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geekhack Marketplace => Vendor Forums => Signature Plastics / PimpMyKeyboard => Topic started by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:11:34

Title: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:11:34
For those of you looking to get a Dolch set of Keycaps, Signature Plastics apparently has ~30 available for sale as of a few minutes ago.

http://keyshop.pimpmykeyboard.com/products/full-keysets/dsa-dolch-set-base-set-110-total-keys
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Candyflip on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:13:12
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: SpAmRaY on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:26:19
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.

It depends if they want SP DSA profile or GMK/Cherry profile
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:31:19
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.

Do you know if the upcoming group buy will be PBT or not?
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:40:34
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.

Do you know if the upcoming group buy will be PBT or not?

:facepalm:

I don't understand everyone's obsession with PBT. Groupthink at its finest, I guess.

PBT can't be doubleshot in volume for a whole set, so to get legends on PBT, you must use dyesub. You can't dyesub a lighter color onto a darker one, as in white legends on grey keycaps.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: domoaligato on Wed, 21 May 2014, 12:46:01
/facepalm I missed this /sadface
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 21 May 2014, 13:19:40
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.

Do you know if the upcoming group buy will be PBT or not?

:facepalm:

I don't understand everyone's obsession with PBT. Groupthink at its finest, I guess.

PBT can't be doubleshot in volume for a whole set, so to get legends on PBT, you must use dyesub. You can't dyesub a lighter color onto a darker one, as in white legends on grey keycaps.

Apologies. I'm still learning so I really didn't know.  The only reason I asked is because it seems most people have the strong opinion PBT is better.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: jdcarpe on Wed, 21 May 2014, 13:25:21
I suggest anyone who wants Dolch to wait a bit there will be a GB soon.

Do you know if the upcoming group buy will be PBT or not?

:facepalm:

I don't understand everyone's obsession with PBT. Groupthink at its finest, I guess.

PBT can't be doubleshot in volume for a whole set, so to get legends on PBT, you must use dyesub. You can't dyesub a lighter color onto a darker one, as in white legends on grey keycaps.

Apologies. I'm still learning so I really didn't know.  The only reason I asked is because it seems most people have the strong opinion PBT is better.

No need to apologize. Which keycap material you prefer is a matter of personal taste. I personally dislike PBT. But I get the feeling many who profess that PBT is the best, have never even tried it, or haven't tried anything other than pad printed OEM caps made from thin ABS.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Oobly on Wed, 21 May 2014, 13:34:33
Vortex have 2 series' of doubleshot "PBT" keycaps available, so it's not impossible to do, but I suspect they are using a PBT / ABS blend to get around the thermal expansion / contraction issues PBT has when molded.

I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: hashbaz on Wed, 21 May 2014, 13:52:46
:facepalm:

I don't understand everyone's obsession with PBT. Groupthink at its finest, I guess.

PBT can't be doubleshot in volume for a whole set, so to get legends on PBT, you must use dyesub. You can't dyesub a lighter color onto a darker one, as in white legends on grey keycaps.

I think the general preference on this forum for PBT mainly comes from experience with Topre keyboards, so there are very likely many factors other than the material getting conflated.  The doubleshot PBT caps that I've tried from SP feel and sound indistinguishable from their ABS counterparts.

Presumably a PBT 2-shot set would not shine as fast as the ABS equivalent, but I've never used an SP set long enough to get as shiny as the Cherry keys I have on my daily driver, so *shrug* .
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Wed, 21 May 2014, 14:29:30
I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.

So many TLAs.  What does GMK stand for?
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: epzy on Wed, 21 May 2014, 14:30:39
I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.

So many TLAs.  What does GMK stand for?

GMK is a manufacturer.
http://www.gmk-electronic-design.de/en/products/keyboards.html

GB = Group Buy. ABS = Type of plastic.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: yicaoyimu on Wed, 21 May 2014, 19:15:46
JD is *so* right on PBT vs ABS.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 21 May 2014, 19:45:05
I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.

So many TLAs.  What does GMK stand for?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50532.0
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: agodinhost on Wed, 21 May 2014, 21:56:45
Seems that it already ended!
DAMMM
SUCK
I lost it for the second time ...


I GOT THE LAST ONE!!!
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
 :p :p
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: agodinhost on Wed, 21 May 2014, 22:07:30
Vortex have 2 series' of doubleshot "PBT" keycaps available, so it's not impossible to do, but I suspect they are using a PBT / ABS blend to get around the thermal expansion / contraction issues PBT has when molded.

I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.
This is a new GB or it is that black set that is already running?
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Oobly on Thu, 22 May 2014, 02:23:39
Vortex have 2 series' of doubleshot "PBT" keycaps available, so it's not impossible to do, but I suspect they are using a PBT / ABS blend to get around the thermal expansion / contraction issues PBT has when molded.

I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.
This is a new GB or it is that black set that is already running?

A new GB that Ivan will start soon: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57303.msg1300820#msg1300820

About PBT vs ABS, etc:

First off, I own and use the following sets: Keycool medium thickness PBT, Keycool medium thickness POM, SP DCS ABS (a few sets), stock Ducky thin ABS, stock KBT thin ABS. I'm waiting for some thick PBT dyesub sets to arrive. Will be ordering the Dolch thick ABS set when Ivan starts the GB.

PBT is denser than ABS and POM is denser than PBT. The weight of the keycap really does change the feel, as does the surface texture AND material. I like heavy keycaps. For keycaps of the same thickness, I prefer the densest material available. In terms of surface texture and feel I prefer the "slickness" of POM to the "dryness" of PBT. ABS is somewhere in between in terms of material feel. So for me it goes:

Thick POM>Thick PBT>Thick ABS>Medium POM>Medium PBT>Thin PBT>Thin ABS

Doubleshot>Dyesub>Lasered>Pad printed.

Because DS and Dyesub don't raise the legends, DS is clearer and lasts forever, and lasered lasts longer than printed.

If YOU can't feel a difference, it doesn't mean nobody can.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Thu, 22 May 2014, 09:15:31
I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.

So many TLAs.  What does GMK stand for?

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=50532.0

Thanks!
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: jdcarpe on Thu, 22 May 2014, 09:55:01
Vortex have 2 series' of doubleshot "PBT" keycaps available, so it's not impossible to do, but I suspect they are using a PBT / ABS blend to get around the thermal expansion / contraction issues PBT has when molded.

I'm waiting for Ivan's GB. Genuine GMK Cherry profile doubleshot Dolch goodnes... Yum. ABS is quite acceptable if it's thick and Cherry profile.
This is a new GB or it is that black set that is already running?

A new GB that Ivan will start soon: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=57303.msg1300820#msg1300820

About PBT vs ABS, etc:

First off, I own and use the following sets: Keycool medium thickness PBT, Keycool medium thickness POM, SP DCS ABS (a few sets), stock Ducky thin ABS, stock KBT thin ABS. I'm waiting for some thick PBT dyesub sets to arrive. Will be ordering the Dolch thick ABS set when Ivan starts the GB.

PBT is denser than ABS and POM is denser than PBT. The weight of the keycap really does change the feel, as does the surface texture AND material. I like heavy keycaps. For keycaps of the same thickness, I prefer the densest material available. In terms of surface texture and feel I prefer the "slickness" of POM to the "dryness" of PBT. ABS is somewhere in between in terms of material feel. So for me it goes:

Thick POM>Thick PBT>Thick ABS>Medium POM>Medium PBT>Thin PBT>Thin ABS

Doubleshot>Dyesub>Lasered>Pad printed.

Because DS and Dyesub don't raise the legends, DS is clearer and lasts forever, and lasered lasts longer than printed.

If YOU can't feel a difference, it doesn't mean nobody can.

You should go ahead and add Thick ABS (i.e. GMK/Cherry) to the front of your list there.

Like this: GMK/Cherry ABS>Thick POM>Thick PBT>Thick ABS>Medium POM>Medium PBT>Thin PBT>Thin ABS

To me, PBT feels "slippery" to my fingers, because of the "dry" texture. ABS feels "grippy" and wonderful, especially GMK/Cherry thick ABS once it starts to develop a nice shine.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: ideus on Thu, 22 May 2014, 11:49:23
I have tried both materials, PBT and ABS, for at least one year each, and I may say I like both in certain subtle ways, neither one has reached the point of an obsession, though. However I'd prefer a PBT set for its dry feeling and the way it keeps its texture for extended periods of time.


But I can also say that we should not point someone for his or her preferences, that are a personal matter, period. Even if it were the case that he or she is just wording group-thinking trends. I think that the individual complaining on others preferences is just the one too preoccupied for being the one setting, and leading group-thinking.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: taylordcraig on Thu, 22 May 2014, 14:26:25
So far in my personal keyboard ventures I agree that I enjoy thick caps over thin.
As far as material, I like the texture of PBT caps, and even enjoy that slippy feel that JD describes.
I haven't used any of my ABS sets to shine yet though,
since using mechanical keyboards anyway, I've worn a few rubber dome dell/hp boards back in the day.
I really dislike the way a worn keyboard looks though, and that drives me to feel better when buying PBT sets.

As everyone has said, it's a matter of preference.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: domoaligato on Thu, 22 May 2014, 15:17:35
I am using the imsto thick pbt caps atm that I got from ivan with russian fonts. I like both pbt and abs. My honest favorite is the thick pbt 37 key sets that qtan sells. I wish that they were complete 104 keys sets. Black on red..

That being said my dolch gmk set is my favorite color scheme and I love using it but I took it off because it didn't want it to shine.

Cherry > oem profiles... personal preference
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 22 May 2014, 15:19:32
That being said my dolch gmk set is my favorite color scheme and I love using it but I took it off because it didn't want it to shine.

You are in luck ivan is launching another GMK dolch buy as soon as it gets mod approval.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: keyit on Thu, 22 May 2014, 16:33:10
seems like there's a few left in stock again for those interested. changed from 30-->11
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: cooldiscretion on Thu, 22 May 2014, 17:19:56
seems like there's a few left in stock again for those interested. changed from 30-->11

They keep finding more in the stockroom or something...
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: domoaligato on Thu, 22 May 2014, 23:05:24
I believe that they are staging them each day so that they can handle the shipping requests. I ordered mine and it was shipped yesterday(sameday)
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 23 May 2014, 03:49:17
That being said my dolch gmk set is my favorite color scheme and I love using it but I took it off because it didn't want it to shine.

You are in luck ivan is launching another GMK dolch buy as soon as it gets mod approval.

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=58608.0
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Razor Lotus on Fri, 23 May 2014, 13:32:04

You should go ahead and add Thick ABS (i.e. GMK/Cherry) to the front of your list there.

Like this: GMK/Cherry ABS>Thick POM>Thick PBT>Thick ABS>Medium POM>Medium PBT>Thin PBT>Thin ABS

To me, PBT feels "slippery" to my fingers, because of the "dry" texture. ABS feels "grippy" and wonderful, especially GMK/Cherry thick ABS once it starts to develop a nice shine.

What's the difference between GMK ABS and thick ABS? Aren't they both thick and ABS?

Or does the GMK one somehow feel better?
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: tbc on Fri, 23 May 2014, 15:04:13
I've actually never heard of any thick ABS besides cherry.

unless he's counting SA as thick.
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: SpAmRaY on Fri, 23 May 2014, 15:09:12
I've actually never heard of any thick ABS besides cherry.

unless he's counting SA as thick.

some people call DSA thick but thats debatable....and SA is thick.....SP DCS is thin

[attachimg=1]

not my photo sorry don't remember who made it
Title: Re: Signature Plastics Dolch Set Limited Stock Available
Post by: Oobly on Mon, 26 May 2014, 03:01:57

You should go ahead and add Thick ABS (i.e. GMK/Cherry) to the front of your list there.

Like this: GMK/Cherry ABS>Thick POM>Thick PBT>Thick ABS>Medium POM>Medium PBT>Thin PBT>Thin ABS

To me, PBT feels "slippery" to my fingers, because of the "dry" texture. ABS feels "grippy" and wonderful, especially GMK/Cherry thick ABS once it starts to develop a nice shine.

What's the difference between GMK ABS and thick ABS? Aren't they both thick and ABS?

Or does the GMK one somehow feel better?

Perhaps it's a reference to the quality of GMK thick ABS caps vs "other" thick ABS caps? (like SP SA profile as sir spamalot mentioned)