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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: abdulmuhsee on Sat, 01 November 2014, 20:59:18

Title: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: abdulmuhsee on Sat, 01 November 2014, 20:59:18

So after a long time using ALPS, I finally bought a KUL ES-87; since ALPS aren't manufactured anymore and there is little to no chance of getting an ALPS tenkeyless (not 60%), I figured it was time to move on.

Anyways, the first thing I want to do, since I've supposedly entered the glamorous world of keyboard customization, is get some keycaps.  I see users' with a plethora of different colors and layouts, yet I can't seem to find a simple white or silver set with black legends.  Also, I have no idea which keycaps will or will not fit my stabilized keys.

Could someone point me in the right direction as to what is good/will fit my KUL ES-87?

Title: Re: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: Puddsy on Sat, 01 November 2014, 21:03:26

Anything with 1.25x mods will fit the ES-87.

SP has a simple BoW set that'll work on their site.

Title: Re: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: jacobolus on Sat, 01 November 2014, 22:28:21

Quote from: abdulmuhsee on Sat, 01 November 2014, 20:59:18

[...] since ALPS aren't manufactured anymore and there is little to no chance of getting an ALPS tenkeyless (not 60%), I figured it was time to move on.

There are Ducky and Filco Alps clone TKL boards that were produced until a few years ago which can still be found without *too* much trouble.

But I’m guessing there will be several (or at least one or two) Alps compatible TKL keyboards coming up within the next few months or year. Doesn’t help you in the very immediate future, I guess.

As for switches: harvesting Alps switches from old keyboards isn’t too hard and many can be obtained for reasonable prices on ebay &c., but Matias switches can also be had for quite cheap (quite a bit cheaper than MX switches).

Title: Re: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: abdulmuhsee on Sat, 01 November 2014, 23:45:43

So would these fit?:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rosewill-Green-Mechanical-Double-Shot-KeyCaps-with-Puller-for-Cherry-MX-Switch-/181410363676?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a3ce6791c (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rosewill-Green-Mechanical-Double-Shot-KeyCaps-with-Puller-for-Cherry-MX-Switch-/181410363676?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a3ce6791c)

Title: Re: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: iAmAhab on Sun, 02 November 2014, 06:07:45

They will fit the KUL nicely.

Title: Re: Gimme the Lowdown on Keycaps
Post by: Hypersphere on Sun, 02 November 2014, 07:32:16

There are many Cherry mx keycap sets available in ABS plastic. My preference is PBT plastic, which wears better than PBT and feels dry even after prolonged intensive use. I also prefer dye-sublimation printing on PBT, but such sets are becoming difficult to find.