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geekhack Marketplace => Interest Checks => Topic started by: Mandolin on Thu, 23 April 2015, 02:24:48

Title: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: Mandolin on Thu, 23 April 2015, 02:24:48

Furry Keycaps

We all have something furry in mind that we'd like to see in a keycap.

(http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20141102165812/starwars/images/3/30/Chewbacca-DisneyWebsite.png)(http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/c/caveman.jpg)(http://i.ytimg.com/vi/_Y0lasxx0_g/hqdefault.jpg)(http://wpiqradio.com/RequestBreakfast/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Swedish-Women-Take-to-the-Streets-to-Support-Hairy-Armpits.jpg)(http://www.marthastewart.com/sites/files/marthastewart.com/images/content/web/pets/generic/cats/cat-breeds-norwegian-forest-ma24_272_l.jpg)

Up until now, the solutions were
- Sculpting hair: in resin looks passable, but it's not real hair (or faux fur).
- Using real hair: without some protection, makes it prone to degrading due to the friction and oils in the fingers, that could weaken the adhesive, stain and mess the hair.
- Encapsulating the hairy surface in resin: is an old concept (encapsulated electronics), but if you were to do the same with hair, it'd look soaked.

I propose encapsulating a sculpture without messing with the hair, with a preformed protection cover.

How it is done?

Keycap base + furry subject sculpture + Transparent thermoplastic sheet.

The idea came when I saw one of this. It's a dental retainer made from a vacuumed formed thermoplastic acrylic sheet.
(http://www.grahamtool.com/images/products/detail/_MG_5778Editblack.jpg)
(https://blog.adafruit.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/transparent-worbla.jpg)

These type of plastics are also sold in art stores (worbla), the internet, in pellets or sheets under different names, and can be warped under heat with or without a vacuum, to adapt to some mold with some limitations in definition.

Advantages
- Would allow really unique projects to be made.
- The hair wouldn't look soaked underneath.

Challenges:

- Labor intensive for bulk processing.
- Assure the acrylic cover to stay on place. It'd need a big area in the base where it'd be glued.
- Fluffy haired subjects would be limited, as the plastic sheet needs cover the sculpture as tightly as possible.

** TO BE UPDATED **

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: Mandolin on Thu, 23 April 2015, 03:51:23

[Placeholder] Future photos and developments.

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: BlueNalgene on Thu, 23 April 2015, 11:43:17

I am interested in seeing where this goes and how it turns out.

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: Joey Quinn on Thu, 23 April 2015, 15:37:26

Furry Frank!!!

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: doodersbrother on Sun, 26 April 2015, 22:58:16

Haha this is hilarious (good thing). Keycaps are being made out of the same thing my retainer is made out of.

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: burn1nsun on Sat, 02 May 2015, 14:05:38

This is pretty interesting

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: noisyturtle on Sun, 24 May 2015, 22:11:52

Whatever happened to the boobie caps?

Title: Re: [IC] Furry keycaps Project (Chewbacca, armpits and pussicats)
Post by: Mandolin on Mon, 25 May 2015, 03:07:31

I've been making them as best as I can. Long answer in your PM's.

When I have the proper silicone casts I'll update that thread.

(http://i.imgur.com/uuQ82rUl.jpg)