Replacing Xamor u9bl keycaps

[BlueShift]

Hi, I had ordered the xarmor u9bl because I had initially wanted the backlight - or - at least I thought I did. Now it is really more of a distraction and I want some blank keys to go on my keyboard instead because I am a big fan of minimalism. (About two weeks after buying the keyboard I became kind of upset I didn't go with the das ultimate) and for now I want a cost effective solution to making my keys blank. So, I want to order some keys from wasd. My question to you guys is will the LEDs under the keycaps make a difference? Furthermore, is there a guide on  how to remove non standard keys such as the shift, backspace, esc key, etc? I had previously tried removing them with the standard keycap remover however when they didn't come off easily I decided to  hold off on it because I didn't want to break the keyboard. The problem is made worse by the fact that there is almost no documentation for Xarmor on the web anywhere.
Thanks for your help

Also, one sidenote: Will changing the keycaps change the sound of my keyboard?

[simon_C]

the keys pull off with minimal effort using the included puller. ive got one myself, and ive pulled a few keys off. just pull straight up.

[BlueShift]

Ok so just for a test I tried to pull off my right shift but now it feels very gummy. I'd assume you need to take the hooks and loop them through the two loops on the back of the keycap?

[Quarzac]

Ok so just for a test I tried to pull off my right shift but now it feels very gummy. I'd assume you need to take the hooks and loop them through the two loops on the back of the keycap?

 
I believe that is accurate. Can't you turn off the backlighting on the XArmor? Heck, judging from an LED mod I saw on (I think) OCN, you can just desolder one and they should all go out. Although that seems like an absolutely terrible way to wire the lighting, and that mod thread was very, very vague. So I have no idea if that is true. I've read that changing the keycaps can change the sound, depending on the thickness of the caps and the type of plastic.

[The Solutor]

There's a guide on the wiki to remove the keycaps

Also, one sidenote: Will changing the keycaps change the sound of my keyboard?

Definitely, the original keycaps are keeping the sound more dampened than the cheap filco style keycaps, if you want to replace them better to use some pbt ones

[johndoe]

im not entirely sure, but i fink some of the Xarmor keycaps are smaller/biggger than WASD keycaps. I emailed iOne a while ago thinking about replacing some keys for a u9bl-s.

the measurement they gave was
Space Bar  length 4.5 inch (WASD is 4.66)
Alt key length 1.1 inch (WASD is 0.9)

Doing the maths i fink u get 0.24inches difference for these keys. Reason i didnt try it was because the slots for the switch on the underside of the keycaps might not fit. Also the width of Xarmor keys wasnt mentioned. Feel free to give it a shot.

[The Solutor]

The wasd keycaps are compatible excluding the spacebar row

[spzz]

I'm pretty sure even you change the keycaps the light underneath will still show through. I tried it once with my Ducky keyboard which has a lighted up NumLock key. I put a normal key over it and you can still see the light underneath

[The Solutor]

Maybe turning the backlight off could solve that incredible problem?

Btw a little bleeding light below standard or otaku keycaps is nice.

[BlueShift]

Yeah I could turn the backlight off, I was wondering if the actual LED's themselves would cause any issue with the keys fitting. I suppose from the responses I have gotten here it isn't an issue. By keycaps compatable excluding the spacebar row you mean that I would not be able to replace anything in that row all the way across or just the main set of keys, being spacebar, ctrl, alt, etc?

[The Solutor]

I suppose from the responses I have gotten here it isn't an issue.

Correct

By keycaps compatable excluding the spacebar row you mean that I would not be able to replace anything in that row all the way across or just the main set of keys, being spacebar, ctrl, alt, etc?

Just look a photo of a filco/ducky/wasd keyboard and a photo of a black widow/xarmor/qpad all the keycaps are sized differntly.

[pitashen]

all cherry switches come with the compatibility of physically fitting LED lights. If i am not mistaken.

[crazing]

Definitely, the original keycaps are keeping the sound more dampened than the cheap filco style keycaps, if you want to replace them better to use some pbt ones

I thought I read somewhere that PBT keys are louder, because they're harder?  Was that only in terms of bottoming out (but thicker plastic would dampen a blue's click more?), or perhaps only with a certain mounting?  Or have I just confused myself from reading a bunch without any actual experience?

[The Solutor]

I thought I read somewhere that PBT keys are louder, because they're harder?  Was that only in terms of bottoming out (but thicker plastic would dampen a blue's click more?), or perhaps only with a certain mounting?  Or have 55I just confused myself from reading a bunch without any actual experience?

Differences are subtle and more perceivable comparing filco keycaps with other kind of plastics.

BTW PBT keycaps aren't surely louder than ABS ones...