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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Bitters on Mon, 13 December 2010, 09:13:13

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: Bitters on Mon, 13 December 2010, 09:13:13

Hey GH

I own a SteelSeries 6GV2 and like most owners, notice the printed font does not have much endurance.  After contacting SteelSeries I have some replacement keys on the way, but the originals are still basically new (keyboard less than a month old) outside of a couple high use keys fading.

So, I was considering trying to completely remove the font from the original set of keys (since I will have a set of backups), to create that Filco "Otaku" look on the 6G. Has anyone done something similar before (and can you recommend a good approach on how to remove the font)? Is chemical removal the best way (acetone?) or will that damage the keys.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: WhiteRice on Mon, 13 December 2010, 09:17:04

I read awhile ago. Like years ago. When the Das keyboard was trendy. Someone did something like that with a dremel.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: vegaman on Mon, 13 December 2010, 09:18:00

If you do a bit of a search, I've seen quite a few people that sandblast the keys to remove the legends.
There's some pictures of keys that have been in acetone too, it damages the plastic (I assume there could be some plastics that aren't damaged by acetone though).

Of course do some research of your own and/or wait for others to chime in, I'm new here so have a lot to learn.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: turbocharged on Mon, 13 December 2010, 09:18:42

Just dye them all black.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: lowpoly on Mon, 13 December 2010, 10:07:39

I think the Dremel will melt the plastic. I tried it with PBT, it was difficult.

I'm currently hand sanding a Cherry PBT set starting with 180 grit (may be metric) and finishing with 600 and water. The Cherry keycaps are lasered. This takes a long time, like several hours for 61 keys. Some keys come out very good, some acceptable as it is easy to sand small waves into the surface.

If the printing is as bad as you say it may be easy though.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: Zen on Mon, 13 December 2010, 13:17:30

This is a steelseries crapslock key-crap after
a quick wipe with some citrus-based nailpolish-remover
with less than 1% acetone ..
(http://i.imgur.com/KD4EM.jpg)

(BTW : The caps aren't printed, they are laser-engraved.
That white stuff is actually plastic !)

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: itlnstln on Mon, 13 December 2010, 13:19:27

Ouch.  It might get you that KBC look, though.

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: laden3 on Mon, 13 December 2010, 15:40:18

some ppl did the rit dye method to get black-on-black

Title: Creating an "Otaku" 6GV2
Post by: Bitters on Tue, 14 December 2010, 11:53:10

maybe this isn't going to be the best idea... :)