Update: Post # 9 compares the mod done with a jig vs. without a jig.
I saw the discontent with another member's modding services so I figured I would make this post and let others know that you do not need a fancy jig to modify a stepped caps lock key.
Tools needed:
End nipper
Sharp knife or razor blade
Epoxy glue
Ruler or level
Metal file or dremel
Step 1) Harvest a stem from a spare key you no longer need or want. I used a spare SP key cap stem as the heights are similar to imsto's key caps (the key cap I will be modding). A very sharp knife or a pair of wire cutters will work fine to harvest the stem. Do not use the end nipper to cut the stem off directly. You must cut around the stem with the end nippers. Once you cut the majority of the key cap away from the stem then you use a sharp knife/razor blade to slice the stem away from the remaining portion of the key cap. The stem must be sliced evenly. If it is not, you can use a metal file or dremel to level the stem.
Step 2) Cut the off-center stem out of the key cap directly (i.e. do not cut around the stem). I use an end nipper (seen below). Sand down the remaining off-center stem with a metal file or dremel. Some off-center stepped caps lock key caps have a ridge that slightly protrudes from the key cap. This ridge must also be filed down. I used a dremel to file this ridge down.
![2lcuh.jpg]( "2lcuh.jpg")
Step 3) Place a center stemmed caps lock key parallel to the now de-stemmed stepped caps lock key. Line up the keys as best as possible and mark on the stepped caps lock key cap both sides of where the center stem will be placed. To do this, I use a ruler and line up the stem off the center stemmed caps lock with the now de-stemmed stepped caps lock key cap.
![30ij047.jpg]( "30ij047.jpg")
![1glnwm.jpg]( "1glnwm.jpg")
Step 4) Use epoxy glue to glue the harvested stem in the stepped caps lock key. Glue the stem inside the lines you marked in step 3. As an added precaution, I keep the center stemmed non-stepped caps lock key cap evenly parallel while gluing to eyeball the stem placement in the stepped caps lock key cap.
Step 5) Let the glue sit for 30 seconds. During this time period the glue will firm up a tad but still remain pliable. After 30 seconds, fine tune the stem placement and twist the stem left or right so that the cross pattern matches that of the center stemmed non-stepped caps lock key cap.
Step 6) Let sit for a few hours.
Step 7) Place stepped caps lock key cap on keyboard and enjoy.
Things to note:
-You can do this process multiple times on a keycap until it is perfect. This is not a one shot deal. If the placement is off, simply use a sharp metal tool (I used a sewing needle) to get under the glue and pry the glued stem away from the key cap. All of the glue, along with the stem, will cleanly separate from the key cap thus allowing you to do the mod on the same key cap again.
-It will be nearly impossible to get the height of the key cap perfect. As you can see in the the pictures below, the height is not exactly perfect. My stepped caps lock key is a fraction of a millimeter too high, but I can live with it. Especially since this mod only takes ten minutes to complete and it is FREE.
![25qc1hf.jpg]( "25qc1hf.jpg")
![23rmmth.jpg]( "23rmmth.jpg")
![24wdafl.jpg]( "24wdafl.jpg")
This post is still a work in progress. If anyone is interested in further instruction on this mod I will elaborate on the techniques above.
I saw the discontent with another member's modding services so I figured I would make this post and let others know that you do not need a fancy jig to modify a stepped caps lock key.
Tools needed:
End nipper
Sharp knife or razor blade
Epoxy glue
Ruler or level
Metal file or dremel
Step 1) Harvest a stem from a spare key you no longer need or want. I used a spare SP key cap stem as the heights are similar to imsto's key caps (the key cap I will be modding). A very sharp knife or a pair of wire cutters will work fine to harvest the stem. Do not use the end nipper to cut the stem off directly. You must cut around the stem with the end nippers. Once you cut the majority of the key cap away from the stem then you use a sharp knife/razor blade to slice the stem away from the remaining portion of the key cap. The stem must be sliced evenly. If it is not, you can use a metal file or dremel to level the stem.
Step 2) Cut the off-center stem out of the key cap directly (i.e. do not cut around the stem). I use an end nipper (seen below). Sand down the remaining off-center stem with a metal file or dremel. Some off-center stepped caps lock key caps have a ridge that slightly protrudes from the key cap. This ridge must also be filed down. I used a dremel to file this ridge down.
Step 3) Place a center stemmed caps lock key parallel to the now de-stemmed stepped caps lock key. Line up the keys as best as possible and mark on the stepped caps lock key cap both sides of where the center stem will be placed. To do this, I use a ruler and line up the stem off the center stemmed caps lock with the now de-stemmed stepped caps lock key cap.
Step 4) Use epoxy glue to glue the harvested stem in the stepped caps lock key. Glue the stem inside the lines you marked in step 3. As an added precaution, I keep the center stemmed non-stepped caps lock key cap evenly parallel while gluing to eyeball the stem placement in the stepped caps lock key cap.
Step 5) Let the glue sit for 30 seconds. During this time period the glue will firm up a tad but still remain pliable. After 30 seconds, fine tune the stem placement and twist the stem left or right so that the cross pattern matches that of the center stemmed non-stepped caps lock key cap.
Step 6) Let sit for a few hours.
Step 7) Place stepped caps lock key cap on keyboard and enjoy.
Things to note:
-You can do this process multiple times on a keycap until it is perfect. This is not a one shot deal. If the placement is off, simply use a sharp metal tool (I used a sewing needle) to get under the glue and pry the glued stem away from the key cap. All of the glue, along with the stem, will cleanly separate from the key cap thus allowing you to do the mod on the same key cap again.
-It will be nearly impossible to get the height of the key cap perfect. As you can see in the the pictures below, the height is not exactly perfect. My stepped caps lock key is a fraction of a millimeter too high, but I can live with it. Especially since this mod only takes ten minutes to complete and it is FREE.
This post is still a work in progress. If anyone is interested in further instruction on this mod I will elaborate on the techniques above.
