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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Tycn on Tue, 22 November 2011, 06:31:07

Title: Removing dye infills
Post by: Tycn on Tue, 22 November 2011, 06:31:07

Would it be possible to remove the dye infill from lasered keys (preferably without destroying the ABS) to create ghetto engraved keycaps?

Title: Removing dye infills
Post by: Findecanor on Tue, 22 November 2011, 10:19:03

I doubt it. I did it once, on a few Windows keys using nail polish remover and while it removed the infill very easily it also damaged the surface of the key slightly. The keys were somewhat shinier than before. Some time afterwards, when I cleaned the keys, one of the two keys turned cloudy.

Title: Removing dye infills
Post by: itlnstln on Tue, 22 November 2011, 10:26:14

I would also imagine that for infilled caps, the grooving isn't quite as deep to get the proper "engraved" effect.  It also depends on the lasering process.  WASD doesn't use an in-fill process (http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22283-New-laser-etching-coming-soon!-Feedback-appreciated-D), per se.  They use plastics that change colors as they are etched to produce contrast; I think they might even have a video somewhere, too.

Title: Removing dye infills
Post by: heliar on Tue, 29 November 2011, 08:31:42

sandblas? how about those polish cream used to polish watch for example? and btw, how to fill up the grove of those laser printed letter? Mine are getting very thin.