WASD - UV printed-version: durability question

[Qantourisc]

Backstory:
My old dome keyboard U-key (seems like it's starting to break down, a few days ago it didn't snap, now it's snapping again).
Since this thing is 12 years old, and I use it a lot, I'm very tempted on a mechanical keyboard.
Since I'm bit in a special situation I'm interested in getting a custom keycap print with 3 layouts (No I'm not brave enough to go blank).

So I've been looking at WASD key caps, but I have heard rumours they are not durable at all.

Questions

• Anyone has experience with WASD UV printer (ABS?) key caps wearing (or lack there of) ?
  Is the entire key-cap covered in a UV layer or just the printed part ?

Thanks for any input.

[Hazel]

I used the new UV-printed WASD keycaps on my ergodox for a couple months with no indication of wear or shine.  The coating covers the entire keycap and gives it a slightly-slick PBT-like feel.  The new keys seem to be of a much higher quality than their old keys.

I have a WASDv2 as well (but I use my old laser-etched set on it), it's never given me any problems.   I love the fact that it supports the Dvorak and Colemak layouts in hardware, but you probably don't care about that.

[Qantourisc]

I didn't know you could hardware switch them yet. (Imo that's for the OS, and caps-lock is another modifier key for me, also in OS) But nice to know.
Also good to hear they don't wear as fast as rumours spread

[fuzzybaffy]

I had a set of the UV-printed WASD keycaps for a few months (March of this year, until now), and indeed, I didn't see any wear on the printing. The legends are still intact; but then again, the caps are only a few months old, so I can't say how long they will last over the long run.

But, I have to say... the texture of the WASD caps are pretty horrible, and I had to stop using them. I wrote about my experiences here: http://geekhack.org/index.php?topic=59067.msg1379893#msg1379893

But it seems you're in a circumstance where you might need the custom WASD set for the 3 layouts, so, maybe the texture quality isn't of utmost importance to you right now. )

[nrd]

I actually like the texture of the WASDs 

[Qantourisc]

I used a ton of cheap keyboards, the texture I prefer least is glossy/no-texture/smooth. But that's even ok-ish.
Also good to hear the UV's don't or barely wear out.

[Qantourisc]

Somebody is claiming the keys are not fully covered by the UV print, as such, the legends won't wear out but the plastic will.
For any owners: is this true ? Are the unprinted areas wearing out faster (if any wear is visible) ?

[wayneho000]

Somebody is claiming the keys are not fully covered by the UV print, as such, the legends won't wear out but the plastic will.
For any owners: is this true ? Are the unprinted areas wearing out faster (if any wear is visible) ?

mine is still going strong.
Heavy use for the past 2 months