Harvesting Keys For Filco's

[Dirty Bint]

Hi,

Having read some of the keycap threads involving Filco keyboards I gathered that there are replacement keys available from other Cherry keyboards where the keys are less likely to go "glossy" with wear etc.

Would anyone please be able to let me know the specific models of other keyboards where the keys are suitable as replacements for a Filco with blue switches?

Rgds
Dirty Bint

[itlnstln]

Actually the Double Shot keys are ABS plastic so they go glossy pretty quickly too.  So in other words don't be disappointed if they get glossy in a year.  I like them more for looks and feel (their thickness and weight).

See the two key wikis:  "All About Keys" and the "Key Database".

On my Cherry w/double-shots, all of the keys are fairly shiny except the spacebar.  The keyboard I am on has seen very little use (until now) and even the F keys are somewhat shiny.  It seems that there is a certain amount of smoothness in the double-shot process Cherry uses.

[ch_123]

Filco keycaps go shiny. So replace them with Cherry keycaps... which go shiny.

Wait, can someone remind me what we're trying to accomplish here?

[ch_123]

Good stuff, do continue.

[didjamatic]

This one has some of the keys you're looking for, including the good front row keys.  Hey look, it's only 1 penny for double shots and a load of cherry browns.  Wait a minute, this is my own auction, I must be shamelessly promoting it.  

[itlnstln]

It's not the smoothness (key texture) as much as the plastic type that explains the difference.  If you pull the spacebar it probably says "PBT".  The rest of the keys are ABS.

I know.  I was implying this to be the case, but I ended up losing myself in my own post.  Carry on.

[ch_123]

I'm vaguely tempted to stalk this auction if it doesn't go too high.

[Dirty Bint]

I have read through the Wiki topics but am still not clear about replacing Filco keycaps with those from other boards.

Basically what I hope to do is to replace the key caps on a UK layout Filco "blue" switch board with appropriate keycaps from another board when the Filco show signs of wear. However, I am not sure if I need to use keycaps from another "blue" switch board or if keycaps from a "brown" switch or "black" switch board can be used.

Also, do some options for replacing the keys keep the keycap sizes intact, I think that I read that some replacement keycaps are a slightly different size and this impacts on the spacing between the keys.

In reality, all I need to know is which is the best board to harvest keycaps from for a "blue" switch Filco in UK layout. If there are USA model numbers available I will try to find out what the model number is for the equivalent UK layout.

Thx
Dirty Bint

[itlnstln]

You can replace the caps from any MX switch regardless of color.  In fact, MY (G81) keys will work as well.  One thing you may have to keep in mind is that cap mounting from some manufacturers may be different than others.  Cherry keys work on Filcos for the most part except on some of the larger caps where Cherry likes to mount the cap off-center and the Filco is center-mounted (Space and Caps Lock come to mind).  Board-to-board, caps that fit the same switch family will work for single-sized caps (letter, numbers, etc.).  The only other thing to be aware of is cap height.  Filco caps are taller than Cherrys, for example.  It doesn't affect key travel, or anything, but it might look a little weird if you mix caps from different 'boards.

Sorry for the rambling post.  It's still early, and I haven't had enough stimulants yet.