Author Topic: Laser Etched Key Caps  (Read 1758 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline cdamonsmith

  • Thread Starter
  • Posts: 5
Laser Etched Key Caps
« on: Sat, 30 November 2013, 00:50:52 »
I apologize if this has been discussed elsewhere, but I have a question regarding the laser etched key caps on a used black Dell AT101W I recently bought. The keyboard has been cleaned inside and out and everything is perfect (I actually like the black alps quite a bit), but the most often used key caps themselves are worn out.

My question is: is this a matter of cleaning? Is there a way I can get them bright white again? Or, because they are etched, is this just the black plastic underneath showing through?

If the latter is the case, what are my best options? Has anyone tried to Rit Dye laser etched key caps before? I might just try to erase the etchings completely rather than clean them up.

Thanks for any help. Also, this is the first time I've visited this forum in a couple years and DAMN has this place grown. 
« Last Edit: Sat, 30 November 2013, 01:50:41 by cdamonsmith »
IBM M13 (13H6705)
Ione Scorpius M10  
HHKB Lite 2

Offline davkol

  •  Post Editing Timeout
  • Posts: 4994
Re: Laser Etched Key Caps
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 01 December 2013, 09:42:13 »
Can you post a picture?

Anyway, I'd try plastidip. It creates coating that can last for a while and feel good IMHO.

Offline fohat.digs

  • * Elevated Elder
  • Posts: 6538
  • Location: 35°55'N, 83°53'W
  • weird funny old guy
Re: Laser Etched Key Caps
« Reply #2 on: Wed, 04 December 2013, 20:18:20 »
Has anyone tried to Rit Dye laser etched key caps before?

ABS can be Retro-Brited but not dyed with RIT, because the activation temperature of the dye and the melt temperature of the plastic (190F-200F / 90C-95C) is about the same.
"However, my view has changed in recent days. Trump’s behavior is so bizarre, so unhinged, and so counter to his short-term interests that the most likely explanation for his actions is that Trump either believes or knows that he is mentioned in the Epstein files in ways that are even more damaging than the blowback he is getting for not releasing the files."
- Greg Pfieffer 2025-07-21