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geekhack Community => Keyboard Keycaps => Topic started by: UKKeycaps on Wed, 08 July 2015, 18:31:38

Title: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: UKKeycaps on Wed, 08 July 2015, 18:31:38: I need a load of 1x1 keycaps of any row/profile for a... thing

Where's the best place for buying a load of cherry mx keycaps at the lowest possible price? I don't mind if they're thin pad printed ABS.

Any ideas?

Thanks
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: wlhlm on Wed, 08 July 2015, 18:35:21: Beserkerfan was selling a ton of white blank PBTs a while back, maybe there are some left: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71143 $.4/cap
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: fohat.digs on Wed, 08 July 2015, 19:06:51: If this is an art project or something similar (please post the results!) you should go to the grubbiest 2nd-hand store in town and ask what they have in the dirty back corner. Around here (US), I could probably get a dozen keyboards at every 3rd or 4th thrift store for $1-$2 each which translates to a penny or 2 per cap.

But it would take a few hours of driving around, at least.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: UKKeycaps on Wed, 08 July 2015, 19:35:16: Quote from: wlhlm on Wed, 08 July 2015, 18:35:21
Beserkerfan was selling a ton of white blank PBTs a while back, maybe there are some left: https://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=71143 $.4/cap

That's an amazing price for PBT but I'm still looking for something a little cheaper, around the £0.10 per key or less

Quote from: fohat.digs on Wed, 08 July 2015, 19:06:51
If this is an art project or something similar (please post the results!) you should go to the grubbiest 2nd-hand store in town and ask what they have in the dirty back corner. Around here (US), I could probably get a dozen keyboards at every 3rd or 4th thrift store for $1-$2 each which translates to a penny or 2 per cap.

But it would take a few hours of driving around, at least.

I don't think it's the same in the UK really, I could get some old boards on eBay I guess
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: rowdy on Wed, 08 July 2015, 22:51:38: Depending on how many you want, maybe someone has the contents of a PMK Crap Bag that they don't want.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: UKKeycaps on Thu, 09 July 2015, 05:59:16: Yeah that might be the bet bet. Someine in the UK must have gotten one...
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: azhdar on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:01:04: I'd say find old wyse keyboard with mx compatible keycaps. You can get some for like 10$ and you even end up with a metal plate and a bunch of switches.

Caps are **** though.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:25:24: New Tai-Hao doubleshot sets go for $15 ish in the Classifieds and Newegg.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: UKKeycaps on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:45:14: I appriciate the replies but they assume i'm in the US. I'm in the UK and I'm really aiming for something around £0.05 per key
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: CPTBadAss on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:46:45: Quote from: UKKeycaps on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:45:14
I appriciate the replies but they assume i'm in the US. I'm in the UK and I'm really aiming for something around £0.05 per key

Tai Hao is based out of China or Taiwan and they've made keycaps for various companies such as Pexon, Newegg, and GBs in the classifieds. I don't know if you'll be able to find caps for that price on the retail side but it couldn't hurt to do some research on Tai Hao and find a contact there so you can see what their prices are direct.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: UKKeycaps on Thu, 09 July 2015, 08:54:12: I actually have a groupbuy running right now for Tai Hao PBT keycaps. Although their keycaps are cheap they're not crap bag cheap. As I said I'm looking to pay around £0.05 per key, I think finding someone in the UK who got a grabbag is my best option.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: rowdy on Thu, 09 July 2015, 17:29:11: I gather that you're not really looking for complete keycap sets, just lost and lost of 1x keycaps of any profiles.

So paying extra for complete sets is probably a waste of time.

The thing with crap bags is the postage cost to anywhere outside the US. That's what kinda put me off last time.
Title: Re: Cheapest keycaps that can be bought?
Post by: Oobly on Fri, 10 July 2015, 01:40:51: You could also post a WTB for unwanted stock caps in Classifieds. Most people would be willing to sell the stock caps off their boards that they've put aftermarket ones on for a pretty low price.