What's the best way to dye your keyboard?

[jensma]

Hi folks!
I just bought my first buckling-spring keyboard after reading a load of threads in this forum =)

Dang, I stumbled across dyed keyboards which were quite awesome =)

My question: I want to dye a IBM Model M keyboard - I saw a thread with over 20 pages of failed attemps to dye keyboards. I'm not sure what's the right way to color my keyboard

Any suggestions?

PS: I know about my weird grammar, english isn't my native language ;(

[jensma]

Damn, those look amazing!

But... how do I prevent warped, disformed and cooked-to-crumble-keys? Is there any list with compatible keyboards/materials? Or any advices like "don't cook your Model M keys above 90°C"?

[jensma]

Alright, thanks for the info =)
I'm going to spraypaint the case with some.. uhm.. how to say it in english.. "scratch-proof"-paint. What do you mean by wearing down the plastic? And what happened to the half key in the picture?

[jensma]

You frightened me.

[jensma]

What the-?

This is weird.. I don't even know the movie =D

Ah, another question: It seems to be the best way to dye, when I boil the water, let it cool down for a minute or two, then dip in the keys for a while and repeat these steps over and over again - right?

I'm feared of banana-like space bars

I'm cautious because it took a while to get my hands on a IBM Model M with german layout (to be honest, it's not IBM - which is weird. I'm going to show the forum some pics when it's arrived. The keyboard was manufactured by a company named "Tulip" in Holland.)

Here's the only pic I got so far:



The seller told me that the keyboard has an DIN-AT connector and the sticker on the back is missing. He also said that it's the exact same model as the IBM 1391403.
Since the real IBM Model M's are about $50 at ebay Germany, this weird Tulip-thing was just $5.

[pfink]

Alright, thanks for the info =)
I'm going to spraypaint the case with some.. uhm.. how to say it in english.. "scratch-proof"-paint. What do you mean by wearing down the plastic? And what happened to the half key in the picture?

If you can find it, "vinyl dye" type spray paint works great on Model M cases. It penetrates the surface of the plastic rather than just surface coating it like regular spray paint, so it won't chip off over time.

More info here:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6759

[jensma]

If you can find it, "vinyl dye" type spray paint works great on Model M cases. It penetrates the surface of the plastic rather than just surface coating it like regular spray paint, so it won't chip off over time.

More info here:

http://geekhack.org/showwiki.php?title=Island:6759

Woah, great hint!
Looks awesome, I'm going to the hardware store to look for it, thanks!

[Findecanor]

If you have read the thread about dyeing keys, then you should also have seen that many brands of fabric dye don't do a very good job on plastic. Most tutorials are for Rit Dye which seems to be very common in the US. You can get Rit Dye on ebay.co.uk! It costs around £6 / pack including s/h, which I find is just what it costs to buy another brand locally.

[phoenix]

What the-?

This is weird.. I don't even know the movie =D

Ah, another question: It seems to be the best way to dye, when I boil the water, let it cool down for a minute or two, then dip in the keys for a while and repeat these steps over and over again - right?

I'm feared of banana-like space bars

I'm cautious because it took a while to get my hands on a IBM Model M with german layout (to be honest, it's not IBM - which is weird. I'm going to show the forum some pics when it's arrived. The keyboard was manufactured by a company named "Tulip" in Holland.)

Here's the only pic I got so far:

Show Image

The seller told me that the keyboard has an DIN-AT connector and the sticker on the back is missing. He also said that it's the exact same model as the IBM 1391403.
Since the real IBM Model M's are about $50 at ebay Germany, this weird Tulip-thing was just $5.

I'm used to being the bearer of bad news, so let me say what others are trying their best to hold back: it is not weird, because it is neither an IBM(which you know) nor a Model M(it's too flat to possibly be a rebranded one). So no need to be cautious. Go ahead and use it as a practice subject :)

[jensma]

If you have read the thread about dyeing keys, then you should also have seen that many brands of fabric dye don't do a very good job on plastic. Most tutorials are for Rit Dye which seems to be very common in the US. You can get Rit Dye on ebay.co.uk! It costs around £6 / pack including s/h, which I find is just what it costs to buy another brand locally.

Yeah, I totally forgot about ebay.co.uk =) Our local brand - Simplicol - is just too weak for keyboards, as seen in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OsR5bLNY58

@phoenix: Is this Tulip-branded keyboard is a rip-off? I wasn't able to find any information about the manufacturer or just other Tulip-Keyboards. Damn, what did I bought there? I'm curious as hell =D

edit: digging around the internet revealed the Tulip keyboards to be extremely loud non-tactile mechanical keyboards. Yay for that, I like 'em loud

[phoenix]

Even though it's not a model m, it might turn out to have some interesting switches. Do let us know when you receive it.

[jensma]

Even though it's not a model m, it might turn out to have some interesting switches. Do let us know when you receive it.

Sure thing, I'll pop it open, take pictures from every angle, record some audio, make a clip for youtube a.s.o.

I won't leave you guys in the lurch.

[jensma]

Eww, rubber domes.

The title of the auction said "Clicky Keyboard".
Be so kind and cross your fingers - I don't want rubber domes

Ah, he also said the keyboard is extremely heavy.

edit: I just found Tulip's website (anyone here who understands dutch?). The seller said he pulled the keyboard off an 486. Tulip just built one 486-System: http://www.tulipgv.nl/ttr.htm - so this could be my keyboard.

Tulip never made stuff, just put their labels on stuff that others made.

[kishy]

The profile looks Alps-ish to me. I think you'll end up with something acceptable regardless of it being IBM or not.

[Mental Hobbit]

Looks like an old Chicony to me. There's a good chance it has either Montereys or white complicated Alps, which are both very good switches. I'm pretty sure it's not a rubber dome.

[jensma]

I wonder where to get a new space bar if I warp mine...

[Mental Hobbit]

edit: I just found Tulip's website (anyone here who understands dutch?). The seller said he pulled the keyboard off an 486. Tulip just built one 486-System: http://www.tulipgv.nl/ttr.htm - so this could be my keyboard.

I guess Tulip bought their boards wherever they could get them at a good price. I have a Tulip made by Monterey with white complicated Alps, but that's not yours. I think yours is a Chicony, so it could have any of about a dozen different switches in it, most of which are very nice.

[jensma]

I guess Tulip bought their boards wherever they could get them at a good price. I have a Tulip made by Monterey with white complicated Alps, but that's not yours. I think yours is a Chicony, so it could have any of about a dozen different switches in it, most of which are very nice.

Yay, are we the German minority =D?
The seller said the caps can be removed; so it should be possible to buy a replacement cap. But what shop on earth sells these 0o?

[Mental Hobbit]

We'll find out when you got the board and know if it has Alps (-compatible) or Cherry (-compatible) switches.

[jensma]

I can safely say it's not the exact same model as the IBM 1391403 like the Ebay seller said.  Where do these guys get their info??

Hey, it's not the one sixty posted

Maybe the seller just guessed.. or he's just dumb.

Redirecting you to the new thread...