Black Model M with pad printing on the front

[nebular]

I, like many others, would love to have a completely black Modem M keyboard. However I, like many others, still need (or are more comfortable with) visual references on the keys while typing, so the various blank key options don't help. The M13 used pad printing, but as we all know that wears to easily, but what if we didn't put the printing on the top?
Has anyone ever come out with black model M keycaps with pad printing on the front? The issue with wear wouldn't be as big as you're not regularly touching the print.

Does anyone know where something like this could be found, or what I would need to do to make this happen?

[E TwentyNine]

The brute force way:

• Buy blank keyset from Unicomp
• Buy a home labeller, like a Brother p-Touch
• Buy white on clear label tape: Example
• Have at it

[Puddsy]

The brute force way:

• Buy blank keyset from Unicomp
• Buy a home labeller, like a Brother p-Touch
• Buy white on clear label tape: Example
• Have at it

Short of buying a dyesub printer, this is probably the best way.

[rowdy]

Welcome to Geekhack!

Black on black would be difficult to read at the best of times

White on black, as suggested above, would be better, but would not result in a completely black keyboard.

Unless maybe you can find some dark gray label tape ...

[Touch_It]

If you contact Unicomp it may be possible to do a custom order.  Maybe someone has already tried this and its not possible, but worth a shot I'd imagine.

[E TwentyNine]

If you contact Unicomp it may be possible to do a custom order.  Maybe someone has already tried this and its not possible, but worth a shot I'd imagine.

Unicomp doesn't do pad printing.

[Touch_It]

If you contact Unicomp it may be possible to do a custom order.  Maybe someone has already tried this and its not possible, but worth a shot I'd imagine.

Unicomp doesn't do pad printing.

Ahh.  I suppose as well that they wouldn't do dye sub on the front or if they do if there Is a reason the op wants pad printed.  Some of the stuff Unicomp does I'm still a noob on.

Edit thought about this and, well yeah.  Classic case of not thinking.

[1391406]

You can buy a full set of white on black sticker overlays from Hooleon.com.

[RoflCopter4]

I thought pad printing actually didn't fade so badly so long as you just put a clear plastic overlay on each key? Did IBM try that on their black boards?

[fohat.digs]

Any film applied to a surface will abrade off eventually. Clear top coats postpone that wear date slightly, but make it uglier and worse when it does happen.

That is why Unicomp stopped doing the pad-printed white on black.

You cannot dye lighter colors onto darker substrates.

[E TwentyNine]

You can buy a full set of white on black sticker overlays from Hooleon.com.

Forgot all about these.  eBay has them too, likely cheaper.  Guess you'd be gambling with quality unless someone has experience with these?

[nebular]

I'm looking into pad rinting in order to get the white type on black keys. You can't dye black and no one does doubleshot model m keycaps.

I'd like to avoid stickers as I find pad printing to look nicer especially if I'm applying the stickers.

I'm thinking of inquiring with fentek. Not sure how much demand there would be for front printed black keycaps though.

[silas1128]

So I will be putting together a custom model m soon that will probably have some of the pad printed M13 keys. I am going to buy some heavy duty spray on lacquer or enamel and see if that can stop the premature wearing.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

So I will be putting together a custom model m soon that will probably have some of the pad printed M13 keys. I am going to buy some heavy duty spray on lacquer or enamel and see if that can stop the premature wearing.

There isn't really a fair test unless you perform a destructive test, because pad printing longevity varies by user. You would have to know beforehand which types of pad printing you've been able to wear through readily; I cannot assume from your post that you actually are someone who wears through pad printing quickly.

[fohat.digs]

I am going to buy some heavy duty spray on lacquer or enamel and see if that can stop the premature wearing.

"Stop" = delay

The big problem is that sooner/later the "E" will be quite degraded while F9 will still look brand new.

[Daniel Beardsmore]

Pad printing is very specific to an individual. My 2010 Majestouch at home still has 100% perfect pad printing, while some people wear out the letters in no time.

What's really funny is when the lacquer is stronger than the plastic, and the whole surface of the keycap is worn away, but the lacquer over the pad printing is still there.

Pad printing doesn't guarantee failure; double-shot does guarantee success though.

[Puddsy]

Pad printing will always fade. No matter what.

[nebular]

Pad printing will always fade. No matter what.

Yes, but if you print on a part of the key that is rarely touched then it will last a whole lot longer.

I'm just trying to find a solution to getting Black model M keycaps with white lettering. You can't dye, I've found no one doing doubleshot for model M. Pad seems to be the way to go and if I'm going to use pad printing, I want it on a part of the key that I'm not touching.

[fohat.digs]

Yes, but if you print on a part of the key that is rarely touched then it will last a whole lot longer.

I do think that you are on the right track here.

The fronts of the key caps see very little abrasion and well-printed legends should last for years in that position.

[nebular]

Ok, so the question is, who does pad printing on keycaps?

Unicomp and Fentek are out as they don't pad print. I live in Whitehorse so the local plastics industry is non-existent. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

[Daniel Beardsmore]

You mean, ad-hoc pad printing with no MOQ? Signature Plastics do pad printing, but I assume you mean someone who can do you a one-off batch.

[nebular]

Doesn't have to be a one off.  I can float the idea as a group buy.