Crafting wooden keys for my FILCO

[Yoshileon]

Hey,

A couple of days ago I started to look for a wooden keyboard on internet, and the only one I found was very expensive.
I'm thinking about making my own. I have a keyboard with cherry mx switches (filco).
What do you think, how difficult it would be to make every key out of wood? I have the tools.
Any suggestions, ideas?

UPDATE #1:
I drew the plans for the wooden keys, but crafting them will be the hard part...
How should I carve the little cross on the bottom?? And what type of wood should I use?

UPDATE #2:
OK the project is dead, I'm still too lazy to do anything in my life.

[Urglifast]

use a sexy wood like Walnut.  or see if you can't find some nice Flame Maple.  Hard woods will treat you better as the details will hold up better.

[inaneframe]

I'm guessing you're going to want to do whittling and not actual carving.

I would recommend that you have a dremel tool and a two different specialty whittling knives, one for the outside work of the keys and another for the inside carving.  One straightish and the other curved.

You're going to want to machine the cherry cruciform and do it from one long rod just over a centimeter thick, cut them into pieces up to half inch sections for each key.  

The actual key portion you're gonna need to get a long stick about a half an inch on one side and three quarters on the other, this will allow you to cut long and short keys from the same stick of wood.  I would get something real cheap from your local hardware store first just to get a feel for what your trying to do.

If you get a feel for it, then get a more expensive wood.

Oh and safety safety safety, you can always buy a new keyboard, you can never get new real fingers.

Buy a book on whittling.

Get tools that have fat handles, trust me, your hands will thank you:

http://www.tooldistrict.com/product-p/338346.htm

[N8N]

Alternate idea - why not buy a set of blanks from someone like WASD or something, and glue wood tops on them?

I see in particular making the cruciform/socket bits as being problematic.

[jmw19]

Or sacrifice a set of plastic keys - trim the tops to, say, .25", then drill a blind hole in the wooden key, a bit of glue, and there you are. Alignment would be a pain, but wouldn't take as long as carving the keys.

On that, there are CNC machines for wood - they might be a good option. That, or get a small mill and a good vise, and make some jigs for the basic shaping. Keys are a fairly complex set of curves.

Third idea is to get a set of keys in orange or yellow plastic, and paint them with a 2-in-1 stain and sealant, to get a woodgrain effect. Engraved letters should still show through, or you could go for the blank style.

[Urglifast]

Black Walnut to be specific.
(Attachment Link) 28399[/ATTACH]

well played sir, well played

[Input Nirvana]

I'm speaking with WASD Keyboards for him to take over the group buy. The deal, details and manufacturer is still a go, nothing has changed. That was the challenge to get it set up. Remember, I was going to have an order spreadsheet on Oct. 1, but I've had a dramatic change occur that will not allow me to do a great job for the group buy. WASD has the ability to do it well, and stock items after the initial buy.

Info to follow in a couple more days. I'm sorry for delays.

[keyboardlover]

Hope it's not the clap. I know you're very active in the community.

[Input Nirvana]

From what I hear, the clap is cured with a small steel rod up the pee-hole, that would be a much easier fix

[LETE]

Use teak the wonder wood, and a CNC router.

[simon_C]

any hardwood really. just do vacuum infused oil treatment for a durable, shiny, yet textured finish
http://spatulatzar.com/zen_rake/