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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 15:41:52

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 15:41:52

Hi guys,

I need keycaps for Cherry MX switches that cover the whole alfanumeric block.  Black color is preferred but not that important.  I am looking for something cheap, including the shipping costs to Hungary.

Thanks in advance!

Laci

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 04 January 2011, 15:53:20

You don't care if they are single or double shots, printing method, or anything, so long as they are black?

And how cheap is cheap?

Also, you might want to move this to the classified forum.

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: Broncosoozie on Tue, 04 January 2011, 15:54:22

I would suggest heading over to this thread: (Link) (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?t=13664) if you're interested at all in semi-custom key-caps.  There are a lot of different kits to vote on as well, so if something strikes your fancy, the more votes it gets the better!  Prices are in the thread, so depending on what you consider "cheap", that may influence your decisions.

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 16:21:11

Broncosoozie: Thanks for the suggestion but I'd rather buy something right now than voting and waiting and hoping...

Should I buy something on ebay for cheap or is there any other option?

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: theferenc on Tue, 04 January 2011, 16:47:44

You could just look for a used g80 board in whatever layout you need. You might even get lucky and find a "parts/donor" type sale. Or even end up with nice double shots.

At least in the US, a refurb g80 can be had for about $40, shipped. Don't know about Hungary, or shipping there, or even if that's cheap enough for you.

How quickly do you need them?

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: Broncosoozie on Tue, 04 January 2011, 16:51:02

I think keyboardco.com has keys for the UK.  Found it. (http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=778)

As far as cheap, I would say that's pretty cheap, but again, without knowing what exactly you're looking for, I can't say much else =\.

Keyboardco also has blanks, and since they're in the UK, they should ship to Hungary no problem.

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 17:03:39

theferenc: I guess I could buy a used G80 on ebay.de but the german languge of the site makes my brain melt.

Broncosoozie: It's a pretty good idea, thanks!  I might go with this.

A geekhacker has been contacted me in the meantime.  Maybe he can offer me something interesting.

Thanks guys!

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: elef on Tue, 04 January 2011, 17:06:11

Hi, nice to see a fellow Hungarian around here (want to take a Hungarian Model M off my hands?)

Anyway, you haven't said if you want blank keycaps, UK English, US English or Hungarian legends. Hungarian is impossible or nearly so, blanks are easier. If you have an ISO board and get ANSI keycaps, you might be a keycap or two short (ISO has an extra key by the left shift and a different layout around the enter key, and keycap profiles differ from row to row so they're not interchangeable).
So first decide if you need ANSI (US or blank) or ISO (UK, Hungarian or blank).

Note that even apart from the physical differences, US and UK layouts differ wrt to special characters as well, e.g. see some of the number keys:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/51/KB_United_States-NoAltGr.svg/500px-KB_United_States-NoAltGr.svg.png)

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/da/KB_United_Kingdom.svg/500px-KB_United_Kingdom.svg.png)

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: stuiees on Tue, 04 January 2011, 17:14:22

Maybe ask if he is willing to ship?

http://stores.ebay.com/Ducky-Keyboard

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 17:15:03

elef: So I'm not the only Hungarian around there?  Good to know!  :)

I'd prefer UK English.  I definitely need ANSI.  Blank is also fine but UK lettered is even better.

Title: Looking for Cherry MX keycaps
Post by: mondalaci on Tue, 04 January 2011, 17:18:00

stuiees: These keycaps look pretty good, although they're not so cheap, especially considering the shipping costs form the US.  It's a viable option though.

Thanks!