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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 18:09:23

Title: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 18:09:23: I'm debating between crimson and lilac/purple for dying a beige and cream HHKB set. Dirty little mock up of the two colors. I think I'm leaning toward the lilac/purple over the crimson.

(http://i.imgur.com/y3wWLS0.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/SlIP2V7.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/ohBdG6T.png)

(http://i.imgur.com/wgNQG4Y.png)
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Sent on Sat, 11 October 2014, 18:13:24: Purple > Crimson

I'd pick the first mock up if the spacebar was still black - that's just me, though. If not, then the fourth mock up.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: ComradeSniper on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:11:10: I like the first one the best, but personally I'd want the spacebar and tilde to stay black.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:13:04: Quote from: ComradeSniper on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:11:10
I like the first one the best, but personally I'd want the spacebar and tilde to stay black.

Spacebar might stay black, but the tilde will be purple. Symmetry over tradition for me.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: naasfu on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:15:39: purple ofc.

are you going to be using iDye? be sure to share pics of the results with us. :)
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:36:49: Quote from: naasfu on Sat, 11 October 2014, 19:15:39
purple ofc.

are you going to be using iDye? be sure to share pics of the results with us. :)

Yup. I've already done it once with blank SP DSA caps. It works ridiculously quickly and well. I just hope it turns out purple instead of a grey since I've seen stuff like that happen on occasion. I'll be sure to post pics once its done.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:24:26: purple confirmed best color
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:25:28: Not a perfect picture by any means, but a quick and dirty shot of how it turned out.

(http://i.imgur.com/ws4zoYs.jpg)

Also, I totally messed up the space bar by getting the water too hot. I forgot that last time I did this, I just got the water hot, turned off the flame, let it cool a little, then dropped the caps in. You don't need boiling hot water to do it, just warm water. It works fantastically, but the smell is awful. Now I want to dye something crimson.

Also note, while I thought the different base color would make some darker than others, it doesn't. They turned out the same. And since it changes color so quickly, the only way I really see getting a lighter and darker color is by quickly dipping the caps in, then pulling them out within 30 seconds (though that might even be too long). You can dye a batch of caps in minutes with the dye. Only fabric really needs that longer time.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:26:38: that turned out pretty well

what a nice shade of purple
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:29:29: It almost took on a magenta like color under the much bright bulb in my dining room. I'll try to get a sun shot tomorrow and see if it looks different in sunlight, but the color in the picture is the color it looks in my room right now. My silver Clack skull also goes with it pretty well.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Xowie on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:46:33: Quote from: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:25:28
Not a perfect picture by any means, but a quick and dirty shot of how it turned out.

Show Image
(http://i.imgur.com/ws4zoYs.jpg)

Also, I totally messed up the space bar by getting the water too hot. I forgot that last time I did this, I just got the water hot, turned off the flame, let it cool a little, then dropped the caps in. You don't need boiling hot water to do it, just warm water. It works fantastically, but the smell is awful. Now I want to dye something crimson.

Also note, while I thought the different base color would make some darker than others, it doesn't. They turned out the same. And since it changes color so quickly, the only way I really see getting a lighter and darker color is by quickly dipping the caps in, then pulling them out within 30 seconds (though that might even be too long). You can dye a batch of caps in minutes with the dye. Only fabric really needs that longer time.

Very nice! This is basically my method as well. Did you have any problems with residue along the edges of your caps?
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: naasfu on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:47:20: looks beautiful, man. at least from your pic, the color looks uniform and not splotchy or anything like that.

looking forward to seeing more pics, esp with that silver skull.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:56:06: Quote from: Xowie on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:46:33

Very nice! This is basically my method as well. Did you have any problems with residue along the edges of your caps?

Not really, though some do get a little darker near the bottom edge of the cap for some reason. I only have them in for like maybe 3 minutes before pulling them out, though you may need longer with warm/barely hot water.

Quote from: naasfu on Sat, 11 October 2014, 21:47:20
looks beautiful, man. at least from your pic, the color looks uniform and not splotchy or anything like that.

looking forward to seeing more pics, esp with that silver skull.

If they're clean and new caps, there really aren't any splotching issues...as long as you do things right. If you add too much dye or don't give it enough time to dilute into the water, it can splotch. If you add it, agitate it, get it just shy of boiling, then let it cool a little, the dye pigment doesn't clump, which is where splotching typically comes from. After that you just have to keep stirring when dying and you'll be fine.

That doesn't mean that there won't be some inconsistencies, just that they'll be less prominent, at least with the darker colors.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: naasfu on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:23:20: Great tips. All have been noted, thanks! Awhile back I bought an extra set of blanks specifically for dyeing, and I also bought some cheap throwaway set of PBT MX to use as a test run.

You used "iDye Poly" in "Lilac" for this set, right? On Amazon, I see Lilac, Purple, and Violet. And wow, this dye comes in a lot of nice colors (http://www.jacquardproducts.com/idye.html).
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:31:59: Definitely play with the cheap set first to get an idea.

Yes, I used Lilac. If you want some for cheaper than the Amazon price, let me know. A store near me sells them for $2.50 each.

This is how the Violet turned out for me on white and light blue caps. The purples will all turn out pretty close to each other. The lilac make end up a little lighter on white caps or may look the same as they came out with the beige and cream caps.
More
(http://i.imgur.com/fna6J6y.jpg)
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:43:52: what is that qazpad sitting on

that floor looks awesome
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:47:01: Quote from: TacticalStache on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:43:52
what is that qazpad sitting on

that floor looks awesome

It's a sheet of paper.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: rowdy on Sat, 11 October 2014, 23:59:32: Dark purple and black does it for me :D
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: Sent on Sun, 12 October 2014, 00:02:03: Damn, that turned out really nice. How do they hold up over time? I know there's probably threads on this somewhere but I'm lazy tonight. Do they end up fading?
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: nubbinator on Sun, 12 October 2014, 00:33:34: Quote from: Sent on Sun, 12 October 2014, 00:02:03
Damn, that turned out really nice. How do they hold up over time? I know there's probably threads on this somewhere but I'm lazy tonight. Do they end up fading?

They should hold up fine from what I've seen.

The other nice thing about iDye Poly is that it does appear to work on ABS and not just PBT.
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: ComradeSniper on Sun, 12 October 2014, 00:43:56: Woah, beautiful! Excellent job! Now I want a set like that. :))
Title: Re: Which color for dyed caps?
Post by: naasfu on Sun, 12 October 2014, 20:54:26: Quote from: nubbinator on Sat, 11 October 2014, 22:31:59
Definitely play with the cheap set first to get an idea.

Yes, I used Lilac. If you want some for cheaper than the Amazon price, let me know. A store near me sells them for $2.50 each.

This is how the Violet turned out for me on white and light blue caps. The purples will all turn out pretty close to each other. The lilac make end up a little lighter on white caps or may look the same as they came out with the beige and cream caps.

Ah, the Violet looks great too, although maybe not as even as the darker Lilac like you were saying. And the pad looks lovely with those blanks.

There's an arts and crafts store (Joann or something like that) nearby where I live that might carry this stuff. I'll try checking them out. But thanks so much for the offer to help with the dyes. :)