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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: Dedalus on Sun, 29 May 2011, 17:35:28

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Dedalus on Sun, 29 May 2011, 17:35:28

Hi,  

I have a Filco Tenkeyless with MX blue cherries, and I would like to replace the keys with black blank ones (or black on black).  My question is how can I do this?  

I ask because to be honest, I don't fully understand this thread: http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?13664-Double-shot-replacements-ROUND-THREE-Vote-for-Kits-amp-Quantities!

I saw this there which looks like it might be what I want but I really don't know: http://geekhack.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=15832&stc=1&d=1299400241

I can't figure out if it's possible to buy what I want from there, and if so, how much would it cost, and how long would it take to ship to the US?  

I'm aware that they're sold here: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=639 , but unfortunately those are cost-prohibitive for me.

So what would be the easiest way for me to get blank black keycaps for a filco tenkeyless (given that I live in the US)?

Thanks

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: NimbleRabit on Sun, 29 May 2011, 17:45:22

I would consider getting these if I were you: (http://i.imgur.com/vHP0zl.jpg) (http://imgur.com/vHP0z)

They are from this thread (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?16260-PBT-104-keycaps).  All you have to do is send imsto a payment and let him know you want the black engraved keycaps.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: ethics- on Sun, 29 May 2011, 18:06:30

Pricey :/ $67 for caps.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Chobopants on Sun, 29 May 2011, 18:07:36

Quote from: ethics-;352930

Pricey :/ $67 for caps.

100% worth it, I bought 2 sets.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: ethics- on Sun, 29 May 2011, 18:13:07

I'm not sure I could justify it.  Is there really that much of a difference between these and stock caps?

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 29 May 2011, 19:04:55

I saw the same keycaps on taobao for about $37. But then you have to pay shipping + fee. So it might come out to about the same price.
http://item.taobao.com/item.htm?id=10082637185

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Dedalus on Sun, 29 May 2011, 19:44:13

Thanks for your replies.  Does anyone have any advice on how I can order from taobao?  Also what about these: http://www.armygroup.com.tw/shop/goods.php?id=5370

Edit: I'm thinking maybe I should just get these: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=639 is there anything wrong with them?

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 29 May 2011, 20:10:45

Basically, you send an email to buying agent at obook@yahoo.cn with the links to the items that you want to purchase. Wait for a reply and price quotes. After you make paypal payment they will buy the items and send them to you.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: looserboy on Sun, 29 May 2011, 20:17:15

do someone have some european shop-links were i am able to buy different keycaps. and this n1 geekhack button ? :-) for filco, cherry and das.

google wasnt n1 to me.. an tried^^

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Zet on Sun, 29 May 2011, 21:14:59

well yeah, paying 67$ for a set of keycaps seems a little bit way too much for me too, and if you get 2x, you can get a DAS with blank keycaps, and switch them ;S

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 29 May 2011, 21:25:36

The $67 keycaps are engraved PBT. Some people prefer them over the regular ABS keycaps that usually come with the keyboards.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: oddsratio on Sun, 29 May 2011, 21:28:32

I had ricercar dye me a set of keycaps. They're near black, with a purplish tint, but they look great. I don't have a camera handy, otherwise I would take pictures. He usually dyes them yellow- a set is 45, which isn't too bad for the labor and not having to wait around for a set of donor keys on ebay. The blank set with shipping from keyboardco would have been something like 70 dollars.

One option you have, which I'll consider doing on the next board, is dying the keys yourself in a black RIT dye. I think the lettering should turn black. I didn't do that this time, mostly because I didn't want mess with my first set of filco keys, should I decide to sell this board soon. I would do it with a less expensive board, like a vanilla X-Armor, with no regrets.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: mmmty on Sun, 29 May 2011, 21:59:38

My first dye job didn't come out too good. The color came out nice but the water was too hot.

(http://i.imgur.com/flDzh.jpg)

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: oddsratio on Sun, 29 May 2011, 22:54:53

Quote from: mmmty;352995

My first dye job didn't come out too good. The color came out nice but the water was too hot.

Show Image

(http://i.imgur.com/flDzh.jpg)

Yeah, I've seen a lot of melted keys on that dye thread, which is reason 3 that I asked ricercar to do the first batch for me and didn't attempt to do it on my own.

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Curetia on Mon, 30 May 2011, 01:54:30

I would buy the PBT engraved (or black on white), but I use a german Filco :( I think i will never get better keycaps for it because all group buys are ansi-layout :(

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: Zet on Mon, 30 May 2011, 07:12:12

Quote from: Curetia;353044

I would buy the PBT engraved (or black on white), but I use a german Filco :( I think i will never get better keycaps for it because all group buys are ansi-layout :(

Yes, I face the same problem, since I want the Spanish layout for a 104 US layout keyboard (one key is missing for me, but I fixed that with AutoHotKey), I didn't thought about dying the keycaps to black before, but I did thought about sandblasting the lettering off (not easy to find available sandblasters whiling to do this here) or using sugar and a paper towel like someone else mentioned, to rub off the lettering...

I'm really after some secure method to either dye the lettering to black or rub it off and have blank keycaps...

Title: Blank Keycaps for Filco Tenkeyless?
Post by: sndstrm on Mon, 30 May 2011, 07:44:32

Quote from: Dedalus;352955

Thanks for your replies.  Does anyone have any advice on how I can order from taobao?  Also what about these: http://www.armygroup.com.tw/shop/goods.php?id=5370

Edit: I'm thinking maybe I should just get these: http://www.keyboardco.com/keyboard_details.asp?PRODUCT=639 is there anything wrong with them?

You can also use this guy's services (http://cnkama.en.alibaba.com/product/389301977-210730299/Buy_from_Taobao_purchasing_agent_buying_agent_paypal_5_commission.html?tracelog=cgsotherproduct2#productDetailpageLocation)

He has a good rep on here from what I have seen.