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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: DigitalDawn on Fri, 06 May 2011, 15:29:47

Title: Trying to Update My Northgate OmniKey 102
Post by: DigitalDawn on Fri, 06 May 2011, 15:29:47

Hi,

I've been reading through some of the threads here and it's nice to see other Northgate Keyboard owners.

I have an OmniKey 102 and I want to update it a bit.  

1. Would like to re-paint the plastic taupe-colored cover which has yellowed a bit over time. Has anyone ever done this? If yes, what type of paint did you use, and what steps did you take?  It's really easy to remove the cover by unscrewing the screws on the back of the keyboard.

2.  All the alps switches seem to be in good shape, but I would like to replace all the keycaps. An ideal color for me would be a brighter white background with black or grey characters. I'm not a real fan of the cream colored keycaps I have now. Anyone know where I could get new keycaps at a reasonable price?

Title: Trying to Update My Northgate OmniKey 102
Post by: 8_INCH_FLOPPY on Fri, 06 May 2011, 16:25:29

Northgates are some of the few alps keyboards that have doubleshot keys. You'll probably want to keep the ones you have.

Title: Trying to Update My Northgate OmniKey 102
Post by: False_Dmitry_II on Fri, 06 May 2011, 16:33:44

In the modifications fourm there's a guy who sands down his blackwidow, then spraypaints it with white paint, then takes it to an auto body shop for a final coat. I bet you could do the same thing.

Most sets of buys for keycaps are for cherry boards. I don't know how much a set of alps would be. There is this place, though:
http://keycapsdirect.com/

Title: Trying to Update My Northgate OmniKey 102
Post by: nraymond on Fri, 06 May 2011, 17:47:22

Quote from: DigitalDawn;342647

Would like to re-paint the plastic taupe-colored cover which has yellowed a bit over time.

You can undo the yellowing.  See this:

http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189 (http://www.vintagecomputing.com/index.php/archives/189)

and this:

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ (http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/)

Title: Trying to Update My Northgate OmniKey 102
Post by: DigitalDawn on Fri, 06 May 2011, 18:09:03

Quote from: False_Dmitry_II;342672

In the modifications fourm there's a guy who sands down his blackwidow, then spraypaints it with white paint, then takes it to an auto body shop for a final coat. I bet you could do the same thing.

Most sets of buys for keycaps are for cherry boards. I don't know how much a set of alps would be. There is this place, though:
http://keycapsdirect.com/

Been there. They want $800 for a complete set of key caps.