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geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 00:58:42

Title: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 00:58:42
Well one of the reasons I came to this forum is because I wanted to get into making keycaps! Being a semi-decent artist I figured sculpting would be easy. . .no, it isn't. So here I'm going to be documenting my current and future adventures in keycap making! I think tonight's cap came out well enough, but I have a long way to go :P Any tips are extremely appreciated!

Cyclops V1 (im so sorry it's sideways, it's too late to fix it right now :( )
[attachimg=1]

______________________________________________________

Wild Hog V1
[attach=2]

Im hopefully going to be purchasing the supplies for making my first mold in a couple of days, so if you are interested in any of the first runs, let me know!
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: nubbinator on Thu, 12 June 2014, 01:14:42
FYI, these are Cycaps:

(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)

You're gonna need another name
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: cphead on Thu, 12 June 2014, 01:33:51
Looks interesting! Good luck with the molds.
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 01:49:42
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name
:P Damn, I thought I was being original. . .well shoot, I guess just cyclops then. Got any tips for a newbie? (You are a massive inspiration btw)

Looks interesting! Good luck with the molds.
Thanks, ill be sure to post some pics when they are all done
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: Frenir on Thu, 12 June 2014, 02:13:46
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name
:P Damn, I thought I was being original. . .well shoot, I guess just cyclops then. Got any tips for a newbie? (You are a massive inspiration btw)
"Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists Steal" - Pablo Picasso

;)
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 10:10:11
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name
:P Damn, I thought I was being original. . .well shoot, I guess just cyclops then. Got any tips for a newbie? (You are a massive inspiration btw)
"Good Artists Borrow, Great Artists Steal" - Pablo Picasso

;)

uhh, hmm, I don't think that would go down well :P
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: HipsterPunks on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:33:37
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name


(http://i.imgur.com/dcF0eTf.gif)
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 12:37:44
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name


Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/dcF0eTf.gif)

#rekt. Hipster, do you have any tips?
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: HipsterPunks on Thu, 12 June 2014, 13:02:44
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/dcF0eTf.gif)

#rekt. Hipster, do you have any tips?


its really rough getting into caps right now, you have to double check all your design's to make sure you're not steppin on anyones toes. Believe me it took atleast 2 months before i even had a crappy master i felt was unique enough to release. I would stay i spent a good month before hand checking out all the other keymakers work (Binge,Nubs,CC,BB,Domo,martin,i3oiler,CapCrafter,Bunz, im sorry if there is anyone i forgot) aka "homework" to see what has already been done. Im still super new and have no idea what exactly im doing, but heres the best info from my experience so far that i can pass on.

I. Mkawa knows all, trust in the Mkawa
II. Always wear a respirator
III. There is no overall "perfect" combination of materials. What one maker make use, may completely fail on you due to your climate, don't be afraid to spend some money and think outside of the box.

im still buying and trying different brands and techniques every month, its fun and i enjoy learning from the mistakes. Mkawa will help you with anything you need to know or obtain, he is extremely friendly and cares alot about the proper procedures and has some of the best supplies not readily available.

Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Thu, 12 June 2014, 17:27:25
FYI, these are Cycaps:

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/tHtv5yQ.jpg)


You're gonna need another name

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/dcF0eTf.gif)

#rekt. Hipster, do you have any tips?


its really rough getting into caps right now, you have to double check all your design's to make sure you're not steppin on anyones toes. Believe me it took atleast 2 months before i even had a crappy master i felt was unique enough to release. I would stay i spent a good month before hand checking out all the other keymakers work (Binge,Nubs,CC,BB,Domo,martin,i3oiler,CapCrafter,Bunz, im sorry if there is anyone i forgot) aka "homework" to see what has already been done. Im still super new and have no idea what exactly im doing, but heres the best info from my experience so far that i can pass on.

I. Mkawa knows all, trust in the Mkawa
II. Always wear a respirator
III. There is no overall "perfect" combination of materials. What one maker make use, may completely fail on you due to your climate, don't be afraid to spend some money and think outside of the box.

im still buying and trying different brands and techniques every month, its fun and i enjoy learning from the mistakes. Mkawa will help you with anything you need to know or obtain, he is extremely friendly and cares alot about the proper procedures and has some of the best supplies not readily available.
Thanks man! Im still in the beginning phases, so I hadn't thought about casting materials, but I wasn't aware that a respirator was necessary. I'll be sure to talk to Mkawa whenever I have some more specific questions :D

Once again thanks :P
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Sat, 14 June 2014, 01:13:33
Updated with the cap that I am currently working on. I think His tongue may be a little to big, however let me know what you think! (If anyone cares...)

Here it is, Wild Hog V1
[attach=1]
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: daftendire on Sat, 14 June 2014, 09:09:01
 :thumb: looks like a solid start.
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Sat, 14 June 2014, 10:40:15
:thumb: looks like a solid start.
Thanks man, I have no idea how you made yours so clean and perfect first try. Also when you did your casting, did you use any mold releaser, or did the plastic just come out easily on its own?
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: daftendire on Sat, 14 June 2014, 10:46:57
Nope, wasn't needed. Silicone only sticks to itself. It's definitely a long learning process like already stated above.
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Sat, 14 June 2014, 12:31:17
Nope, wasn't needed. Silicone only sticks to itself. It's definitely a long learning process like already stated above.
Awesome, that will save me some money :D Thanks!
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: vinzlr on Tue, 06 August 2019, 00:11:39
I'd just like to say. It's been 5 years since I first created this post. Now that I've got a girlfriend who can sculpt (thank god we don't have to use my ****ty sculpts), we've finally created our first good caps!

Thanks for the advice hipster, only needed 5 years to act on it. lmao

Aiming for some sort of giveaway or sale by the end of this month <3

Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: EMC Labs on Tue, 06 August 2019, 02:48:04
I'd just like to say. It's been 5 years since I first created this post. Now that I've got a girlfriend who can sculpt (thank god we don't have to use my ****ty sculpts), we've finally created our first good caps!

Thanks for the advice hipster, only needed 5 years to act on it. lmao

Aiming for some sort of giveaway or sale by the end of this month <3

Damn.
Title: Re: I tried making a keycap today. . .
Post by: monkeycap198 on Tue, 06 August 2019, 05:15:25
hope it goes well for this interesting design!