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geekhack Community => Keyboards => Topic started by: OldIsNew on Sun, 23 April 2017, 18:06:44
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I am generally loath to alter anything original/vintage but have wanted to try a dye/paint job. I had an empty Model M case and bought a set of pebble/pearl keys from Unicomp. I figured I wouldn't feel too bad about painting an extra case but still couldn't bring myself to dye original keycaps, especially as Unicomp's are available. I used Rit DyeMore "racing red" dye (at boiling for 1 min) for the keycaps and red Valspar Paint for Plastics spray paint for the case. It's a gift for someone who really likes the feel of the Model M but won't have "that beige thing" on their desk. I don't think it came out too badly actually, but I'm still sticking with the beige things myself.
[attach=1]
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Hey if you're going to experiment, go ahead on a model M. There's literally millions of them.
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Ha, that's awesome. I'd see if you could dye the logo and the numlock overlay, or print something in red and do a cellophane packing tape overlay to "laminate" it.
Still functions like and M, and if you want to personalize it, go for it.
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Hey if you're going to experiment, go ahead on a model M. There's literally millions of them.
this
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Too much red for me personality. But hey, looks good and if it gets someone else on the Model M train I don't see the issue. Especially since you used "lesser" quality Unicomp caps.
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I'd see if you could dye the logo and the numlock overlay . . .
Well I figured why not - the badge took dye very quickly 15 - 20 sec and it was already a little darker than I planned but not bad! It doesn't show well in the pictures but the lock light overlay (I bought one from Unicomp) is a deep red-brown (looks more just brown in the pics). It took a while to get it to take dye (about 20 min).
Before:
[attach=1]
After:
[attach=2] [attach=3]
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The darker items do look better.
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The problem is he either didn't use a primer or chose the wrong primer color..
So the red looks a dirty orange..
or, it could be the camera being weird..
Sub surface scattering is very important to having vibrant colors..
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It`s the camera that gives it the orange tint - I noticed that too. The case turned out quite nice, a glossy race car red. I didn't expect too much from the Valspar paint, but it actually came out quite well as far as color/finish.
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That's a LOT of red, but it looks much better than I expected.
Instead of dying the stickers, another option would be to use some window tint and covered them with that.
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Hey if you're going to experiment, go ahead on a model M. There's literally millions of them.
this
that
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removed
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Being that M cases are PVC, it may be possible to dye them. I have at least 1 spare case, I may try it.
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My first thought when I saw this: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1838
Red keyboards have been done before, maybe not quite as big as the Model M though. That's quite a lot of red!
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My first thought when I saw this: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1838
Red keyboards have been done before, maybe not quite as big as the Model M though. That's quite a lot of red!
Right?
Still, a part of me kinda likes it. :D
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My first thought when I saw this: https://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/index.php?l=product_detail&p=1838
Red keyboards have been done before, maybe not quite as big as the Model M though. That's quite a lot of red!
Right?
Still, a part of me kinda likes it. :D
And I keep wondering what one of each colour would look like - green, blue and yellow.
If done properly and consistently like the red one.