geekhack

geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: technobuddha on Sun, 06 July 2014, 14:31:36

Title: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: technobuddha on Sun, 06 July 2014, 14:31:36: Hello all,
I'm on the prowl for a laptop/tablet that has magnesium or zinc, or non-plastic (not aluminum) keys to type upon.
I have been searching for ever and I suspect it just doesn't exist, so I have to focus on the next best thing:
either a keyboard that has zinc or magnesium keys, or key caps.
even if its a tablet bluetooth keyboard i'll take it!

I saw someone making an awesome mechanical keyboard here:

http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=38320.0

and i would just love to find one, even if used!

so if anyone can send me into the right direction, I would DEEPLY appreciate it!
even if I have to pay up to $300!

thank you soooo much!
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 06 July 2014, 14:36:04: doesn't exist on a laptop

a scarface set alone costs like $400

and that's if you can find one
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: technobuddha on Sun, 06 July 2014, 15:03:29: ahhhh 'scarface' I saw that word a few times in my searches, and YEP! I figured it would be up to $400, which is why i assumed I'd get a keyboard, and find a tablet "latch on" and have a system that way!

Thanks for your time!
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: Oobly on Sun, 06 July 2014, 16:21:33: The scarface caps are aluminium. Feng sells some zinc caps and you can find a few options here: http://www.banggood.com/MKC-One-Set-37-Keys-Kirsite-Keycaps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-90013.html

Kirsite is a zinc alloy, made mostly from zinc with a small percentage of other metals.

Not so easy to fill out a whole board, though. I have not seen shift, enter, etc, but you can find all the 1x sizes and even 1.25x and spacebars. A 60% like the Poker 2 would be easiest to try to fill up. At a stretch you could use 1x caps on everything except spacebar, but I suspect shifts will be awkard to use.
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: Puddsy on Sun, 06 July 2014, 16:57:09: I've seen mods before

a full set is still like $150-200
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: divito on Sun, 06 July 2014, 17:09:19: Quote from: Oobly on Sun, 06 July 2014, 16:21:33
The scarface caps are aluminium. Feng sells some zinc caps and you can find a few options here: http://www.banggood.com/MKC-One-Set-37-Keys-Kirsite-Keycaps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-90013.html

Kirsite is a zinc alloy, made mostly from zinc with a small percentage of other metals.

Not so easy to fill out a whole board, though. I have not seen shift, enter, etc, but you can find all the 1x sizes and even 1.25x and spacebars. A 60% like the Poker 2 would be easiest to try to fill up. At a stretch you could use 1x caps on everything except spacebar, but I suspect shifts will be awkard to use.

The mods do exist (sold out currently): http://www.banggood.com/MKC-14-Keys-Kirsite-Keycaps-For-Cherry-MX-Keyboard-p-906863.html

Bought them and they are with my 37-key blank set on my QFS. With that, the 37-key set, and 3 zinc StarCraft keys, I'm short 29 R4s and 3 R3s for a full TKL. Not to mention having to get an aluminum or titanium space bar.

Feng actually sold a full blank zinc set in the classifieds a short while ago and I missed out on it. Was quite depressed. :(
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: technobuddha on Sun, 06 July 2014, 23:10:02: thanks for the help! I went to the links you sent me, and it does seem likely I can do it that way... but yea I still need the spacebar, etc...

it seems my best bet is to buy a complete stainless steel keyboard with stainless steel keys. These things go for over $400 though!
Title: Re: zinc or magnesium or non-plastic
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 07 July 2014, 18:45:36: Quote from: technobuddha on Sun, 06 July 2014, 23:10:02
These things go for over $400 though!

$400 is not a "high" price in the rarefied specialty market.