sanding the double shot

heliar · 13 Dec 2011, 07:18

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... b5x6jDybWA

does anyone know what type of sandpaper/polish wax to use, if i want to either sand my shinning/used double shot keys to 1) a matte surface, or 2) a shinning surface (without the scratches etc)?

squarebox · 13 Dec 2011, 08:30

I use 800 grid in that video.
If you want a shiny surface, you will need to do wet sanding with grid of 2000 and above.

Sanding off the shine and resell, claim near new is F' up... No offence

heliar · 13 Dec 2011, 12:34

that is nice background music, one would have thought you were polishing jewelery or making a fine watch.

my tools are ready, I hope I can show you the keys when they are ready. it may take some days though.

however I don't intend to sanding off the shine, I intend to make the shine uniform across the whole key, I will make a piano finish out of it.

no offence taken.

Ascaii · 13 Dec 2011, 13:56

one thing I like to use for "wet" sanding is a single drop of green dish washing soap.

heliar · 13 Dec 2011, 15:20

as lubricant?

Ascaii · 13 Dec 2011, 15:51

yes. drop of green on the cap and sand. You can get a mirror finish on metal that way^^.

Gilgam · 13 Dec 2011, 18:34

i used 600 wet sand paper
i worked out fine. Maybe should i do a pic before/after

kaiserreich · 13 Dec 2011, 18:53

I used the method Ascaii taught me.
1000 grit and then finish with 1200 grit. Makes the keycaps feel like FILCO ones.

Ascaii · 13 Dec 2011, 21:35

kaiserreich wrote:I used the method Ascaii taught me.
1000 grit and then finish with 1200 grit. Makes the keycaps feel like FILCO ones.

I HAVE A FOLLOWER!

Glad it works as well for you as it did for me.

Gilgam · 14 Dec 2011, 00:34

Aren't they too shiny and too smooth ?

I love the rough texture as the fingers do stick less when you sweat (like in summer when it is quite hot).

Ascaii · 14 Dec 2011, 11:04

One of the thing on my list to do when I have time (no idea when) is to try a lot of different grains from ~500 to 2000 and compare the results. 1000/1200 will give you a gentle texture on the cap without it looking rough. I will admit it was a case of "Let me see what I have in my toolbox" when I decided to sand my Caps and I just happened to have 1000 and 1200 ^_^.
I copied the simple green trick from the CPU Lappers over at OCN and I think it does make difference to dry sanding or using water, When I tried dry sanding the texture was a bit "patchy", while simple green gave me a uniform surface.

Like I said, there is still a lot of experimenting to be done in this field and I encourage anyone to try out different grains and find the grain you enjoy the most. There is no single perfect answer, just personal preference.

TheSoulhunter · 14 Dec 2011, 16:00

True, 1000-2000 will still leave some texture...
I have 4000, 8000 and 12000 grit papers I used to mirror-polish metal, maximum shininess! >:D~

ripster · 14 Dec 2011, 18:36

Squarebox - everybody wants to know the music in the Youtube video!

cable · 14 Dec 2011, 20:03

This song will definitely be the official one in the mechanical world of keyboards.

heliar · 14 Dec 2011, 23:35

this video reminds me of him. it has got a nice polishing rhythm too.

heliar · 15 Dec 2011, 02:02

actually the shinning ones grip fingers better than the original matte surface. i feel it applies to both the biege and black ones. the original matte feels a bit slippery.

coarser one like those found on wyse feels the best.

acsii and others: any pictures of the polished caps?

Gilgam wrote:Aren't they too shiny and too smooth ?

I love the rough texture as the fingers do stick less when you sweat (like in summer when it is quite hot).

squarebox · 15 Dec 2011, 03:07

Dont anyone here watch Transformers?

It's by Steve Jablonsky - The Fight Will Be Your Own
Sadly, many notice the works of Han Zimmer but not works of Steve Jablonsky.

P.S I still hate Rosie Huntington Whiteley lips despite she's a Victoria's Secret model.

RiGS · 15 Dec 2011, 03:15

Pretty dramatic music for sandpapering keys.

Haha. I agree with that guy.

squarebox · 15 Dec 2011, 03:29

RiGS wrote:
Pretty dramatic music for sandpapering keys.
Haha. I agree with that guy.

Two keycap lost their life...

cable · 15 Dec 2011, 12:57

squarebox wrote:
RiGS wrote:
Pretty dramatic music for sandpapering keys.
Haha. I agree with that guy.
Two keycap lost their life...

We have to resurrect the life of the keycaps.

Ascaii · 15 Dec 2011, 13:00

heliar wrote:actually the shinning ones grip fingers better than the original matte surface. i feel it applies to both the biege and black ones. the original matte feels a bit slippery.

coarser one like those found on wyse feels the best.

acsii and others: any pictures of the polished caps?

Gilgam wrote:Aren't they too shiny and too smooth ?

I love the rough texture as the fingers do stick less when you sweat (like in summer when it is quite hot).

I love when people butcher my name :'(

Like I said im planning to do some before/after shots using different grains of sandpaper at some point and posting pics and a wiki page on the topic. Too busy right now.

cactux · 15 Dec 2011, 14:02

[Account and posts deleted on request]

Lamaboi · 15 Dec 2011, 17:30

After the sanding you could plasti dip'em or spray paint with krylon fusion color of your choice.

graboy · 19 Dec 2011, 22:22

Is grinding down you keycaps with sandpaper really a good idea if you want to make them shiny or have a different texture? Or is it just if you are interested in restoring them?