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Keyboard DYE customization guide!!! - Page 3

post #21 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:08pm
does the dye bond well enough so as to not stain your fingers or wear off from excessive WASD usage?
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post #22 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:11pm
another old trick of the r/c hobby bleeding over to computers

Another note, you will get deeper, and sometimes darker colors if you leave the parts in longer. Also you can use those large disposable "turkey pans" an bake them in the oven if your oven will allow you to drop down to about 90*F. Multiple short soakings work best, with a rinse after each one, to make sure the color is what you want before it gets too dark.
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post #23 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by grishkathefool View Post
does the dye bond well enough so as to not stain your fingers or wear off from excessive WASD usage?
Good question. As far as I have read, this is a non-issue. The dye actually penetrates to become part of the key. I was reading where one fellow did not like a certain color and tried to sand it off to no avail. He said after cutting the key in half, he was amazed at how deep the dye had penetrated into the plastic.
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post #24 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grishkathefool View Post
does the dye bond well enough so as to not stain your fingers or wear off from excessive WASD usage?
It will never wear out, it's permanent.

Quote:
Originally Posted by StretchNuts View Post
another old trick of the r/c hobby bleeding over to computers

Another note, you will get deeper, and sometimes darker colors if you leave the parts in longer. Also you can use those large disposable "turkey pans" an bake them in the oven if your oven will allow you to drop down to about 90*F. Multiple short soakings work best, with a rinse after each one, to make sure the color is what you want before it gets too dark.
The problem is that ABS plastic which most keyboards are made of (one notable exception being the IBM Model M which uses PVC) will deform very easily if it's too hot or you leave them in too long. So you always want to do multiple short baths, or your keyboard might end up unusable.

Edit: Here, look at what happened to the spacebar and arrow keys during my first ever dye attempt:

Edited by Manyak - 8/2/09 at 6:17pm
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post #25 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:16pm
Rit dye is great for plastics and cloth. Many people use it in the RC car scene to customize their rides. The nice thing about dye as opposed to paint is that the dye soaks into the plastic. The longer you soak, the deeper it goes. So when you are wearing down your keys on the keyboard, you will still have that sweet color.

Great job!!!
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post #26 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Manyak View Post
The problem is that ABS plastic which most keyboards are made of (one notable exception being the IBM Model M which uses PVC) will deform very easily if it's too hot or you leave them in too long. So you always want to do multiple short baths, or your keyboard might end up unusable.

Edit: Here, look at what happened to the spacebar and arrow keys during my first ever dye attempt:
Yes I know. Many R/C car parts are also ABS plastic. I have dyed many sets of wheels. It also seems like the cheaper quality the product, the easier it takes to the dye.

Edit: Some ABS plastic will take the darker colors (like the blue you used) without even heating the dye or keys. The result is alot more even color, and easily controlled tint as it doesnt enter the plastic pigment as fast. The downside is that it doesnt go as deep. Dont see a problem with keyboard keys, but on r/c wheels if you used the "cold method" the deeper scrapes and nics would show white underneath.
Edited by StretchNuts - 8/2/09 at 6:23pm
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post #27 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:23pm
Nice thanks for the tips...

unfortunately, my KB is also black.

have to keep my eyes open for a new one anyway, though, this one is 5 years old and a lot of the letters are faded/worn off. (WASD, lol)

ooooh.... now I am thinking about using this trick on a laptop encasement..... and a mouse body.... oh, and my old Altec speakers......
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post #28 of 184
8/2/09 at 6:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by grishkathefool View Post
Nice thanks for the tips...

unfortunately, my KB is also black.

have to keep my eyes open for a new one anyway, though, this one is 5 years old and a lot of the letters are faded/worn off. (WASD, lol)

ooooh.... now I am thinking about using this trick on a laptop encasement..... and a mouse body.... oh, and my old Altec speakers......
Also works on those older beige bezel trim pieces and CD/DVD Rom face plates

Glossy finished plastic needs to be roughened up a little with sandpaper, then after dyeing (and many days of drying), can be clear coated and wet sanded/polished back to a very nice finish.
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post #29 of 184
8/2/09 at 7:02pm
Thread Starter 
Currenlty working on more keys...will update the OP within the next hour
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post #30 of 184
8/2/09 at 7:14pm
I did my own.

I rubberized the frame with undercoating and did the keys with a dark green. I didn't think to dye the key's until after I rubberized the frame or I would have dyed the frame as well to make the color match.

56k warning.

http://i31.tinypic.com/2hge7pf.jpg
http://i26.tinypic.com/zk9d.jpg
http://i28.tinypic.com/atx6h1.jpg

I might take better pictures next week when I'm back in town and have better lighting.
Edited by theCanadian - 8/2/09 at 7:17pm
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