Hello all!
After seeing so many wonderful keycap designs and creations here, I'm going to give it a try too.
I've taken an interest in the ability to cast my own creations, and I'd like to share and document my experience here. Hopefully others can learn from it too.
My equipment and materials:California Air Tools 5510SE Air Compressor
Grizzly H6329 Paint Tank
Smooth-On Smooth-Cast 300 (too short potlife for me... now I only use this for double-shot details)
Smooth-On Smooth-Cast 305
Smooth-On Oomoo 30
Smooth-On Universal Mold Release (Not good for making 2 part silicon molds... Use Mann Ease Release 200 for that)
Mann Ease Release (use for making silicon molds and with $ynth)
UVO Resin Coloring
Super Sculpey Clay
Sculpting Tools
~:$ynth
After lots of reading of other's experiences I went with this list of stuff, and so far it's all working great.
That air compressor is quiet enough where I can use it indoors (don't have a garage). I did have to purchase a hose+couplings for it though.
I converted the paint tank to a pressure pot pretty easily by removing the extras and a couple trips to the hardware store, no leaks
The materials all worked great, I now use more appropriate materials for my needs.
My setup:
More
My first few results!
More
With LED:
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I think the first few trials came out okay for my first mold. I'm already making another one, hopefully it turns out better.
After a week of experimenting I think I've learned quite a bit about the process and hope to improve my results, and eventually move on to my own artisan designs.
There's more to come!
I do have 1 question though if anyone can help me. My keycaps fit on the MX stem just fine, but I feel they are a bit loose. I can pull the keycaps off just fine without the need of a keycap puller. Any tips to make a tighter or more precise stem fit in the mold?
Solution: So letting the resin cure longer before removing the stem and putting it on a switch has improved the results. Stems are tight fitting now.