Hi all! i'm considering painting some of my older keyboards, and i was wondering what's the best paint type and the best approach to it.

regards,

I've had good results with several vinyl dyes like VHT. Only downside to them is the color options are much more limited than stuff like krylon fusion which is much less durable.

I was considering black for the first one, can you show some specific brand ?

regards,

VHT is a brand, it is American though so you pay a premium in the EU.

Dont even know if there's that brand available here. But i think Krylon, is, but i assume you should apply a varnish after painting it no?

Right, VHT might not be as easy to get in your area, but usually they will have something similar at places that sell autoparts. Just ask them about recoloring your dashboard, they will point to the right product I would hope.
Reason I like these vinyl dye is it is a one step product no need to do sanding and clear coats and so on. It gets into the plastic, like a dyesub keycap so it is much better than paint as it can't wear easily.

Interesting, i wonder what they call vinyl dye here. What does sanding mean?

Using sandpaper or I believe you may call it lixa to prepare the surface and in between coats is common practice while using regular paint. This is not needed with the vinyl dyes.

I made some research for my own projects too and found the "do it" and "buntlack" spray cans from the German brand "Marabu". Seems like it has good feedback for painting ABS (source, in french, including pictures) and a wide choice of colors (orange, yay !).

I found 400ml spray cans on the web for the buntlack one at ~10€ + shipping. Might try that on a spare part.

lysol wrote:Using sandpaper or I believe you may call it lixa to prepare the surface and in between coats is common practice while using regular paint. This is not needed with the vinyl dyes.

Oh you're right, i've read here in some Portuguese forums that they used the "water based sandpaper ". But i didn't understand that it was between coats. But wouldn't that damage the paint for each coat?

Also on a different note, is it safe to put the keycaps in the laundry machine? what temps would be tolerable?

maxrunner wrote:

lysol wrote:Using sandpaper or I believe you may call it lixa to prepare the surface and in between coats is common practice while using regular paint. This is not needed with the vinyl dyes.

Oh you're right, i've read here in some Portuguese forums that they used the "water based sandpaper ". But i didn't understand that it was between coats. But wouldn't that damage the paint for each coat?

It's to sand the bumps that form down. Paint, get bumps, sand bumps, paint, get smaller bumps, sand, repeat from step one until smooth.

Interesting, the thing is these old keyboards have that irregular look to them, they're not completely flat. Still i think i'll make some experiments first on non critical stuff, i might try the vinil dye first, i just need to find it first.

regards,

If someone stumbles apon a good VHT alternative available here in europe, could you please share where to get it?

Yes, im interested too...

I managed to get a can of VHT on ebay.co.uk, cost around 8 quid.

What exactly is the difference between dye and paint?

Icarium wrote:What exactly is the difference between dye and paint?

Paint adheres to whatever material you're coating it with, it just sticks to the outer surface. Dye chemically bonds to the material to you're dyeing and actually changes the color of that material.

So what distance should you use the vinyl spray from the keyboard?And what about coats?Does this avoids the over spraying effect?

Stroak wrote:

Icarium wrote:What exactly is the difference between dye and paint?

Paint adheres to whatever material you're coating it with, it just sticks to the outer surface. Dye chemically bonds to the material to you're dyeing and actually changes the color of that material.

I'm surprised that this kind of dye can be sprayed on. There must be some powerful chemicals in it.

Oh yes, it is very noxious. You certainly want to use it outdoors and with a respirator or your lungs will be feeling very unpleasant for quite awhile if you were to breathe it. Wearing goggles is also highly recommended.
When I have used spray dyes, I use quick sweep method from around 70cm away from the piece I was working. I did around 4 coats 10 minutes or so apart and had no runs. Go light and do more coats is always the way to go with sprays. I propped part on a piece of bent wire to make a stand and put down a cloth on the ground to catch the overspray. It also dries fairly quick so dust is not as much of a concern as some paints.

I've been thinking about it but still wonder how to protect the keyboard properly in order not to paint certain parts (ex : the "feet" or the screw holes). How do you people usually proceed with this ?

well if and when i do this, i intent to dismantle the keyboard, you're risking too much if your thinking of doing this without removing the pcb first.

You might want to send an e-mail from Topre. I hear they paint their keyboards...

So lysol talked about duplicolor, what type should i use, i searched for vynil and found this:

http://www.duplicolor.com/products/vinylFabricCoating/, but they have much more types in there.

Or this one from MOTIP,
http://www.motipdupli.de/index.php?id=ipg_1373&L=2

Yes that was the duplicolor I was talking about, the motip is probably similar. I guess get whatever is easiest to get in your region and give it a try on some broken rubberdomes board or something to make sure it is color and finish you are looking for.

These guys also sell to europe,http://www.vinyldye.co.uk/All-Vinyl-Dye-Color-Sprays/Brillo%20Vinyl%20Spray%20Dye%20Black.
But its expensive.

If you first spray it with plastic-primer then any carpaint should be fine!

I thought the main issue was that it shouldn't rub of with daily use....