High level of nickel in Filco keyboard?

[sely]

I recently bought my first mechanical keyboard, a Filco Majestouch FKB104M/EB, and received it last Saturday.  I love the keyboard but on Sunday I noticed I was getting some small blisters on my fingers, especially on my left hand.  I didn't think much of it but on Tuesday the bumps had become worse and the inside of my forearms was becoming red with small bumps.  At around this time I started to wonder if this rash had something to do with my keyboard.  I have have had an allergic reaction to nickel before from a belt buckle, so I began to wonder if perhaps the Filco keyboard contained nickel that might be irritating my skin.  

So I wondered if anyone has ever heard of a similar problem or has information about the amount of nickel in a Filco Majestouch keyboard.  What I find strange is that a nickel allergy is usually triggered by direct contact with the skin, and as far as I can tell the keys on the Filco are plastic, and anything directly under the keys that my fingers might come into contact with my skin (switches, etc.) are also plastic.  I searched the internet but was unable to find any information directly connecting nickel allergy and keyboards so I thought this might be a good place to ask.  I tentatively plan on trying the Filco again when these bumps clear up, as I love the keyboard, but for now I am back to my Samsung DT35. :/  

If anyone could provide any information on this I would greatly appreciate it, thanks!

[quadibloc]

I'm sorry to hear about this. All I can say is that you should stay away from Canada. Our coins, except for pennies and the $1 and $2 coins, are solid nickel.

[keyb_gr]

Encountering nickel on the keys or outer shell of the keyboard would be unexpected indeed. Maybe try wiping the board with water and a bit of dishwashing detergent.

[sely]

Encountering nickel on the keys or outer shell of the keyboard would be unexpected indeed. Maybe try wiping the board with water and a bit of dishwashing detergent.

This was my thought too, I don't understand where I would contact the metal with plastic key caps.  The thing that really makes me look at the keyboard, other than the time frame, is that my left hand was the one most affected which makes sense because my right hand is so often on the mouse.  

Thanks for the advice about washing the keyboard though, I will definitely wash it thoroughly before trying it again.

[Rajagra]

Did anyone work out what's in the anti-wear coating on Filco keycaps? I wonder if they contain latex.

Now I think about it, I used to constantly have dry skin on the main joint of my left thumb. Nothing I tried fixed it. But at some point it just cleared up - and I think it was around the time I started trying new keyboards. Maybe coincidence, but it makes you think.

[sely]

Did anyone work out what's in the anti-wear coating on Filco keycaps? I wonder if they contain latex.

Now I think about it, I used to constantly have dry skin on the main joint of my left thumb. Nothing I tried fixed it. But at some point it just cleared up - and I think it was around the time I started trying new keyboards. Maybe coincidence, but it makes you think.

This was another thought I had, that some coating on the keys could be the cause.  I plan on doing a through washing soon (with rubber gloves, of course) so hopefully that will remove any chemical that may be present on the surface of they keys.

I suppose I do have sensitive skin and what I am experiencing may not be from nickel but something else entirely.  Thanks for the insight.

[vicz]

I'm sorry to hear about this. All I can say is that you should stay away from Canada. Our coins, except for pennies and the $1 and $2 coins, are solid nickel.

True only for 20th century coins (of which many are, of course, still in circulation). Canadian 5, 10, 25 and 50-cent coins minted since 2000 are nickel-plated steel.

[a_fluffy_kitten]

Yes, technically we lose money on each nickel made but we make it up with volume.

[chrs]

I had a similar reaction where my palms contacted the front of my SGI Granite board, and one old Dell laptop.  I never had it with keycaps though.  So I just covered the offending areas with polypropylene tape (standard packing tape).  Doing that to each key would be a pain, but possible.

[kps]

... Canada. Our coins, except for pennies and the $1 and $2 coins, are solid nickel.

True only for 20th century coins (of which many are, of course, still in circulation).

The quarter and dime were 99.9% nickel, yes, but not the nickel – it was 75% copper.

I don't write this stuff.

[sely]

Well, this past weekend I removed the keys from my Filco, washed them with warm water and dish soap, and scrubbed the body of the keyboard as best I could.  I let everything dry throughly, put it back together and so far I have not had any irritation of the skin.

My initial suspicion that the reaction was caused by nickel doesn't seem to be plausible because there could have really been no contact with nickel through the keyboard as the key caps and case are plastic.  I guess there must have been some chemical coating on the keyboard that irritated my skin. I appreciate everyone's advice and hope to enjoy my Filco for many years to come!

[Rajagra]

You don't own a keyboard until you've cleaned the keycaps at least once.

[Arc'xer]

Have you considered an allergen-free soap? Maybe the soap your using is causing a negative reaction or removing too much good bacteria from your hands and causing rash and or skin issues.