Cherry MX key-caps with synthetic ivory?

[Mortis Angelus]

Hello,

 

I was just wondering if someone knows if there are any key caps made for Cherry MX-boards with synthetic ivory? I tend to get very moist fingers and especially in the summer they also get very sweaty. Now, as a piano player I know that one of the reasons pianos use ivory key-tops is to make the keys less slippery, especially during fast play when the artist gets very sweaty finger tips. And it also feels a lot nicer. So thus I was wondering if anyone has made something like this for keyboards as well?

[PlayStation 2]

It would probably cost a lot, and even then, it's probably only around as a custom-order basis.

[flibberdipper]

Couldn't you in theory use textured caps and be fine?

 

I mean, even if there are synth ivory caps, they would probably some in at a significant price hike.

[RedWulf]

1 minute ago, tmcclelland455 said:

Couldn't you in theory use textured caps and be fine?

 

I mean, even if there are synth ivory caps, they would probably some in at a significant price hike.

I agree, any textured or fine grit key should work. But Ivory keys would look extremely luxurious 

[KaminKevCrew]

You should get some PBT caps for your board. They don't really get slippery, even when your fingers start to sweat...

[Mortis Angelus]

9 hours ago, tmcclelland455 said:

Couldn't you in theory use textured caps and be fine?

 

I mean, even if there are synth ivory caps, they would probably some in at a significant price hike.

I guess these are the kind of "textured" keycaps you mean:

 

Now, I have not tested these kind of caps out, but I I'm fairly sure I wouldn't like them because of the rough texture. The fake ivory on piano keys are much smoother, but you can feel the difference compared to normal plastic keys. On e.g. Yamaha's pianos you can't really see that they have the synthetic ivory tops, but you certainly feel it.

 

 

9 hours ago, RedWulf said:

I agree, any textured or fine grit key should work. But Ivory keys would look extremely luxurious 

The entire purpose of ivory key tops compared to just textured ones is the following (especially the highlighted stuff is important):

 

"Ivory and synthetic ivory key tops reduce the stickiness and let the fingers glide. They allow for more tactile playing and have a good solid feel. This is attributed to the porous surface which is rough and absorbs moisture from the fingers (sweat, for example)."

SOURCE

 

Even though it says reduce stickiness, for me when playing on "real" keys, I tend to find more grip (and thus more tactility) when playing.

 

And that's what I'm really looking for. Is this a sign that I should start producing my own keyboards now as well?

6 hours ago, KaminKevCrew said:

You should get some PBT caps for your board. They don't really get slippery, even when your fingers start to sweat...

Never heard of them. need to look them up. Any links?

[KaminKevCrew]

On 2/29/2016 at 5:10 AM, Mortis Angelus said:

Never heard of them. need to look them up. Any links?

Let's see... I think Techkeys sells full PBT sets.

[Mortis Angelus]

32 minutes ago, KaminKevCrew said:

Let's see... I think Techkeys sells full PBT sets.

Thanks. I have a huge issue in that regard: I require Nordic layout (as I live in Finland). Do you guys know of any place to order custom PBT keys?

[KaminKevCrew]

6 hours ago, Mortis Angelus said:

Thanks. I have a huge issue in that regard: I require Nordic layout (as I live in Finland). Do you guys know of any place to order custom PBT keys?

I personally don't... I'm located in the US, so... 

 

If you could deal with blank caps, you might be able to get some in ISO, and then have IMSTO dye them for you (he does custom died caps.)

[Mortis Angelus]

9 hours ago, KaminKevCrew said:

I personally don't... I'm located in the US, so... 

 

If you could deal with blank caps, you might be able to get some in ISO, and then have IMSTO dye them for you (he does custom died caps.)

But.. But... No back light?!? (cries in a corner).

[dtaflorida]

1 hour ago, Mortis Angelus said:

But.. But... No back light?!? (cries in a corner).

http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M

 

I got these off amazon. Massdrop also did them for about $7 less than what I paid off Amazon, but also offered them in white. But in actuality I think after shipping price added for Massdrop, it was probably about the same.

 

Of course, you might run into problems with the bottom row if you have a non-standard bottom row. 

[Mortis Angelus]

1 minute ago, dtaflorida said:

http://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Black-Doubleshot-backlit-Keycaps-Pc/dp/B00XABAR2M

 

I got these off amazon. Massdrop also did them for about $7 less than what I paid off Amazon, but also offered them in white.

 

Of course, you might run into problems with the bottom row if you have a non-standard bottom row. 

Yeah, I saw those earlier, but we still have the issue with nordic keyboard layout. Does anyone know if Vortex has a home pag? I can't seem to find it via google. Would be interesting to get in touch with them regarding custom keycaps.

[KaminKevCrew]

On 3/3/2016 at 8:00 AM, Mortis Angelus said:

But.. But... No back light?!? (cries in a corner).

I have some blanks that have a really cool backlighting effect. Go look at some photos of keyboards that have the "Jelly POM" keycap sets... Those things look amazing.

[spwath]

22 minutes ago, KaminKevCrew said:

I have some blanks that have a really cool backlighting effect. Go look at some photos of keyboards that have the "Jelly POM" keycap sets... Those things look amazing.

Besides backlighting isn't that useful.

With the light from monitor and knowing where the keys are it should be good.

 

My pbt keycaps arrive in a month or so.

And i think I'm going to order some purple zelios

[KaminKevCrew]

1 minute ago, spwath said:

Besides backlighting isn't that useful.

With the light from monitor and knowing where the keys are it should be good.

 

My pbt keycaps arrive in a month or so.

And i think I'm going to order some purple zelios

I agree. I only use backlighting for the underglow. I don't generally look at the keyboard, even if the monitor is lighting it up. The only time I look is literally to place my hands on the board, and other than that, I never look at it...

 

I ordered 120 Zealios, and then bought 120 aristotle switches. I literally bought 120 zealios for their springs and their housings...  (I also spent WAYYYYYYYYYYY too much on that board... Including caps, the total is looking to be something around $800...)

[spwath]

Just now, KaminKevCrew said:

I agree. I only use backlighting for the underglow. I don't generally look at the keyboard, even if the monitor is lighting it up. The only time I look is literally to place my hands on the board, and other than that, I never look at it...

 

I ordered 120 Zealios, and then bought 120 aristotle switches. I literally bought 120 zealios for their springs and their housings...  (I also spent WAYYYYYYYYYYY too much on that board... Including caps, the total is looking to be something around $800...)

Wow.

Mine will total to about $200-250 ish, possibly up to 300$

[KaminKevCrew]

4 minutes ago, spwath said:

Wow.

Mine will total to about $200-250 ish, possibly up to 300$

I... Yeah...

[Mortis Angelus]

11 hours ago, spwath said:

Besides backlighting isn't that useful.

With the light from monitor and knowing where the keys are it should be good.

 

My pbt keycaps arrive in a month or so.

And i think I'm going to order some purple zelios

I've waited a couple of years to get a backlit keyboard, so I'm not gonna undo that because of the caps.

 

Besides, it looks better (I'd dare to say, it looks more professional; I have simple white backlights, no flashy RGBs) to have a backlit keyboard, and albeit I am a touch-typist, there are always some signs/characters that I don't use that regularly and I will have to look down to find them.  I also like the fact how the lights make all the letters and numbers, basically the keys, stand out and almost hoover in the air.