Looking For Good Double Shot PBT Retro Keycaps

[CamTheKid22]

I've found it sort of difficult to find high-quality double shot PBT Retro Keycaps. Of course, there's the obvious GMK "Classic Retro" set, but I'm not a huge fan of all beige. I'm a huge fan of the GMK "Honeywell" Keycap set, especially because my grandpa was a big part in keyboard manufacturing with microswitch, back in the '60s, 70's, and '80s, but other than that I just love the look of white grey and red together. Does anyone know of a similar high-quality keycap set I can find? I just want something that has a retro look, I even like the look of the space-cadet keyboard, but alas, there's not a whole lot of options for retro keycaps.
I'd really appreciate anyone who has any suggestions.

[Riverman]

You should check out Aliexpress.  Most of what's there is a ripoff of something else, but the Chinese are making quite a few doubleshot PBT versions of various keycap colorways, if that's the material you're set on, although you'll find varying levels of quality.  There are also increasing numbers of reverse dye-sub keycaps, so they can do light text on dark keycaps.  I have a couple of reverse dye sub sets, and they're pretty well done, especially considering the price.  You should also post this in the keycap forum, or maybe a moderator will move it.

[Sup]

You know GMK only produces ABS doubles hot. Most high quality PBT sets the fonts are dye subbed . Making double shot PBT is not worth it for most manufacturers since it has more failures and dye subs never fade and shine like after 5 years of heavy use so double shot is a stupid idea.

The only manufacturer that makes good PBT double shots is Leopold i think.

[treeleaf64]

I know KP Republic sold some PBT Doubleshot carbon themed keycaps that actually looked good.
 Unfortunately I cannot find them anymore. PBT doubleshot is a long and arduous process.

The only retro thing Leopold sells will be their beige keycaps, but you need to buy a keyboard to obtain them.

[CamTheKid22]

You know GMK only produces ABS doubles hot. Most high quality PBT sets the fonts are dye subbed . Making double shot PBT is not worth it for most manufacturers since it has more failures and dye subs never fade and shine like after 5 years of heavy use so double shot is a stupid idea.

The only manufacturer that makes good PBT double shots is Leopold i think.

Thanks, don't know much about keycap dying, always thought that doubleshot PBT would be the only thing worth buying. The only thing I don't like about GMK is that the lettering is always in small font at the top left, while I want something that's large and in the middle. 

[Riverman]

Centered legend keycaps are usually going to be limited to keycaps that look like they're out of the '70s, like SA profile, or Mac keycaps.  SA keycaps are usually doubleshot ABS, for whatever reason, but Signature Plastics does have a couple of dye-subbed PBT versions.  I have their Industrial set, and it looks suitably retro, but more because of the profile of the keycaps and the centered legends.  The colorway is two-tone grey with a couple of orange accents.

[HungerMechanic]

Dye-sub is almost as good as double-shot, especially if you are going for a retro-look.

There's affordable retro PBT dye-sub out there, like Artifact Bloom "Vintage"

https://drop.com/buy/artifact-bloom-series-keycap-set-vintage#overview

and more expensive things like EnjoyPBT 9009, and the many other 9009 clones.

And then there's CRP, which makes sets based on retro designs in what is supposed to be very high-quality:

https://drop.com/buy/hammerworks-crp-pbt-dye-subbed-keycap-set

and that's just some of the more well-known ones.

[HungerMechanic]

If you want double-shot [ABS], you can still pre-order DCS 'sleeper,' which is a gray-ish/white set that has optional colour accents

https://drop.com/buy/drop-mito-dcs-sleeper-custom-keycap-set


and for a retro-inspired profile and colourway, you could try something like MT3 Dasher

https://drop.com/buy/drop-mt3-dasher-keycap-set