you putting it? Would look great on a red LED, more spooky than blue

The key with artisans is to try and buy two or more at once so the shipping for each isn't so expensive, and wait for the £ to be worth more $ (Thursdays are usually good, no idea why

) Oh and try and get the declared value down to $20 or less to avoid import tax... (Binge, Booper, Bro, HKP, KatzenKinder, Krytone and Nubbinator all do this, as will most private sellers. Can't speak for Punks or any others as I've not been lucky yet)

Good luck expanding your collection, if you choose to!

rowdy · « **Reply #16 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:39:33 »

You don't see a lot of Ancients around.

Congratulations on your acquisition

You realise it's a downward slide from here - you'll keep wanting less, but seeing all those nice pictures and then suddenly having to have this keycap, or that keycap set ...

hudson0804 · « **Reply #17 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 05:34:54 »

Quote from: suicidal_orange on Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:30:06

Very nice, there should be more designs with trans eyes. Where are you putting it? Would look great on a red LED, more spooky than blue

The key with artisans is to try and buy two or more at once so the shipping for each isn't so expensive, and wait for the £ to be worth more $ (Thursdays are usually good, no idea why ) Oh and try and get the declared value down to $20 or less to avoid import tax... (Binge, Booper, Bro, HKP, KatzenKinder, Krytone and Nubbinator all do this, as will most private sellers. Can't speak for Punks or any others as I've not been lucky yet)

Good luck expanding your collection, if you choose to!

At the moment its my escape key, I have a ducky shine 3 board with Blue LED so sadly not going to be red unless i man up and start soldering.. My intention was to get 4 of them and use them as the function keys as most sets (non ducky) don't come with caps to cover the four function keys in the top right corner.

I originally wanted to purchase 4 brobots, but the price scared me off a little, this fell into my lap as i spend a lot of time in Sweden so getting things shipped usually doesn't cost a fortune.

There are three designs form ducky Nordic from what i understand but there seems to only be two available - if it would be in the communities interest i could see about getting some into the UK without a shipping cost (i.e. wait for my next visit) and then ship form the UK to the US - but logistics may be an issue I'm not sure.

Either way, thanks for the kind comments, i will most definitely be adding to the collection, i haven't stopped oodling over the HHKB's since they've been mentioned ...

SploogeFactory · « **Reply #18 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 05:50:54 »

Quote from: hudson0804 on Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:17:45

Yeah its fairly weighty too - which worries me as I'm guessing its not good for the switch.

But considering the cost of some of the artisans and then additional getting them to the uk, it didn't sting too much.

Yeah true, shipping's a *****

Glenmael · « **Reply #19 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 06:22:03 »

Quote from: rowdy on Tue, 27 October 2015, 04:39:33

You don't see a lot of Ancients around.

Congratulations on your acquisition

You realise it's a downward slide from here - you'll keep wanting less, but seeing all those nice pictures and then suddenly having to have this keycap, or that keycap set ...

My problem exactly!

Also, very nice to see another Melbournite on here

ripwallet · « **Reply #20 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 07:46:07 »

Welcome buddy, let it begin

seville57 · « **Reply #21 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 08:01:24 »

Quote from: CaplockJack on Mon, 26 October 2015, 09:04:25

Who is the Artisan?

You can read about it here: http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&jsonp=vglnk_144595063366112&key=7777bc3c17029328d03146e0ed767841&libId=ig9dmg7l01000kb5000DAkzn9cgjw&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.overclock.net%2Ft%2F1431044%2Fofficial-the-ducky-club&v=1&out=http%3A%2F%2Fdeskthority.net%2Fmarketplace-f11%2Fducky-nordic-keyboards-keycaps-projects-and-misc-stuff-t4718.html&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.overclock.net%2Ff%2F373%2Fkeyboards&title=%5BOfficial%5D%20The%20Ducky%20Club!&txt=Ducky%20Nordics%20info%20thread%20on%20Deskthority

hudson0804

All 4 on a Swedish webshop:

http://www.maxgaming.se/keycaps/ducky/the-revolvers-metal-cap-mx-cherry

http://www.maxgaming.se/keycaps/ducky/the-exoskull-metal-cap-mx-cherry

http://www.maxgaming.se/keycaps/ducky/the-butcher-metal-cap-mx-cherry

http://www.maxgaming.se/keycaps/ducky/the-ancient-metal-cap-mx-cherry

I lager = In stock.

CaplockJack · « **Reply #22 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 11:47:39 »

Quote from: hudson0804 on Mon, 26 October 2015, 10:16:26

Quote from: CaplockJack on Mon, 26 October 2015, 09:04:25
Who is the Artisan?

I assume this question is to me.

I have no idea, i purchased it form that exact link on a Swedish website.

Can in the post several weeks later.

I assume they're just mass produced but i thought he looked cool.

H

Thanks, just curious.

SpAmRaY · « **Reply #23 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 11:59:54 »

Quote from: hudson0804 on Mon, 26 October 2015, 10:16:26

Quote from: CaplockJack on Mon, 26 October 2015, 09:04:25
Who is the Artisan?

I assume this question is to me.

I have no idea, i purchased it form that exact link on a Swedish website.

Can in the post several weeks later.

I assume they're just mass produced but i thought he looked cool.

H

These are not mass produced IIRC Ducky Nordic partnered with a local jeweler to have them hand made. All you new guys weren't around in 2013 when these were first thought up.

https://geekhack.org/index.php?action=profile;u=25234

http://deskthority.net/ducky-nordic-u2471/

Some quotes from DT

Quote from: fossala

Even the big companies are making "artisan" keycaps. For **** sake wake up and smell the con. How much do you think it costs big companies to make these keycaps, 1euro, 2 max?

I'm a chef as some of you know, if you times a product by 4 you can get an idea for how much you should charge (+/- dependant on quality of the chef/team). They must be ****ing laughing at you guys.

Quote from: Ducky Nordic

These are physically made by 1 jewelier in a small workshop in Finland. It took few months to get a pretty meager amount done. 1 euro to make? Cant get a lollipop in Finalnd for one euro

I have 10 caps per model of my own...big companies making? Not here.

Quote from: tlt

How are they made? What materials are used?

Its a metal mixture. Not too heavy so the key will remain functional on lightest switch. The stones are regular stones used in jewelry craft.

Quote from: Ducky Nordic

Well im not the jewelier here but i know that first he made the prototypes which i changed and tweaked more than 10 times over several months. Towards the end he wasnt smiling much when i wanted to tweak a bit more hahah
After the prototypes were finally in a state that i wanted he made them out of wax. The wax is then melted away with molten metal. The rough metal versions are then "baked". After baking some rough holes/areas are filled by hand. The caps are treated with some stuff so the deeper lines/areas will have rough/darkened tone. After this the caps are polished by machine and then polished more precisely by hand. The final stage is to insert(glue) the eyes with some needle and pack them in a jewelry box.

There would be a more faster and more precise way to make them but that requires a heavy duty "punching" (dont know the correct term) molds for every cap to be made. Those cost few K euros to create for every cap and would require that the caps would be produced in thousands to make it worth while (also the molds wear off after some K of use). There was only few hundred caps made and majority (100pcs per model) will go on retail sale in the Nordics.

hudson0804 · « **Reply #24 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 12:33:20 »

Huh who knew I purchased something worthwhile.

Thanks for the info

H

Aengus · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 15:08:29 »

Wow, I was not expecting that story. Feels like you got a deal on that cap now, yea?

hudson0804 · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 27 October 2015, 17:30:23 »

It certainly does.

I'm half minded to snap the rest of them
Up and get them into the community.

Not sure what that would cost. But it would be worth it.

SpAmRaY · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 28 October 2015, 06:16:01 »

Many of us have had these and sold them. They just never caught on.

Techkeys used to sell them.

hudson0804 · « **Reply #28 on:** Wed, 28 October 2015, 10:19:55 »

Quote from: SpAmRaY on Wed, 28 October 2015, 06:16:01

Many of us have had these and sold them. They just never caught on.

Techkeys used to sell them.

Do you think that it was due to simple supply chain?

Or they're just not considered by many as "nice" (i apologise for my small vocabulary when it comes to that word, i would have used cool but that felt condescending)

KarimDK · « **Reply #29 on:** Thu, 29 October 2015, 13:07:27 »

it's freaking awesome buddy.
Thank you for sharing <3

heedpantsnow · « **Reply #30 on:** Thu, 29 October 2015, 17:58:06 »

I owned "the butcher". Very nice, good quality. Heavy metal. The only downsides were that it would only fit in Esc position due to crowding other caps, and it was a little too intense for my small children.

These were pretty cool back in the day as SpamRay said. Maybe they'll make a comeback?

hudson0804 · « **Reply #31 on:** Thu, 29 October 2015, 18:15:15 »

The butcher is the other one that I could track. But you're right it only fits in the esc but that's ok.

I have a Miami and a bumble bee coming from a uk key caps gb. I'm super excited on those too.

Now if I could only pickup a cheap hhkb

mszy52 · « **Reply #32 on:** Fri, 30 October 2015, 18:51:21 »

How well made is this cap, might be a nice start to my collection

hudson0804 · « **Reply #33 on:** Sun, 01 November 2015, 17:56:08 »

Quote from: mszy52 on Fri, 30 October 2015, 18:51:21

How well made is this cap, might be a nice start to my collection

It was purchased from the site mentioned further up in the thread. I had it purchased in Sweden then shipped from my residence in Sweden to my current residence in the uk.

All in. I'd say this cost with shipping some 25-30GBP

The key itself is very well made. It's quite weighty and has a good solid feel - being all metal.

It sits quite proud off the board so a small gap is seen at side profile but this could also be my board (ducky shine3).

Hope that answers your questions

H

jerue · « **Reply #34 on:** Mon, 02 November 2015, 19:10:09 »

Nice cap!

For some reason I thought your package made it to you already

)

grav3serker · « **Reply #35 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 00:27:00 »

Looks pretty sweet! Congrats!

RenegadeParadox · « **Reply #36 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 01:01:28 »

That looks pretty cool. Does your keyboard have a LED backlight? I always love custom keys that take LEDs and add them to the design like the HKP Warmasters and alike.

hitlu · « **Reply #37 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 02:42:08 »

i aslo receive my first bb v2 today. i am so happy

hudson0804 · « **Reply #38 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:21:56 »

Quote from: RenegadeParadox on Tue, 03 November 2015, 01:01:28

That looks pretty cool. Does your keyboard have a LED backlight? I always love custom keys that take LEDs and add them to the design like the HKP Warmasters and alike.

Yes, I have a ducky shine 3 brown switches with blue LED. The cap looks awesome (in my opinion) it would probably suit better on red LEDs but we cant have everything

Quote from: hitlu on Tue, 03 November 2015, 02:42:08

i aslo receive my first bb v2 today. i am so happy

I was stoked to get my first cap - even if its not anything really sought after like a brobot, post up some pictures

hudson0804 · « **Reply #39 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:23:37 »

Quote from: jerue on Mon, 02 November 2015, 19:10:09

Nice cap!

For some reason I thought your package made it to you already )

HAHAHAHA yeah... unless you sent it via a carrier gryphon

You just made the tension even greater now... I love surprises.

t8c · « **Reply #40 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:26:09 »

The ancient looks a lot like Sir Daniel Fortesque from Medievil!

keyboardia1 · « **Reply #41 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:29:43 »

Certainly not my style but it does look interesting. Congrats!

clochette · « **Reply #42 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 04:48:44 »

congrats and welcome to the world of artisans

Glenmael · « **Reply #43 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 05:02:54 »

Quote from: t8c on Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:26:09

The ancient looks a lot like Sir Daniel Fortesque from Medievil!

I remember this! And yes it does.

hitlu · « **Reply #44 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 06:05:25 »

Quote from: hudson0804 on Tue, 03 November 2015, 03:21:56

Quote from: RenegadeParadox on Tue, 03 November 2015, 01:01:28
That looks pretty cool. Does your keyboard have a LED backlight? I always love custom keys that take LEDs and add them to the design like the HKP Warmasters and alike.

Yes, I have a ducky shine 3 brown switches with blue LED. The cap looks awesome (in my opinion) it would probably suit better on red LEDs but we cant have everything

Quote from: hitlu on Tue, 03 November 2015, 02:42:08
i aslo receive my first bb v2 today. i am so happy

I was stoked to get my first cap - even if its not anything really sought after like a brobot, post up some pictures

sure. i got it from here. a good guy

hudson0804 · « **Reply #45 on:** Tue, 03 November 2015, 11:25:22 »

Love the look of that in the set.

I'd really love a hhkb pok3r or a pretty much any 60 board. Just finding and justifying it is difficult.

shibataken · « **Reply #46 on:** Wed, 11 November 2015, 06:56:35 »

That looks pretty cool! I had metallic keycaps before for WASD and could not get used to the pushing down feeling different from the rest of the keyboard though :O


120/100g linear Zealio R1 GMK Hyperfuse 'Split everything' perfection	MX Clear SA Hack'd by Geeks EasyAVR mod

News:

Author Topic: I got my first custom cap today (Read 5061 times)