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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: v193r on Sun, 13 February 2011, 01:25:20

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: v193r on Sun, 13 February 2011, 01:25:20

Is there a name for keycaps which have this texture on top:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/5441017030_7d57df4e7a_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/5441021100_7529ba6a01_b.jpg)
Btw that is my hhkb with blank keycaps.

I prefer this texture very much to other keycap texture. Its very good for gripping the keyboard for games and using for long hours.

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: bugfix on Sun, 13 February 2011, 05:09:40

PBT keys?

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: sixty on Sun, 13 February 2011, 05:18:51

To my knowledge there are no third party keycaps that come close to the Topre ones. Signature Plastics do have a pretty good texture, but after a few months they will wear off as well, unlike the Topre ones.

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: hasu on Sun, 13 February 2011, 06:17:20

People call this texture "pear skin" in Japan and Thinkpad lid has "peach skin".
Same in English?

But I don't know the name for keycap itself.

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: runeazn on Sun, 13 February 2011, 07:08:05

what that japanese guy said..
:P

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: lootbag on Sun, 13 February 2011, 07:28:25

I call this keycap texture: "the best"
Topre keycaps are the best.
:D

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: Oqsy on Sun, 13 February 2011, 10:45:32

I'm pretty sure that texture can be duplicated with a sand blaster FYI :)

I've even gotten something similar from a random orbital sander with a really old sheet of sandpaper on both ABS and PVC.

It's a nice texture for gripping, etc but something about it just makes my skin crawl. I don't know what it is, it's intangible like fingernails on a chalkboard, but it isn't for me. The good news is that some 400 grit wet/dry sandpaper takes the creepy away in a hurry (and leaves you with shiny filco plastic)

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: v193r on Sun, 13 February 2011, 11:55:45

Quote from: lootbag;294357

I call this keycap texture: "the best"
Topre keycaps are the best.
:D

This.

I agree. Does cherry have anything like this?

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: keyboardlover on Sun, 13 February 2011, 12:12:58

I believe vintage cherry dye sub caps are close if I'm not mistaken?

Title: name for these keycaps?
Post by: sixty on Sun, 13 February 2011, 13:58:40

Quote from: keyboardlover;294451

I believe vintage cherry dye sub caps are close if I'm not mistaken?

Its closer than their double shot ones, but not really like Topre either. I could e-mail the very helpful Topre Japan guy again, but I have doubts that he will tell me how they do it.

Interesting thing is, it does not seem to wear off. Even with my acid sweat of doom, I was not able to wear out any of my Topre keys (besides the spacebar, thats shiny like a mirror)