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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: berserkfan on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:20:06

Title: Fabric markers experience
Post by: berserkfan on Tue, 21 April 2015, 03:20:06
I have mixed results with Fabric markers.
Theoretically they will not take on PBT and can be cleaned off, because what they take on, is cotton and not polyester. IE 100% polyester or PBT should not be affected.

However I have mixed results after a week. Most keycaps still can be cleaned easily. But a few can't. I am not sure what is going on, so I'm sorry but must withdraw my recommendation. I don't know if it is because of impurities in the manufacturer's plastic, or some other reason causing some dye on the Fabric markers to take onto the PBT.

IMPORTANT UPDATE ON 25 APRIL 2015

I just changed a bunch of legends for the umpteenth time, and to my surprise while most legends really came off easily as described above, for some of them the colour dye kind of seeped into the plastic and could not be rubbed off even with generous applications of alcohol. See here.

I do not understand what is wrong, because I have not given these keycaps any unusual treatment.
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: Latin00032 on Tue, 21 April 2015, 05:05:57
Would the print be fine enough to write clearly on the caps?

Have you done this yourself? Pics?
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: quake4mhg on Tue, 21 April 2015, 05:07:19
Great find! Gotta try! Thanks berserkfan :D
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 22 April 2015, 03:49:44
Would the print be fine enough to write clearly on the caps?

Have you done this yourself? Pics?

I must prove this to you?  :rolleyes:

there you go, actual legends I use.
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: Latin00032 on Wed, 22 April 2015, 04:35:24
Would the print be fine enough to write clearly on the caps?

Have you done this yourself? Pics?

I must prove this to you?  :rolleyes:

there you go, actual legends I use.
I just wanted to see how it looked.
Ithink im going to get a set.


Thanks. :)
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: CaplockJack on Wed, 22 April 2015, 11:05:54
Do Sharpies work?
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: berserkfan on Wed, 22 April 2015, 11:50:44
Do Sharpies work?

Sharpies work, but they stink, and they give me the impression they are more toxic.
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: CaplockJack on Thu, 23 April 2015, 11:15:38
Categorized as non-Toxic.

http://m.sharpie.com/enus/pages/faq.aspx
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: berserkfan on Thu, 23 April 2015, 12:14:02
Categorized as non-Toxic.

http://m.sharpie.com/enus/pages/faq.aspx

I know that's their official position. that's why I prefer to say this is my subjective opinion.

I really dislike their chemical smell which fabric markers are thankfully free from.
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: KHAANNN on Fri, 24 April 2015, 10:44:25
I think this is a great discovery/idea, in general, also the result looks beautiful, thanks a lot for sharing it

It might be interesting to delicately apply painter's tape to the keycap before painting to produce large but firm characters

However the hand writing obviously has it's own charm, looks beautiful, so the painter's tape idea is unnecessary

How's the texture / rigidity?

I think a stronger/permanent marker could be better, if it exists. don't like how it turns out? draw a new keycap, yet the drawing should, in my opinion, be permanent and not re-workable

With these kind of mods, if it starts pealing off after some time, it converts joy into nightmare
Title: Re: Fabric markers work well on PBT plastic
Post by: CaplockJack on Fri, 24 April 2015, 17:12:30
Categorized as non-Toxic.

http://m.sharpie.com/enus/pages/faq.aspx

I know that's their official position. that's why I prefer to say this is my subjective opinion.

I really dislike their chemical smell which fabric markers are thankfully free from.

We used to sniff them in school to get high.