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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:30:18

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:30:18

Hi all mod-experts

Do you guys know any where that could make the granite plastic like the SGI Onyx Granite keyboard? I am just in love this granite color, should it be grey, blue, black, they all look great. I want to make the casing for my Topre 87U as well as keycap.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:31:50

SGI granite keyboard

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:35:08

Krylon 'Make It Stone' paints: http://www.krylon.com/products/make_it_stone_textured_paints/

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: mp29k on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:48:20

Might be expensive, but make a case out of Corian countertop material.  Sometimes they have cheap scraps when they cut out the opening where the sink goes.  

You would have to do some research on how to bond it and do it in layers, and then also how to polich and shape it, but you would come out with a beautiful board, and it would be STURDY!

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:51:22

Quote from: Shawn Stanford;136165

Krylon 'Make It Stone' paints: http://www.krylon.com/products/make_it_stone_textured_paints/

Thanks, I will look for something similar in Australia. Are u experienced with painting on plastic? I don't have spare case or keycaps to experience on. So one shot must never miss the chance to blow.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 07:55:45

Quote from: mp29k;136172

Might be expensive, but make a case out of Corian countertop material.  Sometimes they have cheap scraps when they cut out the opening where the sink goes.  

You would have to do some research on how to bond it and do it in layers, and then also how to polich and shape it, but you would come out with a beautiful board, and it would be STURDY!

Your one is a good solution too but that means I could not reuse the pretty housing of my Topre. But it is indeed a creative way for my IBM M mod project.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 25 November 2009, 08:16:16

Quote

Thanks, I will look for something similar in Australia. Are u experienced with painting on plastic? I don't have spare case or keycaps to experience on. So one shot must never miss the chance to blow.

I painted a Model M case hot rod red with Krylon. The trick I learned from others' experience is to build the paint up in thin layers so that you don't get a buildup or runs. I think I did a half-dozen thin coats over the course of a week.

I did have a problem with the paint getting 'tacky' where I rest my fingers. That's dependent on the paint, but a solution might be to cure the paint in an oven for a few hours or to use a topcoat of some sort. Just a thought...

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 25 November 2009, 11:08:26

I found the tackiness to be increasing and distracting after a couple weeks as my work keyboard. So, in this case I don't think it's viable.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Wed, 25 November 2009, 12:08:27

None.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: joneslee85 on Wed, 25 November 2009, 16:25:45

Is there any plastic molder out there?

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: Shawn Stanford on Thu, 26 November 2009, 05:33:10

If you're looking for someone to make plastic components, there are a bunch of companies that will do rapid prototyping using your designs.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: ricercar on Thu, 26 November 2009, 13:27:51

TOP Plastics here in silicon valley makes lots of one-offs for entrepreneurs. They should be googlable.

Title: Granite / sandy plastic casing customisation
Post by: didjamatic on Thu, 26 November 2009, 13:47:15

http://www.culturedmarbleproducts.com/sprayon.htm