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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: Jixr on Thu, 18 December 2014, 10:43:15

Title: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: Jixr on Thu, 18 December 2014, 10:43:15

Hey guys, I'm a big fan of smooth keycaps,and some of the cheaper sets I have are really gritty feeling with an almost sand like texture.

So I tried a little experiment by using a 3000 grit sanding foam pad on the keys, and you can get them baby smooth without damaging the keycaps.

I figured I would pass along the info if anyone else was picky over keycap texture.

( I'm also going to experiment sanding the sliders to see if that can increase the smoothness of the switch. I just built a keyboard with new switches, and they feel horrible )

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: SpAmRaY on Thu, 18 December 2014, 10:44:14

Don't think I've seen anyone sanding switch sliders, this should be interesting.

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: Jixr on Thu, 18 December 2014, 10:50:26

yeah, i have tons of switches laying around, so i'm going to test it out.

All my boards have switches that are well over 2 years old, and going from vintage blacks to new blacks, it just feels absolutely horrible, which sucks since the keyboard is super nice. I've been using it both at work and home to try to get the sucker broken in as fast as I can.

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 18 December 2014, 15:49:34

I'm not sure how long pad-printed keycaps would last :eek:

Besides, most people would just switch out to a different set.

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: Smasher816 on Thu, 18 December 2014, 16:11:04

Sounds like you might like POM or some ABS sets.

Personally I hate super smooth keys and love the slight texture on most PBT keycaps. To each their own.

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 18 December 2014, 18:28:56

I am currently using the Nuclear Data Green SA set.  They are as smooth and shiny as, which I had my doubts about.

Doubts erased - the feel is fantastic!

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: fohat.digs on Fri, 19 December 2014, 07:52:40

Quote from: Jixr on Thu, 18 December 2014, 10:43:15

I'm also going to experiment sanding the sliders to see if that can increase the smoothness of the switch.

I love texture and hate shiny keycaps, but that is just me. I would love rubberized caps for certain keys, if it weren't for the durability issue.

However, for anything internal, I would start with a complete detailed lube job before I started grinding anything.

Title: Re: Fixing gritty keycaps.
Post by: Jixr on Fri, 19 December 2014, 10:31:28

Yeah, obviously it won't work on pad printed caps, but lazered it works well.

I recently got a rainbow keycap set, and its really gritty.
(http://i112.photobucket.com/albums/n193/clayfinley/IMG_4238_zpsddc97d4f.jpg) (http://s112.photobucket.com/user/clayfinley/media/IMG_4238_zpsddc97d4f.jpg.html)
(I'd been wanting to build a pink/rainbow keyboard forever, and finally got around to it. )
But on my other keyboards, I have nice BSP sets.