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geekhack Marketplace => Classifieds => Topic started by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 09:30:57

Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 09:30:57: In the coming weeks(2 weeks) I will create a guide on making custom key caps.

It will be detailed and have a complete list of supplies.
Big Thanks to RiGS :thumb:

Ill just make a few caps of my own and post them for sale instead.

Here's some of me caps that i made

(http://img.tapatalk.com/40735e1b-4dde-42ed.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/40735e1b-4dfa-9dcc.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/40735e1b-4e16-2179.jpg)
(http://img.tapatalk.com/40735e1b-4e2d-3302.jpg)
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: Kisakuku on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:09:56: I'm sure ClickClack is too nice to threadcrap in classifieds, but this is wrong on quite a few levels.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: byFd on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:14:56: Quote from: Kisakuku;489511
I'm sure ClickClack is too nice to threadcrap in classifieds, but this is wrong on quite a few levels.

you talking about the skull or his idea in general?
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: RiGS on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:26:59: I like how junior members come here to seek some profit.
Let me guess sculpted US $1 WASD keys with painting.

Quote from: webwit
These Chinese guys are shameless in two ways: first they copy, then they set prices aimed at suckers. It's like buying fake, ugly Levi's for a premium price. People who are showing these off are making statements that they are suckers who have been suckered.

This is a picture of the gang after another spacebar sale:

Show Image
(http://asianliving.me/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/laughingChinese.gif)

I think the same applies here.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: Kisakuku on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:29:33: I'm talking about the similarity in design and the inferior quality combined with exorbitant pricing. Not to mention what a great motivator this is for CC to put even more time into original designs to only have them copied...
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: Kisakuku on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:49:28: Quote from: ripster;489524
On this Romney and I agree.

Capitalism RULES!

For a handy dandy guide on how to identify counterfeit ClickClacks see this thread:
http://geekhack.org/showthread.php?22671-ClickClack-Keys

Hint: Turn the key over

I think you're missing the point. Nobody will mis-identify this as an authentic CC skull, but as a result there will be fewer authentic Clacks available.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: DanGWanG on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:53:56: Back on topic! Interest check seems low =)

Edit: Ding! 900 posts, aww yeeeuhhhh
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: litster on Fri, 13 January 2012, 10:54:03: Quote from: RiGS;489521
Let me guess sculpted US $1 WASD keys with painting.

Are WASD keys thick enough to be sculpted and digged into? If it is, I might try to make my own keys.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:01:28: How does this cause there to be fewer CC keys?
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:15:57: All im trying to do is supply the option to key lovers to have their very own key that no one else has.
These skulls were just samples of what we can create. Wouldnt it be nice to show off your cap of something unique like a ninja, super hero, star, unicorn, or some other design that no one else has?

The ABS/PBT keys are layered with plastic putty and then we sculpt into them and let dry for a day or so.
If the key cost $1 and I spend 2 hours on sculpting why cant I charge for my time spent on it?

What does being a "Junior member" has to do with anything?
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: trax on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:18:22: I like the idea of more people making custom keycaps by hand, but copying someones design isn't really appreciated in the western world.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: Reptile on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:25:32: Quote from: boost;489573
All im trying to do is supply the option to key lovers to have their very own key that no one else has.
These skulls were just samples of what we can create. Wouldnt it be nice to show off your cap of something unique like a ninja, super hero, star, unicorn, or some other design that no one else has?

The ABS/PBT keys are layered with plastic putty and then we sculpt into them and let dry for a day or so.
If the key cost $1 and I spend 2 hours on sculpting why cant I charge for my time spent on it?

What does being a "Junior member" has to do with anything?

10 unicorns please. JK I think everyone is *****ing because they are similar to clickclacks. I like the idea though. I would suggest making a couple samples of some different caps and then let people decide.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: tsangan on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:25:34: OP I think the main reason why this is frown upon at this time is because you made a skull which is clickclack's trademark key more or less.

If you had some other keys that you have done besides those skulls there wouldn't be as much hate I don't think. I know you stated a few times that you are offering unique ones to be made but all we see are these skulls that you made, visuals are everything.

Pricing wise I can't really comment as I don't know how much time is involved for each key, but from your explanation it's merely just carving putty on top of a key, while it is quite delicate to do such a task, I don't know if I can justify $80 for it.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: OkGold on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:26:28: I've often thought about making a collection of resin keys, it would be a fun project. Making this kind of stuff isn't very hard, but I think you're taking a bit of a wrong approach to it. Have you considered molding something original to sell? I know CC's have become something of a status symbol, but the basic idea is it's something neat molded into a keycap, I think if you do anything with that idea you'll be successful.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: Kisakuku on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:34:53: Quote from: alaricljs;489555
How does this cause there to be fewer CC keys?

By discouraging creation of new designs because they will be inevitably copied.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:43:29: I apologize if this thread came off as a "knock off" of CC caps.

I'll Have more caps up next week of the ninja and super hero.
As far as pricing goes, your looking at a min of $25 and a max of $80.
I dont think anyone will be able to hit the $80 mark or close to that unless you get a carbon fiber cap.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: alaricljs on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:43:35: Quote from: Kisakuku;489596
By discouraging creation of new designs because they will be inevitably copied.

That doesn't hold water. Look at how many different keyboards there are... and still people make their own keyboards and help other people make them too... and more companies are coming out with keyboards.

If a portrait artist comes across another portrait artist does he quit because there's someone else doing the same thing?

Architects sell cookie cutter designs left and right, and still people go to them for custom work too...

and on it goes.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: tsangan on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:49:47: Quote from: boost;489602
I apologize if this thread came off as a "knock off" of CC caps.

I'll Have more caps up next week of the ninja and super hero.
As far as pricing goes, your looking at a min of $25 and a max of $80.
I dont think anyone will be able to hit the $80 mark or close to that unless you get a carbon fiber cap.
See you didn't state you can make a carbon fiber one, that would be pretty awesome
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:53:27: Quote from: tsangan;489606
See you didn't state you can make a carbon fiber one, that would be pretty awesome

I did a few carbon fiber parts(intercooler pipe, headlight overs, and door skin) for my car and was tinkering with that idea for key caps.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: RiGS on Fri, 13 January 2012, 11:59:05: Quote from: boost;489573
All im trying to do is supply the option to key lovers to have their very own key that no one else has.
These skulls were just samples of what we can create. Wouldnt it be nice to show off your cap of something unique like a ninja, super hero, star, unicorn, or some other design that no one else has?

The ABS/PBT keys are layered with plastic putty and then we sculpt into them and let dry for a day or so.
If the key cost $1 and I spend 2 hours on sculpting why cant I charge for my time spent on it?

What does being a "Junior member" has to do with anything?

For 80 bucks I would rather make my own. Btw thanks for the tip on layering the top of the key with plastic putty.
Also I might create a new mold for it.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: boost on Fri, 13 January 2012, 12:05:47: Quote from: RiGS;489610
For 80 bucks I would rather make my own. Btw thanks for the tip on layering the top of the key with plastic putty.
Also I might create a new mold for it.

No problem, I'll work on a guide on "How to make your own Custom Cap". Will have this guide up soon.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: RiGS on Fri, 13 January 2012, 12:10:05: That's great. GLWS.
Title: [Interest Check] Hand made key cap
Post by: maoiste on Fri, 13 January 2012, 12:26:26: Sadly most people in this keyboard forum seem not to be able to read.
The OP clearly states, that he is going to make one of a kind keycaps with custom design, as long as it is simple enough. Still you haters come *****ing about this beeing a CC ripoff and claims of beeing overpriced, when he gave a range for the price, which obviously will depend on time and material costs, but everyone just quotes the highest boundary and complains about it beeing overpriced.
Btw its his time he puts into making these, so it is his choice to put a value on that time and if you don't like it don't buy it.
And also it is absolutely fine to recreate a design by yourself (even a protected one) for non commercial usage. So showing off his CC style keycaps, so you ppl get an idea what he can do is also a non issue.