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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: mztriz on Mon, 29 October 2012, 11:18:00

Title: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: mztriz on Mon, 29 October 2012, 11:18:00
I'm new to this whole mechanical keyboard thing and probably going to buy Noppoo Choc Mini 84  in the next few days.
However, I want to be able to replace the keycaps (all of them) but I have no idea how to go about finding the kecayps.  It seems that some of the keys are non-standard and the sites I've looked at don't have the colors I want. Where should I look to purchase? I drew up a little diagram of what I was thinking...
(http://i.imgur.com/ac18V.png)
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: IvanIvanovich on Mon, 29 October 2012, 11:29:26
Do you have a white Choc by chance? If so you can dye the keys. Sadly there is not many source of 1.5 modifier key. You could try signiture plastics but unsure if they will have suitable color in stock and having them make some if not is very very very expensive. No one has that size of 5.x spacebar either. so dye is only option there really.
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: dreamingftw on Mon, 29 October 2012, 12:22:00
Might have trouble finding the spacebar. What about WASD for the other keys?
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: chaumeow on Mon, 29 October 2012, 23:42:18
Do you have a white Choc by chance? If so you can dye the keys. Sadly there is not many source of 1.5 modifier key. You could try signiture plastics but unsure if they will have suitable color in stock and having them make some if not is very very very expensive. No one has that size of 5.x spacebar either. so dye is only option there really.

What do you mean "dye the keys"? We can actually change the colours? :O!!

I read a post about spray painting the keycaps. Is there another method?
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: Hyde on Tue, 30 October 2012, 00:00:45
I don't know the actual process but I believe you can actually chemically dye the plastic to different colour  :P
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: rowdy on Tue, 30 October 2012, 00:15:44
Not the thread I was thinking of, but perhaps better?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=35444.msg664188#msg664188
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: mztriz on Wed, 31 October 2012, 10:17:25
Do you have a white Choc by chance? If so you can dye the keys. Sadly there is not many source of 1.5 modifier key. You could try signiture plastics but unsure if they will have suitable color in stock and having them make some if not is very very very expensive. No one has that size of 5.x spacebar either. so dye is only option there really.
I ended up ordering the black version, but very interesting! I can see myself using rit dye for other projects.


What do you mean "dye the keys"? We can actually change the colours? :O!!

I read a post about spray painting the keycaps. Is there another method?

Don't spray paint your keycaps, I did this about 10 years ago and the paint was forever sticky, uneven and it eventually chipped off in places. Not good.
I believe with rit dye the dye actually penetrates the plastic in the keycap bonding it forever, but the key needs to be in perfect condition as small scratches  will be seen. Another thing to note with rit dye is that it must be done with warm/hot water and has the potential to melt keycaps if not watched or done correctly.
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: pitashen on Sat, 03 November 2012, 08:46:45
Do you have a white Choc by chance? If so you can dye the keys. Sadly there is not many source of 1.5 modifier key. You could try signiture plastics but unsure if they will have suitable color in stock and having them make some if not is very very very expensive. No one has that size of 5.x spacebar either. so dye is only option there really.


What do you mean "dye the keys"? We can actually change the colours? :O!!

I read a post about spray painting the keycaps. Is there another method?

yes you can dye your keycap (white ones of course) to colors of your liking as easy as using RitDye. Has been done by some of the geekhackers.
Title: Re: Colored Choc Mini Keycaps?
Post by: chaumeow on Mon, 05 November 2012, 10:56:51
^ Thank you!