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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 01 December 2011, 20:22:26

Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 01 December 2011, 20:22:26: Hi.

I've had my PLU-87 Keyboard for about 8 months now. I give it a good clean two times a year. This time, to speed up the drying process of my key caps, I decided to blow-dry them. They melted (i.e. are disfigured), and now I don't know what to do. I'm aware that you can purchase keycaps for letters and numbers, but I don't know the process for purchasing key caps for shift, spacebar, windows key, disable windows key, etc. My questions are:

1. Are PLU-87's shift, spacebar, windows key purchasable?

If no,

2. What are my alternatives?

Kind regards,

TechnoZerg
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: reaper on Thu, 01 December 2011, 20:31:29: I wanna see some pics of those melted keycaps. lol

Welcome to Geekhack. =P
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: hazeluff on Thu, 01 December 2011, 20:40:55: Welcome to Geekhack!

So, I did this once with my laptop (spilled water on it, wanted to speed up drying).

I'm not sure about just buy those keys in particular, but you can definitely buy a whole set of keys.
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:00:52: I can't reply, I keep getting "Post denied. New posts are limited by number of URLs it may contain and checked if it doesn't contain forbidden words."
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: reaper on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:03:11: ^ You just need to post more to get out of the newbie rank. Head over to ripster's sub-forum and look for that "Boost your post count" thread.
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: mmmty on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:09:33: I made some melted keycaps too. Apparently they are quite easy to make.

(http://i.imgur.com/kSLXf.jpg)
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: pitashen on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:22:37: perfect chance to get a new set of keycap! :D
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:41:16: @ripster The Filco key caps seem to be interchangeable with the PLU87s. Do you have a Taobao link for the Filcos? :-)

@ reaper They aren't too deformed it's just that they are now unusable. It's only the spacebar that looks really funny :P

@hazeluff Aren't laptop keys built-in? That would be a hassel to replace :(

@mmty Those look more expensive than my key caps haha it sucks man

Thanks all for your replies!
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: nolliepoper on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:53:50: I can sell you my old keys if you are interested.
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: hazeluff on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:59:14: Quote from: TechnoZerg;462472

@hazeluff Aren't laptop keys built-in? That would be a hassel to replace :(

Thanks all for your replies!

Oh, yes they are. I never said I replaced them. I've got a deformed part on the keyboard.

Anyway, If you are looking for substitutes on taobao "键帽" is what to search for. If you add "Filco"/"PLU" and the number of keys "37"/"87"/"104" you should be able to narrow it down.

Things to note:

有刻 - Printed
侧刻 - Ninja (IIRC, printed on side)
同刻 - Engraved
无刻 - Blanks

These are things that indicate how the text on the keycap is printed.

You may also want to check out http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keycap-sets.html.(Lazer etched/engraved keycaps)
They will also make custom legends for your keys and offer some colors. (If you want some really whacky legend, you need to edit this Illustrator/CorelDraw template of the layout. I can help out possibly if you don't have the tools needed).

Or go to ebay, I've seen some sets of keycaps there.

GL Hunting
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 01 December 2011, 21:59:36: How much? I live in Australia
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: nolliepoper on Thu, 01 December 2011, 22:09:54: I don't know how much shipping from the US to Australia yet but I sent you a PM.
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TheProfosist on Sun, 11 December 2011, 05:34:07: I have 3 set of new rosewill set that I am willing to sell otherwise go through wasd if you want ABS caps for PBT check out qtan's store.
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: TechnoZerg on Thu, 29 December 2011, 22:26:57: 30/12/11 UPDATE

Story so far:

Keyboard prior to melting (note: not my picture but exact key caps to this build except custom esc key)

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36217[/ATTACH]

Key caps melted via blow dryer

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36218[/ATTACH]

28/12/11 nolliepoper's key caps arrive, while managing to salvage some key caps
new look:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36219[/ATTACH]

30/12/11
one of the plastic fillers behind the spacebar got stuck and cannot be removed (left side):

[ATTACH=CONFIG]36220[/ATTACH]

i believe this was caused because the fillers i used were meant to fit my old spacebar, as my new spacebar's holes are smaller

the space bar works, but it is quite unresponsive to the tapping on it's left side. any suggestions?
Title: I melted my Key caps.. what are my options?
Post by: sordna on Thu, 29 December 2011, 22:38:17: Quote from: TechnoZerg;479982
one of the plastic fillers behind the spacebar got stuck and cannot be removed (left side):

i believe this was caused because the fillers i used were meant to fit my old spacebar, as my new spacebar's holes are smaller

the space bar works, but it is quite unresponsive to the tapping on it's left side. any suggestions?

Get a new spacebar from WASDKeyboards along with those plastic inserts, they sell them in the keyboard parts (http://www.wasdkeyboards.com/index.php/products/keyboard-parts-1.html) section.