Author Topic: Cherry G80-11900 (Lots of Dye and MX Clears) (Read 19177 times)

turbocharged · « **on:** Thu, 06 January 2011, 18:49:40 »

This is the log to the ongoing modifications to my Beige Cherry MX-11900 board. Each update will be posted here.

The board started out like the picture below. Beige in color with MX Black switches and a missing Tab keycap. The plan is to Rit dye the keys tangerine and paint the case flat black. Then, when the 50g spring group buy is complete, take apart each MX Black switch and turn them into "ghetto" MX Red switches.

Update: 1/7/2011

Dyed the keys tangerine last night before posting this mod, but didn't take any pictures. Got some pictures taken today. The color came out great...bit darker than expected though.

Full pot of water with 1 package of Rit Tangerine Dye @ 180-190 F. Final results are after a single 15-minute bath...stirring constantly. Gotta love PBT keys :).

Update: 1/16/11

Painted the case today...I think it turned out great. I used Duplicolor Fabric and Vinyl flat black paint (which is actually more of a dye than a paint).

Here are some pictures of it all put back together.

I also got in the super cheap ($1.50 shipped) ebay dual PS/2 to USB converter. All I have to say is...it works. Both the trackpad and keyboard work under usb through it...so if you have a Cherry 11900 keyboard, definitely pick one of these up.

Update: Full Cherry MX Clear switch transplant

Got some MX Clear switches the other day from a fellow geekhacker and figured I would install them in this board rather than doing the ghetto reds that I was planning on...will have to get another G80-19000 to do that to.

I had never tried the MX Clears before and I must say that I really love typing on them. I'm still a huge MX Black fan, but the Clears may be steering me in another direction...we'll see after a few weeks of use. Anyways...on with the pictures...

About half way converted....

Anndd fully converted...

microsoft windows · « **Reply #1 on:** Thu, 06 January 2011, 18:55:46 »

What kind of paint do you plan on using for the case?

turbocharged · « **Reply #2 on:** Thu, 06 January 2011, 20:24:13 »

Quote from: microsoft windows;274255

What kind of paint do you plan on using for the case?

This stuff...Duplicolor Fabric and Vinyl Paint. I painted the interior plastics to a car once with it and it has held up great after 20k miles and being parked outside everyday for 2 years.

ricercar · « **Reply #3 on:** Thu, 06 January 2011, 23:33:28 »

Send PM if you still need a Tab key cap

Orphagn · « **Reply #4 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 03:00:58 »

Interested to see how this turns out. I just got my G80-11900 in today.
It feels sturdier than my G80-3494 so i'm waiting for the "ghetto Red' springs to put them in.
I also ordered one of these to use with the keyboard. I'm hoping it works.

turbocharged · « **Reply #5 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 10:07:52 »

Quote from: ricercar;274370

Send PM if you still need a Tab key cap

Thanks ricercar, but hoggy sent me one a few weeks ago.

Quote from: Orphagn;274401

I also ordered one of these to use with the keyboard. I'm hoping it works.

Let me know how that works for you...I ordered one of these from ebay because it is super cheap ($1.50 shipped)....who knows if it will work.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270542630451&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_1227wt_905

Coming from Hong Kong and will probably take forever to get here.

turbocharged · « **Reply #6 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 12:56:19 »

Updated OP...

Update: 1/7/2011

Dyed the keys tangerine last night before posting this mod, but didn't take any pictures. Got some pictures taken today. The color came out great...bit darker than expected though.

Full pot of water with 1 package of Rit Tangerine Dye @ 180-190 F. Final results are after a single 15-minute bath...stirring constantly. Gotta love PBT keys

.

guilleguillaume · « **Reply #7 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 15:57:42 »

Fantastic Job for sure.

But anyways I think that the White case looks great with this red.

Orphagn · « **Reply #8 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 16:15:18 »

Very nice! I might have to do m keys in light blue. Good job!

turbocharged · « **Reply #9 on:** Fri, 07 January 2011, 18:39:14 »

Quote from: guilleguillaume;274834

Fantastic Job for sure.

But anyways I think that the White case looks great with this red.

Thanks...but here is a quick rendering I did in GIMP to what flat black "should" look like...I think it looks pretty awesome (if you don't pay attention to the quick lassoing that I did around the top row of keys).

hoggy · « **Reply #10 on:** Sat, 08 January 2011, 23:16:11 »

Looks like that tab key went to a good home! Looks nice!

guilleguillaume · « **Reply #11 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 09:34:13 »

turbocharged you made me change my mind

This colour looks more awesome!

turbocharged · « **Reply #12 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 11:36:45 »

Quote from: hoggy;275534

Looks like that tab key went to a good home! Looks nice!

Thanks hoggy.

Quote from: guilleguillaume;275668

turbocharged you made me change my mind

This colour looks more awesome!

Thanks...now if I could just get a day where it isn't 35F outside, so I can paint the case. Would love 70F, but would settle for anything above 50 and sunny.

Oqsy · « **Reply #13 on:** Sun, 09 January 2011, 11:55:44 »

turbocharged: be careful about the mouse buttons when painting... you can get away with removing them once, but to replace them you'll have to glue, etc... removing them a second time is nearly impossible.

turbocharged · « **Reply #14 on:** Sun, 16 January 2011, 21:14:01 »

Just finished painting the case and updated the original post, so check it out.

Here's a picture of how it sits now.

kidchunks · « **Reply #15 on:** Sun, 16 January 2011, 21:21:20 »

Very nice! Makes me wish I had grabbed a 11900 back when I sawem on ebay for the low.

guilleguillaume · « **Reply #16 on:** Mon, 17 January 2011, 01:48:23 »

I like it a lot and I think it looks cooler than the Déck for sure.

Fantastic Job. Hope the Paint from the case doesn't scratch itself.

Half-Saint · « **Reply #17 on:** Mon, 17 January 2011, 02:00:47 »

What kind of paint did you use? From my experience all paintjobs involving plastic end up either scratched or peeling

Orphagn · « **Reply #18 on:** Mon, 17 January 2011, 02:19:04 »

Very nice job!

turbocharged · « **Reply #19 on:** Mon, 17 January 2011, 08:37:23 »

Quote from: Half-Saint;279736

What kind of paint did you use? From my experience all paintjobs involving plastic end up either scratched or peeling

It is the Duplicolor Vinyl and Fabric spray paint (found at advance auto parts I believe). What makes it different than normal painting of plastic is that it actually has dying properties (hence why it is made for fabric, is flexible, and isn't really "paint" in my opinion). You don't use any primer or need to prep the surface in any way other than a thorough cleaning.

I did the center console in one of my cars with this exact same stuff...20k miles strong, not a scratch on it that has gone through the black.

Half-Saint · « **Reply #20 on:** Mon, 17 January 2011, 10:22:43 »

Sounds good! If only I could find that stuff locally

turbocharged · « **Reply #21 on:** Sun, 27 February 2011, 21:26:49 »

Update: Full Cherry MX Clear switch transplant

Got some MX Clear switches the other day from a fellow geekhacker and figured I would install them in this board rather than doing the ghetto reds that I was planning on...will have to get another G80-19000 to do that to.

I had never tried the MX Clears before and I must say that I really love typing on them. I'm still a huge MX Black fan, but the Clears may be steering me in another direction...we'll see after a few weeks of use. Anyways...on with the pictures...

About half way converted....

Anndd fully converted...

keyboardlover · « **Reply #22 on:** Mon, 28 February 2011, 06:44:50 »

Nice! I did the same thing to one of my g80-3494s. Loving it!

kidchunks · « **Reply #23 on:** Mon, 28 February 2011, 10:07:41 »

Ah so it was you who beat me to the clears!?

Nice switch mod. Clears feel really nice. :biggrin:

Quote from: keyboardlover;302081

Nice! I did the same thing to one of my g80-3494s. Loving it!

Still can't believe you gutted the poor g80-8113

steeef · « **Reply #24 on:** Mon, 28 February 2011, 11:19:42 »

Quote from: kidchunks;302165

Ah so it was you who beat me to the clears!?

Nice switch mod. Clears feel really nice. :biggrin:

Still can't believe you gutted the poor g80-8113

I can. I'm typing on one right now simply because it's the only keyboard I have with Clears, my favorite. Everything else about it sucks. It's way too big, the layout is ridiculous (always hunting for the Del key), and I keep accididently swiping the trackpad (guess I should just unplug that).

I just wish I had a decent PCB-mounted tenkeyless board to swap these switches into. I'm ok at soldering, but I don't trust my skills enough to risk ruining my Filco.

wap32 · « **Reply #25 on:** Tue, 08 March 2011, 16:56:06 »

Nice work!
The paint job turned out pretty nice.

I'm thinking of painting my 11800 as well, but perhaps in grey.

keyboardlover · « **Reply #26 on:** Tue, 08 March 2011, 19:02:04 »

Nice mod! How are you liking the clears?

keyb_gr · « **Reply #27 on:** Wed, 09 March 2011, 14:14:11 »

Not like anyone would still care about that now, but unlike stated, the board originally was in light grey, not beige.

In any case, the outcome looks nice.

Orphagn · « **Reply #28 on:** Mon, 14 March 2011, 20:55:29 »

Did you put a clear coat over the case after painting it?

I got some of that Duplicolor paint in white at a local auto part store and it looks nice so far. Going to do few more coats tomorrow when the sun comes out since I got off work and it was starting to get cold and dark already.
But it's coming out nicely, i'll put up a thread once i'm all finished.

turbocharged · « **Reply #29 on:** Thu, 17 March 2011, 09:19:58 »

Quote from: Orphagn;311842

Did you put a clear coat over the case after painting it?

I got some of that Duplicolor paint in white at a local auto part store and it looks nice so far. Going to do few more coats tomorrow when the sun comes out since I got off work and it was starting to get cold and dark already.
But it's coming out nicely, i'll put up a thread once i'm all finished.

Awesome....I have been wondering what their other colors look like. I did not put a clear coat on mine.

Orphagn · « **Reply #30 on:** Sat, 19 March 2011, 05:11:24 »

Finished painting the case, but now the "white" keys the board came with are not as white as the color of the case. Oh well, i'll figure out a keycap scheme.
I'm still trying to decide what switches I want on this board so I haven't put it back together.

turbocharged · « **Reply #31 on:** Sun, 14 August 2011, 10:25:29 »

So, I'm thinking of selling this board and a few others to buy another Deck Legend (except tactile this time). How much do you think I could get for this board?

JustCallMeCrash · « **Reply #32 on:** Mon, 15 August 2011, 10:46:55 »

Holy ****, man! That looks a LOT like the one I just did. Sure didn't mean to step on your mojo... I just happened to see this today (after I'd already put up my own RIT Dye wiki entry). That orange looks a lot like my scarlet... I went for silver instead of black. Heck, when you started this, I'd never even HEARD of Cherry Corp.

JustCallMeCrash · « **Reply #33 on:** Mon, 15 August 2011, 10:48:05 »

Quote from: turbocharged;398717

So, I'm thinking of selling this board and a few others to buy another Deck Legend (except tactile this time). How much do you think I could get for this board?

As it is? I'd throw it on the 'bay and see... maybe start at $70? There are plenty on there that aren't nearly as clean as yours.

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Author Topic: Cherry G80-11900 (Lots of Dye and MX Clears) (Read 19177 times)