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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: nolliepoper on Tue, 27 September 2011, 07:56:08
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Hello, recently I have been interested in buying new keycaps for my TKL keyboard.
Before I invest $50 in a set of black PBT engraved keycaps, I would appreciate reading more details about them first.
So, for those of you who have used these keycaps before, please give your thoughts about them and the way they feel versus smooth keycaps.
Thanks in advance for your feedback.
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They're a good buy. Compared to ABS, they wear much slower; I have been typing on my Duckys with PBT caps, and neither one are showing any signs of wear even on the spacebar. The caps from KBC/Ducky are a little thicker than Filco's, and they have a lower pitch in sound. The caps on my 'boards have a "gritty" or "sandpapery" feel that I like, but that may vary based on manufacturer.
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PBT > ABS for keycaps.
One of the manufacturers should start churning out thick and chunky PBT doubleshots ;)
I'd get a set for every board I own ;)
OP: Model M caps are PBT, as well as many of the Cherry Corp key caps. Those are a great way to feel the difference in PBT over ABS.
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Pssh. What's wrong with ABS? They last forever. I ain't afraid of no shine.
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POM is nice, too, but you would only find those on Cherry 'boards (the black ones) and Noppoos (also the black versions).
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I like the ABS WASD caps because they are shiny when you get them. They have a nice, smooth, grippy feel to them.
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ABS haters gonna hate. They jelly of my doubleshot goodness.
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How about the texture and feel of PBT ENGRAVED keycaps?
Does anyone like or dislike them? If so, why?
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Your fingertips aren't sensitive enough to notice the engraving when you are typing. You have to be 'investigating' the key to feel the engraving.
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How about the texture and feel of PBT ENGRAVED keycaps?
Does anyone like or dislike them? If so, why?
They have a textured feel to them, and like alaricljs said, you can't feel the engraving.
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Your fingertips aren't sensitive enough to notice the engraving when you are typing. You have to be 'investigating' the key to feel the engraving.
Note that WASD engraved actually are very palpable.
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Note that WASD engraved actually are very palpable.
The WASD engraving is noticable, but I think it's due to the caps being smoother. The engraving on the KBC caps "blends in" because the cap is textured to begin with; I also think KBC might have a better laser.
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WASD is ABS not PBT.
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I just gotten the PBT gold sided printed keycaps from qtan. They are awesome and the surface is nice to type as well, personally i feel it depends on whether u smooth or textile surface. Smooth-> ABS keycaps, Textile -> PBT keycaps. I love my ninja-ed filco MJ2 87 keyboard now. :)
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PBT Engraved are solid caps. I do miss the silky feeling of the original Ninja ABS caps, but these are slightly gritty and tickle the fingertips a little. I can't really feel the engraving, just the texture of the plastic. It does look very boss, though, if that's a concern.