Easiest Mechanical Keyboard to Mod

[DogeOfTech]

Having an incredibly difficult time finding an RGB white mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry's, or even Kalih's to be honest.

 

Which RGB mechanical keyboard is the easiest to mod, painting as well as replacing keycaps, which is the easier part I'd imagine.

[Shiv78]

Replacing keycaps can be done on any standard layout Kailh, Cherry, or "cherry compatible/equivalent" switch like Greetech, Outemu, etc.

 

IDK about painting

[ARikozuM]

I would recommend foil and painter's tape. Remove the key caps and use the foil and tape to protect the stems. Also, stencils...

[DogeOfTech]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

I would recommend foil and painter's tape. Remove the key caps and use the foil and tape to protect the stems. Also, stencils...

Good point, but which keyboard is the easiest to paint?

[ARikozuM]

Just now, DogeOfTech said:

Good point, but which keyboard is the easiest to paint?

I have no idea. I would use the the one whose features you like and start there.

[kirashi]

1 hour ago, DogeOfTech said:

Good point, but which keyboard is the easiest to paint?

There are a few people out there who've painted their Logitech g710+, but it seems as though Logitech discontinued this keyboard in favor of their own proprietary key switches.

 

[W-L]

2 hours ago, DogeOfTech said:

Having an incredibly difficult time finding an RGB white mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry's, or even Kalih's to be honest.

Which RGB mechanical keyboard is the easiest to mod, painting as well as replacing keycaps, which is the easier part I'd imagine.

For keyboards that are easy to paint look for ones that do not use a midplate or have a plastic cover around the keys, ones like the Corsair K70 and such would't be easy to paint. 

[DogeOfTech]

3 hours ago, W-L said:

For keyboards that are easy to paint look for ones that do not use a midplate or have a plastic cover around the keys, ones like the Corsair K70 and such would't be easy to paint. 

I know I looked at the Corsair Strafe, would that one be simple? It didn't look too complicated.

[W-L]

4 minutes ago, DogeOfTech said:

I know I looked at the Corsair Strafe, would that one be simple? It didn't look too complicated.

Oh that looks very promising, it still had a mid plate or sorts to keep it stiff but has a plastic cover you can take off so it wouldn't be too hard to dissemble for paint. One thing I would recommend is to add a clear coat on your paint job to provide it a bit more durability.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7371/corsair-gaming-strafe-mechanical-keyboard-review/index5.html

[DogeOfTech]

4 minutes ago, W-L said:

Oh that looks very promising, it still had a mid plate or sorts to keep it stiff but has a plastic cover you can take off so it wouldn't be too hard to dissemble for paint. One thing I would recommend is to add a clear coat on your paint job to provide it a bit more durability.

http://www.tweaktown.com/reviews/7371/corsair-gaming-strafe-mechanical-keyboard-review/index5.html

Cool, so just take apart, standard sanding and such, painting and replacing keycaps, then reassembly, right? I want also planning on painting over the 2 top right buttons, but would like to know what to do for the top left logo, if it's on the chassis?

[W-L]

7 minutes ago, DogeOfTech said:

Cool, so just take apart, standard sanding and such, painting and replacing keycaps, then reassembly, right? I want also planning on painting over the 2 top right buttons, but would like to know what to do for the top left logo, if it's on the chassis?

Yeah you should be able to take off the top two buttons to paint but you will lose the logos on them. As for the Corsair badge if it's a metal stick you should be able to heat up the letters using a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive and scrap/peel is off to reapply if the adhesive is still good but if it's painted/etched on he surface it will be loss when painted. 

 

If you want I have a general painting guide here that goes over the steps:

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/551953-modding-faq-new-layout/

[DogeOfTech]

14 minutes ago, W-L said:

Yeah you should be able to take off the top two buttons to paint but you will lose the logos on them. As for the Corsair badge if it's a metal stick you should be able to heat up the letters using a hair dryer to loosen the adhesive and scrap/peel is off to reapply if the adhesive is still good but if it's painted/etched on he surface it will be loss when painted. 

 

If you want I have a general painting guide here that goes over the steps:

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/551953-modding-faq-new-layout/

Wow thanks a lot! Would you recommend plasti-dip or spray painting for my first mod?

 

And in terms of the Corsair logo, I'm concerned since its not a metal plate like the other keyboards, but a translucent emblem (either part of the main face plate or separate) over an led (in the RGB version at least). 

[W-L]

55 minutes ago, DogeOfTech said:

Wow thanks a lot! Would you recommend plasti-dip or spray painting for my first mod?

And in terms of the Corsair logo, I'm concerned since its not a metal plate like the other keyboards, but a translucent emblem (either part of the main face plate or separate) over an led (in the RGB version at least). 

Oh yeah that is a clear section, hopefully that is a clear insert that comes apart and not molded together in once big piece then you won't have to paint over that. For paint or plasti dip I personally would recommend to go with spray paint for keyboards with a clear coat since plasti-dip is a rubber based coating it tends to attract dirt and lacks that abrasion resistance however I have seen others use plasti-dip with good success on keyboards but not too sure about it long term. 

[DogeOfTech]

7 hours ago, W-L said:

Oh yeah that is a clear section, hopefully that is a clear insert that comes apart and not molded together in once big piece then you won't have to paint over that. For paint or plasti dip I personally would recommend to go with spray paint for keyboards with a clear coat since plasti-dip is a rubber based coating it tends to attract dirt and lacks that abrasion resistance however I have seen others use plasti-dip with good success on keyboards but not too sure about it long term. 

Got it, thank you so much! Ill post when I start the project.

[Aytex]

Easiest imo would be Quickfire or the CM masterkey's Standard layout

 

 

[DogeOfTech]

36 minutes ago, Aytex said:

Easiest imo would be Quickfire or the CM masterkey's Standard layout

 

 

They do look easy, but I'm looking for one with RGB

[Aytex]

2 hours ago, DogeOfTech said:

They do look easy, but I'm looking for one with RGB

Masterkeys is rgb?

2 hours ago, DogeOfTech said:

 

[DogeOfTech]

1 hour ago, Aytex said:

Masterkeys is rgb?

Oh whoops, looked at the wrong model I guess. That definitely does seem easier

[pexon]

For modding, it would be best to look out for a Filco keyboard. Easy to get good quality aluminium cases for, cables, plates and stadard layout for easy keycap replacement. 

[Qwweb]

I have a Razer Blackwidow X Chroma and after removing the keycaps it would be one flat metal surface. Also the keycaps are easily removable, you can do it safely without a tool. The only problem would be price.

[DogeOfTech]

1 minute ago, Qwweb said:

I have a Razer Blackwidow X Chroma and after removing the keycaps it would be one flat metal surface. Also the keycaps are easily removable, you can do it safely without a tool. The only problem would be price.

Thats true, do they make keycaps for it/are Cherry keycaps compatible?

[Qwweb]

1 minute ago, DogeOfTech said:

Thats true, do they make keycaps for it/are Cherry keycaps compatible?

the razer green switches are cherry switches that razer redesigned, you can use any cherry keycap

[DogeOfTech]

1 minute ago, Qwweb said:

the razer green switches are cherry switches that razer redesigned, you can use any cherry keycap

Nice, I'll look at that too