Scratch out/ Rubbing compound on ABS?

[typo]

Will high grit polish take the shine off ABS? I just thought of it but figured I better ask first.

[ImpendingxDoom]

Not in a very useful way (at least I haven't seen it done terribly successfully). The best way of texturing I've seen is from a light sand blasting.

IMO the "character" of worn in ABS is something that feels great. Like worn leather on your favorite pair of shoes .

[typo]

For the spacebar perhaps. I prefer PBT/POM DS and/or Dye Sub. However I never thought about what you say! Perhaps ABS DS is nice. Legends will not wear off and they will get the nice feling you describe. I have not used ABS in years but now you have me curious. I don't like shiny but if it feels great then that is alll that matters. I did not know this and wonder why everyone wants PBT/POM. Those are sand blasted above? Too much grain for me. I figure an aggressive rubbing compound will roughen it up but I am also afraid it will go right through it. That is to take factory paint off of cars. I guess just do not press much and only a few strokes. Now I am not talking about Scratch out which is very mild but rather like 15 grit rubbing compound. It is more abrasive than Pumice/Lava rock. If it will withstand sand blasting it should withstand a bit of this. I wear sneakers but I can imagine a fine Italian Wallet. There is a reason those Wallets are $600. For one thing they will outlast 100 Walmart ones. So I imagine you mean that feel. HMM I might get some ABS DS. Thanks.

[ImpendingxDoom]

For the spacebar perhaps. I prefer PBT/POM DS and/or Dye Sub. However I never thought about what you say! Perhaps ABS DS is nice. Legends will not wear off and they will get the nice feling you describe. I have not used ABS in years but now you have me curious. I don't like shiny but if it feels great then that is alll that matters. I did not know this and wonder why everyone wants PBT/POM. Those are sand blasted above? Too much grain for me. I figure an aggressive rubbing compound will roughen it up but I am also afraid it will go right through it. That is to take factory paint off of cars. I guess just do not press much and only a few strokes. Now I am not talking about Scratch out which is very mild but rather like 15 grit rubbing compound. It is more abrasive than Pumice/Lava rock. If it will withstand sand blasting it should withstand a bit of this. I wear sneakers but I can imagine a fine Italian Wallet. There is a reason those Wallets are $600. For one thing they will outlast 100 Walmart ones. So I imagine you mean that feel. HMM I might get some ABS DS. Thanks.

I'll never turn down a chance to see some keyboard science if you do want to try a few test caps and see what happens

[typo]

I will try some caps in the next few days. I wonder if it will go right through them but with little pressure applied I don't hink it will. Other than that I am not sure what the outcome will be. For all I know it will make them shinier! I have so many compounds I have to decide which one I want to attempt.  I am not sure if I should go with the most aggressive or something in the middle. I know Scratch Out will probably have little effect or make it smoother. On the other hand 15 Grit might go right through it. Then I have metal polishes for hard and soft metals. Rubbing compound is for paint. I gues I will just have to experiment. Luckily I have many well used ABS boards I do not care about. I will keep you posted.

[Sangdrax]

If you just want some grip back on the caps and to take the physical shine away, 2000 or 1000 grit wet or dry sandpaper will do the trick cheap and easy. If you do have to use sandblasting, just do something soft and fine grained. Loading up some plain old baking soda at 90psi is alright for the job. Sandpaper will give you the most control over a curved flat surface. Media blasting will dig at the edges and sides too.

If the shine itself doesn't bother you, but the unequal shine does, then just polish the whole lot with a paper towel and any good polishing compound. Plain old toothpaste will work in a pinch.

[tp4tissue]

even if that worked,  the shine will be back in no time..  not worth the effort..

[Sangdrax]

Honestly, that's why it's better to just polish them all once serious shine gets going on the most used keys.

[davkol]

I sanded ABS shell on MS WMO and some caps on an old, worn Logitech UltraX. It looked pretty bad, but didn't feel gross anymore, thankfully.

[typo]

Wow it's been a while tp4 haha. I am going to try 15 grit rubbing compound with nearly no pressure applied. Otherwise I will blast it. I did not know it is that soft, baking soda at 90psi. I media blast Stainless steel with pellets as hard as BB's at 300+psi. Stupid comparison but I did not know they are that soft.

Thanks for the ideas Guy's. I will get to it ass soon as i can.

[typo]

Goof fix. I gently rubbed it with 800 grit Emory cloth. Then I put on one coat of synthetic spray wax, dabbed it with a tight pebble pattern. Then Two more coats of spray wax applied evenly. It looks as new. Plus with that wax it is more like PBT now as far as wear is concerned. So it should stay that way without attention for a long time. I should have taken a before and after but I am busy right now.