Author Topic: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal  (Read 4552 times)

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Offline Delsorbo

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CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 01:25:28 »
I really want a blank keyboard just to mess with people who try to use my computer if they can't touch type (everyone in my family lol) I have a cm quickfire rapid and it seems I can take the markings off it. Does anyone know if there's a solution (alcohol, acetone) that will rub them off easily without damaging the keys?
« Last Edit: Sun, 16 September 2012, 09:51:35 by Delsorbo »
CM Quickfire Rapid - MX Red's | Metadot Das Ultimate Silent | Steel Series 6gv2

Offline stingrae

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 04:53:09 »
would so totally do this if i could work it out...but this should be in keycap section.
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Offline WhiteFireDragon

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 04:58:11 »
Just buy blank key caps. You can find them on wasdkeyboards.com, feng, qtan, or imsto.

Offline Delsorbo

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 08:49:45 »
oops.. didn't realize there's a different section for keycaps.


are they caps universal for all boards?
CM Quickfire Rapid - MX Red's | Metadot Das Ultimate Silent | Steel Series 6gv2

Offline Delsorbo

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 09:51:23 »
bah.. now in a dilemma. I like what wasdkeys because i can customize the wasd keys to a different color and I can also order o-rings from them, but the ducky ones are great because they have the replacement keys for the function and capslock key with LED lights.  Also costs a bit more too.. damn what should I do!!  :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

/edit: nevermind.. it's $45+$28 shipping to canada from mechinalkeyboards.com. I'd rather just buy an otaku keyboard from elitekeyboards.com
« Last Edit: Sun, 16 September 2012, 09:54:04 by Delsorbo »
CM Quickfire Rapid - MX Red's | Metadot Das Ultimate Silent | Steel Series 6gv2

Offline gvfarns

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 10:33:19 »
I have the same keyboard and was annoyed with the texture of the keys and the thick ink of the glue from which the letters are made (it's not laser etching, just ink).  I tried acetone and several other chemicals without good results.  I don't think there is a chemical solution that will yield good results easily.

Finally I got some sandpaper (400 grit) and rubbed off all the texture on every key, as well as the logos on the spacebar and windows keys.  It went pretty fast.  Then I rubbed all the keys again with 2000 grit (probably should have used one level of sandpaper in between).  Then I buffed it (to remove the haziness left by the sanding) with a felt tip dremel tool (which I put in my drill because I don't have a dremel).  Perfect results.  All that sanding is a bit of work for your fingers, but the results are worth it.

If you rub for just a little while, you just remove the texture, rub for a bit longer and you remove the ink with which the letters are printed.  A couple of sheets of sandpaper are cheaper than a new keycap set.  Also smooth, shiny keys are awesome.

Be sure to use water when you sand, otherwise the plastic gunks up the sandpaper.
« Last Edit: Sun, 16 September 2012, 10:50:31 by gvfarns »

Offline IvanIvanovich

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 11:11:50 »
I thought it was pad print. If it is try some dot4 brake fluid, castrol super clean, easy-off oven cleaner, or chameleon model paint remover. One of them should work. Can lift some types of paint/ink and does not damage abs. So you can get rid of legend and not loose texture. There's a good chance you might have some of those items around already. If it's lasered then there is nothing to do but remove the surface with abrasive as it is effectively burned in.

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 19:20:32 »
I thought it was pad print. If it is try some dot4 brake fluid, castrol super clean, easy-off oven cleaner, or chameleon model paint remover. One of them should work. Can lift some types of paint/ink and does not damage abs. So you can get rid of legend and not loose texture. There's a good chance you might have some of those items around already. If it's lasered then there is nothing to do but remove the surface with abrasive as it is effectively burned in.

I wouldn't recommend any of those.   ABS will be ruined by every one of those things you listed. The damage is not always dramatically apparent, but that's always been the trouble with ABS, the slow death.


OP, you're better off just buying a set of blank keycaps. They have ABS blanks at WASD, and PBT blanks on ebay sold be Geek feng

If you are buying black, I'd recommend the PBT because black will easily turn shiny if they're abs caps.

If you are buying lighter colors like white red yellow blue, then I'd recommend the ABS, because even if there is some shine on those colors, it doesn't look bad at all.

The reason I'd recommend WASD white, is because the PBT white that feng sells isn't really white. It's more of a white shifted blue/violet, due to the UV dye they must've used.

Offline Delsorbo

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 21:22:54 »
noob question, but what is ABS and PBT?
edit: never mind looked it up.
« Last Edit: Sun, 16 September 2012, 21:42:21 by Delsorbo »
CM Quickfire Rapid - MX Red's | Metadot Das Ultimate Silent | Steel Series 6gv2

Offline tp4tissue

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Re: CM Quickfire Rapid Laser Etching Removal
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 16 September 2012, 21:57:31 »
noob question, but what is ABS and PBT?
edit: never mind looked it up.

I think those red ABS from wasd would look *****ing on the quickfire.. OR the Yellow.. yea... yellow.... go yellow....