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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Index on Thu, 10 November 2011, 19:05:34

Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: Index on Thu, 10 November 2011, 19:05:34
I asked for a quote for 2 sets of keycaps for a custom keyboard project I'm currently doing (total of 124 keycaps).

The price I got from Melissa from SP is: $579.95

Oh mai gawd, maybe this doesn't come as a shock to the rest of you guys, but to me HOLY S@#!.

I don't know what to do anymore, I really want DSA keycaps. -____-
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: RColinTaylor on Thu, 10 November 2011, 19:24:36
You just discovered why group-buys pop up. The only way to afford the setup fee is to spread it out over a number of orders.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: demik on Thu, 10 November 2011, 20:16:31
yeah i asked about doing one ESC key and my quote was 79 dollars, for one key.

and that is why i love group buys
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: TheProfosist on Thu, 10 November 2011, 22:23:03
wow ouch looks like im going to have to hit up the group buy to get as many keys as I can that will fit my Phantom 7bit keyboard.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: Index on Thu, 10 November 2011, 22:47:43
Quote from: TheProfosist;449726
wow ouch looks like im going to have to hit up the group buy to get as many keys as I can that will fit my Phantom 7bit keyboard.

Can you have dsa key caps in there? Otherwise my keyboard project is going to be stalled for another 6 months :(.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: TheProfosist on Thu, 10 November 2011, 22:50:10
Quote from: Index;449739
Can you have dsa key caps in there? Otherwise my keyboard project is going to be stalled for another 6 months :(.
DSA? Double Shot ABS? If that is what DSA is yes, I believe that is what most of the group buy is.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: Index on Fri, 11 November 2011, 02:39:21
Quote from: TheProfosist;449743
DSA? Double Shot ABS? If that is what DSA is yes, I believe that is what most of the group buy is.

No, DSA is a type of keycap family. Check out this link: http://www.keycapsdirect.com/images/faq/FamilyProfilesLG.jpg
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: TheProfosist on Fri, 11 November 2011, 03:03:15
my guess would be not on that I believe the all stick with the normal profile
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: RColinTaylor on Fri, 11 November 2011, 08:34:46
You can do anything in a group buy; there aren't rules as to which styles are allowed but you do have to generate your own interest and audience. I can't say I have seen DSA in gb form yet though.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: kps on Fri, 11 November 2011, 09:03:10
A lot of the cost is one-time setup. That price was presumably because you wanted just 2 caps of each of hundred different variations. When I bought 250 identical DSA caps last year (blank white with ALPS stems) they ended up around 65¢ each.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: dorkvader on Sat, 12 November 2011, 20:23:58
Quote from: kps;449915
A lot of the cost is one-time setup. That price was presumably because you wanted just 2 caps of each of hundred different variations. When I bought 250 identical DSA caps last year (blank white with ALPS stems) they ended up around 65¢ each.
Well, also it's pretty likely that SP has blank keys in stock. you can check their inventory on their website.

DSA is the non-contoured sphericals, right? Run a GB, it's likely that other people will like whatever it is you want, so you can hopefully get the price down.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: kps on Sat, 12 November 2011, 21:12:07
Quote from: dorkvader;450839
Well, also it's pretty likely that SP has blank keys in stock. you can check their inventory on their website.
They do have blank DSA keys in stock, with Cherry stems. The ones I ordered had ALPS stems, so they were made to order.
Title: Didn't know how expensive custom keycaps were going to be until...
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 12 November 2011, 21:27:20
Quote from: Index;449644
I asked for a quote for 2 sets of keycaps for a custom keyboard project I'm currently doing (total of 124 keycaps).

The price I got from Melissa from SP is: $579.95

Oh mai gawd, maybe this doesn't come as a shock to the rest of you guys, but to me HOLY S@#!.

I don't know what to do anymore, I really want DSA keycaps. -____-

I am in shock...

by the fact that they were kind enough to give you a quote on 2 set of keys.