geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: CommonCurt on Thu, 29 August 2013, 16:35:56

Title: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: CommonCurt on Thu, 29 August 2013, 16:35:56
Just wondering what are some of the best fitting thick PBT caps that fit Filco's ? Are there any that do not require putting tissue paper on the stem to make them fit tight like stock Filco caps?
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: Thimplum on Thu, 29 August 2013, 17:05:00
IMSTO? I Why is the tissue paper needed for Filco? Did they trim down the cherry mx stems?
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: Danule on Thu, 29 August 2013, 17:29:35
I have imtso and they fit perfectly!
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: Hyde on Thu, 29 August 2013, 18:01:38
lol I don't think tissue paper work, but most people use plastic wraps when the stem is loose.

For imsto I'd say the stems are ok, not too loose.  But you might have issue with Cherry profile grinding Costar stabilizers.  Most of the time it should be ok I only have issue with Enter key.  In which case you'd have to shave off the inside of the keycap a little bit.
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: CommonCurt on Thu, 29 August 2013, 20:23:14
lol I don't think tissue paper work, but most people use plastic wraps when the stem is loose.

For imsto I'd say the stems are ok, not too loose.  But you might have issue with Cherry profile grinding Costar stabilizers.  Most of the time it should be ok I only have issue with Enter key.  In which case you'd have to shave off the inside of the keycap a little bit.

You mean like  saran wrap? I got them from feng, and most of the keys fit fine. It's just the keys on stabilizers that are a little loose. I'am just trying to find out how to get mine as tight as the ones that came on the Filco.  And where I can get some that fit as tight as the original right off the back with out having to use saran wrap?
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: jonathanyu on Fri, 30 August 2013, 00:44:22
lol I don't think tissue paper work, but most people use plastic wraps when the stem is loose.

For imsto I'd say the stems are ok, not too loose.  But you might have issue with Cherry profile grinding Costar stabilizers.  Most of the time it should be ok I only have issue with Enter key.  In which case you'd have to shave off the inside of the keycap a little bit.

You mean like  saran wrap? I got them from feng, and most of the keys fit fine. It's just the keys on stabilizers that are a little loose. I'am just trying to find out how to get mine as tight as the ones that came on the Filco.  And where I can get some that fit as tight as the original right off the back with out having to use saran wrap?
you can put some teflon tape on to the stabilizer insert , so that it will be tighter but still easy to pull it off. for myself, i just use some clear plastic tape, but it didn;t work well
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: norbauer on Fri, 30 August 2013, 12:28:05
I have the imsto keycaps (via Feng on eBay) and they fit my Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja perfectly.

The lower profile compared to the Filco OEM ABS keys do allow a bit more gap to show through between the keys to the deck below, but I kind of like the overall effect of this.

(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2pMxlAbQN8u_Iq4Rs1FhBgZi-RXIwj6sSN2IenU073JKtmbHC85QBynWoVmhzQLYd9nkpK2R56op0-YT__lM8QDcVgbSvDFIakgyIgC2eO1W4/20130828_2.jpg?psid=1)

But they fit the cherry stems perfectly, as best as I can tell. I also have o-rings fitted on brown switches and another set of the same keycaps on red switches without o-rings, all fitting snugly.

In short: most of the thick PBT keycaps you'll find for sale are all from the same manufacturer (even if from different vendors), but I wouldn't worry about them fitting a Filco! :)
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: norbauer on Fri, 30 August 2013, 12:31:46
FWIW, here is a better picture of the gaps-between-keys phenomenon:

(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2p9x5dhdpPSkd3bXdNBc7D08kvlTknXFzfr9jk09pAhv-IjKC6VyTVf0pvpJyISDqSSr9eQ7iQUy9oElgrMdtL_Wzy8e2lAC8ty7e3TBxX4jw/20130828_1.jpg?psid=1)
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: divito on Fri, 30 August 2013, 14:38:47
FWIW, here is a better picture of the gaps-between-keys phenomenon, btw:

Show Image
(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2p9x5dhdpPSkd3bXdNBc7D08kvlTknXFzfr9jk09pAhv-IjKC6VyTVf0pvpJyISDqSSr9eQ7iQUy9oElgrMdtL_Wzy8e2lAC8ty7e3TBxX4jw/20130828_1.jpg?psid=1)


That thing is sexy. What keys are those?
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: norbauer on Sun, 01 September 2013, 01:36:11
FWIW, here is a better picture of the gaps-between-keys phenomenon, btw:

Show Image
(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2p9x5dhdpPSkd3bXdNBc7D08kvlTknXFzfr9jk09pAhv-IjKC6VyTVf0pvpJyISDqSSr9eQ7iQUy9oElgrMdtL_Wzy8e2lAC8ty7e3TBxX4jw/20130828_1.jpg?psid=1)


That thing is sexy. What keys are those?

I agree. I'm really happy with the keys. They are from Feng on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230957623025?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/330950287238?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: CommonCurt on Sun, 01 September 2013, 01:49:05
I have the imsto keycaps (via Feng on eBay) and they fit my Filco Majestouch 2 Ninja perfectly.

The lower profile compared to the Filco OEM ABS keys do allow a bit more gap to show through between the keys to the deck below, but I kind of like the overall effect of this.

Show Image
(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2pMxlAbQN8u_Iq4Rs1FhBgZi-RXIwj6sSN2IenU073JKtmbHC85QBynWoVmhzQLYd9nkpK2R56op0-YT__lM8QDcVgbSvDFIakgyIgC2eO1W4/20130828_2.jpg?psid=1)


But they fit the cherry stems perfectly, as best as I can tell. I also have o-rings fitted on brown switches and another set of the same keycaps on red switches without o-rings, all fitting snugly.

In short: most of the thick PBT keycaps you'll find for sale are all from the same manufacturer (even if from different vendors), but I wouldn't worry about them fitting a Filco! :)

I think mine look great. Almost all of the caps fit fine. It's just the spacebar, right shift and right enter keys that seem alittle loose. Iam going to take them off and look at the stabilizer inserts again just to make sure.  Here is a pic of them. They look wonderful.
(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/CurtisandCrystal/Curts%20Pcs/20130901_024127.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/CurtisandCrystal/Curts%20Pcs/20130829_040616.jpg)

(http://i1222.photobucket.com/albums/dd490/CurtisandCrystal/Curts%20Pcs/20130829_025225.jpg)

Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: norbauer on Sun, 01 September 2013, 02:16:53
I think mine look great. Almost all of the caps fit fine. It's just the spacebar, right shift and right enter keys that seem alittle loose. Iam going to take them off and look at the stabilizer inserts again just to make sure.  Here is a pic of them. They look wonderful.

The skull is a nice touch. Does it match the cherry profile of the rest of your keys, or is it OEM? I have hesitated to fit a novelty cap on my Esc only because most of them don't match the cherry profile, but in many ways the Esc key stands apart from the rest on a keyboard, so having it be different might not really seem odd after all.

Sometimes the stabilizer inserts get worn down and as a result can move around loosely in the holders. You can order replacements on a one-off basis from WASD Keyboards for cheap. Might be worth a try.
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: CommonCurt on Sun, 01 September 2013, 02:35:44
I think mine look great. Almost all of the caps fit fine. It's just the spacebar, right shift and right enter keys that seem alittle loose. Iam going to take them off and look at the stabilizer inserts again just to make sure.  Here is a pic of them. They look wonderful.

The skull is a nice touch. Does it match the cherry profile of the rest of your keys, or is it OEM? I have hesitated to fit a novelty cap on my Esc only because most of them don't match the cherry profile, but in many ways the Esc key stands apart from the rest on a keyboard, so having it be different might not really seem odd after all.

Sometimes the stabilizer inserts get worn down and as a result can move around loosely in the holders. You can order replacements on a one-off basis from WASD Keyboards for cheap. Might be worth a try.

The skull & crossbones cap is PBT and it matches my profile fine to me.  It has a little bit more of a dip in it then my cherry profile set though. I know what you mean about wanting it to match the cherry profile. Just play around with some and if it looks good keep it there.  As for the stabilizers on my board in question it couldn't be. This board is not even two months old. Iam going to check the stabilizer inserts again and make sure they are all the way in flush. I got the inserts from WASD.
Title: Re: Best fitting Thick PBT caps for Filco ?
Post by: divito on Sun, 01 September 2013, 02:43:58
FWIW, here is a better picture of the gaps-between-keys phenomenon, btw:

Show Image
(http://cih0ra.dm1.livefilestore.com/y2p9x5dhdpPSkd3bXdNBc7D08kvlTknXFzfr9jk09pAhv-IjKC6VyTVf0pvpJyISDqSSr9eQ7iQUy9oElgrMdtL_Wzy8e2lAC8ty7e3TBxX4jw/20130828_1.jpg?psid=1)


That thing is sexy. What keys are those?

I agree. I'm really happy with the keys. They are from Feng on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/230957623025?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/330950287238?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Hmm. But if you ever want to get rid of that board, I'd love to take it off your hands :D