blank keyboard stickers

[nanu]

Hi.
I want to share my experience with keyboard stickers I got today.

These are solid black vinyl stickers from http://www.4keyboard.com.  I actually acquired them through eBay.



According to the sticker backing, the sticker/material used is ORACAL 641 ECONOMY CAL.

This is what the keyboard looks like before stickers:


Health issues aside (yes I do eat at the desk), at least there's somewhat of a satin texture again on my mod of an i-Rocks X-Slim KR-6110.

And here's the keyboard with some stickers over already-blank keys


The edges of stickers can be felt (expected) and that adhesive around the edges attracts lint (expected).  Other than that they thus far feel acceptable, and are quite thin.  I guess if I had better-centered some of them, the edges would be less exposed.

I am hoping that with time the edges will stop collecting dust...
I might apply the rest of the stickers, but some will have to be cut smaller for the more compact topmost row of keys...

[wellington1869]

nice review and welcome to gh.  But why are you putting blank stickers over blank keys?

also, wont they wear out? I once put vinyl tape over my keys (for grip - i eat at my keyboard too, resulting in a thin covering of potato-chip slime on my keys from time to time and the tape wore out every 4 to 5 weeks and I'd have to retape it.  But a fat roll of vinyl tape is v. cheap per application.

(nice keyb too btw)

[itlnstln]

nice review and welcome to gh. But why are you putting blank stickers over blank keys?

He's not.  That is the keyboard with the stickers already on.

[nanu]

Thanks. If that's the case with stickers, then at the least this could warn other would-be consumers.

This is my cheap alternative at retexturizing keys.  I had read this thread about plasti-dip but had already gotten these.  Perhaps in a few weeks I will revert or try something else :lol:

Oh, and yes, those are two different shots.  Hardly noticeable, the difference, visually, but you can barely make out the sticker edges with the light coming from the right

[wellington1869]

oh yea, plasti-dip was my idea too  

I'm actually looking to retexturize my endurapro keytops (which I always find to be too smooth).  I do have some vinyl stickers somewhere, maybe i'll try those. I dont think they'll last long though, at least not for writer/programmer types who use the board constantly.

Incidentally, I also tried clear nailpolish as a retexturizer for keys.  It sort of works.  It too needs reapplication monthly though.  The best part though is the raised eyebrows you get when your friends see nailpolish on your desk.

[nanu]

Also, I did rather brute-force scraped, sanded, and dremel-polished some of the labels off, so with stickers it's definitely a visual improvement if one cared to closely inspect it.
The dimple on the 'F' key however was mostly naturally carved with the corner of my index finger's nail with normal use over the course of 3 years.

So what do you think of the keyboard?  Has pretty good reviews for a scissor switch.

I told the US rep to make it a REAL 6-Key rollover under USB, stick a GAMER SPECIAL label on it, skip the flashing LEDs, sell it for 40 bucks, and they could have a real winner.

And if you're bored stick some nickels on it - it's supposed to have a low actuation force.

I don't have experience with keyboards to accurately say, but the 6110 does have somewhat of a low actuation force. What is considered low, for scissor-switches?

Maybe I will try your nickel shenanigans.  It does feel less bouncy than the skim-keys Zippy I was using years ago.

[jeffrey]

So what do you think of the keyboard?  Has pretty good reviews for a scissor switch.

I told the US rep to make it a REAL 6-Key rollover under USB, stick a GAMER SPECIAL label on it, skip the flashing LEDs, sell it for 40 bucks, and they could have a real winner.

And if you're bored stick some nickels on it - it's supposed to have a low actuation force.

we got it and the message has been sent to R&D department and the gaming keyboard PM. we will see if N-Key scissor-structure keyboard will meet US$40.

[nanu]

Some crude nickel tests follow for this 3.5-year old(?) keyboard:

backtick/tilde key that i hardly use:
bounces back from 40g, stays down with 45g, actuates with 75g

numpad5 key* i hardly use:
bounces back from 35g, stays down with 40g, actuates with 70g

up arrow key:
bounces back from 25g, stays down with 30g, actuates with 60g

spacebar (same from center and sides):
bounces back from 25g, stays down with 30g, actuates with 65g

e key*:
bounces back from 30g, stays down with 35g, actuates with 65g

i key*:
bounces back from 30g, stays down with 35g, actuates with 65g

s key*:
bounces back from 25g, stays down with 30g, actuates with 60g

w key*:
bounces back from 30g, stays down with 35g, actuates with 70g

* for these, i had to place a cardboard shim underneath the nickels so as to not press adjacent keys

[wellington1869]

sounds like rubber domes may well require a higher actuation than mechanicals, even though the subsequently required downstroke force is much less on them.  I suppose this might be a result of the rubber dome (with its top arc) holding up well to a static weight but then  'collapsing' rapidly, whereas mechanical resistance (springs or leafs for instance) might actuate with less force and retain a more consistent level of force on the way down. Even the buckling spring probably retains more downstroke force as the metal spring folds, as compared with a collapsing rubber dome.