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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: MajorYikes on Wed, 03 July 2019, 07:31:56

Title: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Wed, 03 July 2019, 07:31:56
I bought 6 model M keyboards last week locally for $5 each.

A lot of them are discolored and it’s cleaned up some but we all know how that goes.

2 of them, however, have key caps that are glittery/shiny for lack of a better term. It’s not painted on, they look super natural. Has anyone seen this? This one has one-piece keycaps. I can post pics later.

[attachimg=1]
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 03 July 2019, 22:09:54
A photo would be great.

I've seen a few custom keycaps for a Model M, including some that were flocked (https://techkeys.us/collections/keys/products/flocked-keycaps).

Also multi-coloured and lots of custom legends.

But none with glitter so far.

Mind you, there are a few artisans around here making custom Model M keycaps, and there's nothing to stop htem from using a resin with glitter suspended in it.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Fri, 05 July 2019, 17:25:52
Here’s some photos. They don’t really do it justice since all I have is my iPhone to shoot pictures. But they are indeed gold flakes. A shame so many are discolored.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: Moistgun on Fri, 05 July 2019, 17:49:59
Here’s some photos. They don’t really do it justice since all I have is my iPhone to shoot pictures. But they are indeed gold flakes. A shame so many are discolored.

Out of the 10 or so ive had, and the 50 ive seen at meetups, ive never seen that before  :thumb:
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Fri, 05 July 2019, 17:51:46
So sad about the discoloration 😭
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Fri, 05 July 2019, 17:55:15
Sorry for a double post but does anyone know of anywhere besides Unicomp/eBay where I can get a full 122-key set for some of these keyboards?
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: rowdy on Sun, 07 July 2019, 21:53:58
Those look way more shiny than any of my Model M keycaps.  And more flakey.

I wonder if someone got some transparent paint with flakes in it and just painted it on, like nail polish but transparent.

Something like these (https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/432556739206470526/), but with smaller flakes.  And maybe not nail polish exactly.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Sun, 07 July 2019, 23:15:31
Those look way more shiny than any of my Model M keycaps.  And more flakey.

I wonder if someone got some transparent paint with flakes in it and just painted it on, like nail polish but transparent.

Something like these (https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/432556739206470526/), but with smaller flakes.  And maybe not nail polish exactly.

It’s hard to explain but they’re definitely not painted. It’s on the underside, too. They were made like this, not painted. You have to see it, I guess.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: MajorYikes on Fri, 19 July 2019, 09:28:47
Just posted some better pictures. I cleaned it up immensely and listed it on eBay to get this to someone who finds it cool  ;D
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: rowdy on Mon, 22 July 2019, 05:27:14
Is the stem underneath glittery too?
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: rxc92 on Mon, 22 July 2019, 09:42:03
Is the stem underneath glittery too?
 
From the second pic, it looks pretty clearly glittery as well. How interesting.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: invariance on Sat, 27 July 2019, 03:08:44
Sounds very unique, definitely keepers.
Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: SneakyRobb on Tue, 06 August 2019, 10:21:58
Hi I just saw your ebay post for this keyboard. Your price seems quite reasonable tbh.


The listing says that no one on geekhack knows about these keys. !!!

If you look at this unicomp listing for these random keys

https://www.pckeyboard.com/page/product/LinTuxSet

You can see that they have the same metallic elements as yours as well as the weird side patches.

These are real unicomp keys afaik. They used to make metallic keys which were just normal keys with random metal glitter put into the mix.


Title: Re: Glitter key caps for Model M?
Post by: monkeycap198 on Thu, 08 August 2019, 08:37:07
Where did u get these keycaps?