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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Hitcha on Mon, 06 October 2014, 16:45:49

Title: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Mon, 06 October 2014, 16:45:49
Hello Geekhack! I'm looking for a full TKL Blank Zinc Keycap set like those pictured below. I'm having a lot of trouble trying to find them, and was wondering if anyone here might know where I could get my hands on a set of them; for the right price of course!

So far I've tried Geekeys, feng himself, and the classifieds forum with no luck. If you have any other resources I may not know about, please post them here! Thanks for looking.

[attachimg=1][attachimg=2][attachimg=3]
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Photoelectric on Mon, 06 October 2014, 18:02:03
Your best bet is to have this moved into the Classifieds.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Mon, 06 October 2014, 19:22:54
Your best bet is to have this moved into the Classifieds.

Oh I already do.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Wed, 08 October 2014, 14:14:36
Bump. Anybody?
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: divito on Fri, 10 October 2014, 10:21:08
The only person who would know is feng, as you can see in one of the pictures. He sold one last set in classifieds which I missed out on; he mentioned to me at the time that he would double check inventory to see if he had a final set but never got back to me, so I assume he indeed sold the last one.

The person who beat me to the punch on the set put in them in the classifieds not long after, and I was the person who bought them.

I am still fairly new here overall, so I have no idea how many were actually produced, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find any.

:(
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Fri, 10 October 2014, 18:50:29
The only person who would know is feng, as you can see in one of the pictures. He sold one last set in classifieds which I missed out on; he mentioned to me at the time that he would double check inventory to see if he had a final set but never got back to me, so I assume he indeed sold the last one.

The person who beat me to the punch on the set put in them in the classifieds not long after, and I was the person who bought them.

I am still fairly new here overall, so I have no idea how many were actually produced, but I think you'll be hard pressed to find any.

:(

From what I've researched the last group buy was in 2012~, so they sure are hard to come by. If you're ever interested in selling your set let me know!
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 03:29:41
If they're an old set, odds are  finger acids have eaten through the clearcoat and they look pretty bad.  Unfortunately, those zinc caps tend to start looking not so great pretty quickly and don't really get a good patina like some other metals do.  It's why I try doing alloys for my backyard casting.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: divito on Sat, 11 October 2014, 05:36:59
If they're an old set, odds are  finger acids have eaten through the clearcoat and they look pretty bad.  Unfortunately, those zinc caps tend to start looking not so great pretty quickly and don't really get a good patina like some other metals do.  It's why I try doing alloys for my backyard casting.

And just to be anecdotal to nubb's valid point, I have a 37-key blank set as well as the TKL blank set. I used the 37-key daily for close to 10 months and there has been no wear or aspects as seen in the extreme cases that have been shown with legended zinc caps. And I was never really being all that careful during my use.

From what I've researched the last group buy was in 2012~, so they sure are hard to come by. If you're ever interested in selling your set let me know!

I am currently using the set now, and really, ABS and PBT don't really come close to a full zinc experience. I definitely don't see myself getting rid of these anytime soon, but you will be first on the list if that should ever come.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: jackalope on Sat, 11 October 2014, 11:51:00
.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Mon, 13 October 2014, 11:25:21
If they're an old set, odds are  finger acids have eaten through the clearcoat and they look pretty bad.  Unfortunately, those zinc caps tend to start looking not so great pretty quickly and don't really get a good patina like some other metals do.  It's why I try doing alloys for my backyard casting.

And just to be anecdotal to nubb's valid point, I have a 37-key blank set as well as the TKL blank set. I used the 37-key daily for close to 10 months and there has been no wear or aspects as seen in the extreme cases that have been shown with legended zinc caps. And I was never really being all that careful during my use.

From what I've researched the last group buy was in 2012~, so they sure are hard to come by. If you're ever interested in selling your set let me know!

I am currently using the set now, and really, ABS and PBT don't really come close to a full zinc experience. I definitely don't see myself getting rid of these anytime soon, but you will be first on the list if that should ever come.

Yeah, Zinc tends to be the best feeling keycaps I've ever felt. The way they sound when they're being typed on is excellent too. Do you have a picture of your board with the caps on?
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: divito on Mon, 13 October 2014, 11:44:48
(http://i.imgur.com/T9EmseE.jpg) (http://imgur.com/T9EmseE)

(http://i.imgur.com/kY3nwmx.jpg) (http://imgur.com/kY3nwmx)

Waiting on finding an aluminum space bar, either silver or blue to complete it.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Mon, 13 October 2014, 12:35:23
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/T9EmseE.jpg) (http://imgur.com/T9EmseE)


(http://i.imgur.com/kY3nwmx.jpg) (http://imgur.com/kY3nwmx)

Waiting on finding an aluminum space bar, either silver or blue to complete it.

That looks great! Whats the profile on the Zinc keys? And what switch type are you using with them?
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: divito on Mon, 13 October 2014, 13:06:11
That looks great! Whats the profile on the Zinc keys? And what switch type are you using with them?

They're OEM, and this keyboard has clears.

My 37-key blank set and kersite modifiers from Bang Good, are on my QFS with greens (accented with Miami set).

(http://i.imgur.com/rQobqdE.jpg)
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Mon, 13 October 2014, 13:15:14
That looks great! Whats the profile on the Zinc keys? And what switch type are you using with them?

They're OEM, and this keyboard has clears.

My 37-key blank set and kersite modifiers from Bang Good, are on my QFS with greens (accented with Miami set).

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


Damn I'm jealous! The Zinc keys, the Miami set. You've got it made. Man, Blank Zinc keys are so hard to come by. I hope some one is willing to sell me a set sooner rather than later.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: NeedAFix on Thu, 16 October 2014, 15:38:10
Wouldn't using a heavy metal like zinc be bad for you?

I'd prefer copper keycaps, let me know if anyone ever makes some of those! haha.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: hwood34 on Fri, 17 October 2014, 10:16:31
You might want to watch out for the wear on zinc. I don't know how widespread this is but:
(http://i.imgur.com/fsHmvtq.jpg)
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: Hitcha on Fri, 17 October 2014, 18:46:31
You might want to watch out for the wear on zinc. I don't know how widespread this is but:
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/fsHmvtq.jpg)


This mostly happened with the first generation of Zinc keycaps, and was pretty much fixed with the second generation.
Title: Re: Blank Zinc Keycaps
Post by: hwood34 on Fri, 17 October 2014, 18:47:44
You might want to watch out for the wear on zinc. I don't know how widespread this is but:
Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/fsHmvtq.jpg)


This mostly happened with the first generation of Zinc keycaps, and was pretty much fixed with the second generation.
Ah, what was changed?