DAS Proffesional: looking for PBT keycaps (media version)

[Ventryx]

I've been using my Das for about a year now, and I really like it. Now I'm looking to customize it with a nice set of PBT keycaps; the glossy, smooth stock keycaps just aren't quite doing it for me.

I've been searching for a long time and found multiple great keycap sets; my only issue is that the new version of the Das Proffesional with media keys has a different layout than most keyboards (see image) with a regular sized function/windows key on the left side.

My question is where can I find a set that perfectly fits my Das? I don't want to drop 50-60 dollars on a PBT set just to find that I'm missing a few keys. I don't care if the caps are blank or printed, as long as they fit. Thanks!

[Muirium]

The bottom row looks like 1.25-1-1-1.25-6-1.25-1-1-1.25 units to me. Which is weird, while the rest of the board looks pretty standard ANSI. Most keysets out there have uniform 1.25 mods and a 6.25 units space bar. So beware!

[Ventryx]

The bottom row looks like 1.25-1-1-1.25-6-1.25-1-1-1.25 units to me. Which is weird, while the rest of the board looks pretty standard ANSI. Most keysets out there have uniform 1.25 mods and a 6.25 units space bar. So beware!

That's my worry, although I might've found something decent here:

http://mechanicalkeyboards.com/shop/ind ... tail&p=863

It has 5 extra 1 unit keys that I can use for the Fn/windows key, I'm just not sure if the price is worth it or if I can find a set with different colours anywhere else (the other blank sets on that website are out of stock).

[Khers]

While you'd be able to cover the win, fn and menu buttons on your keyboard with that set, you'd still have an issue with the spacebar. Like Muirium wrote, most sets out there include a 6.25u spacebar (this kit included) while your keyboard has a 6u spacebar.

[IvanIvanovich]

6 units spacebar is not necessarily difficult... but it depends on which stem spacing it needs. Using a bit of epoxy to add in an extra stems in the correct spots can always be an option if it comes down to it. As always, I recommend Cherry profile keycaps. It's one of the easier profiles to match up with nonstandard board layouts, though some mix and match from different sources may be required to get there.

[Muirium]

Ventryx sent me the link to what Das has to say about this keyboard. On the site, the header shows another awkward space bar size: this time 5 units.


http://www.daskeyboard.com/model-s-professional/

Buggers.

I'll point out I know very little about Cherry / GMK caps. If Ivan says there's hope, I bet he's on to something. Are any of the current GMK GBs PBT and 6 unit?

[Ventryx]

Yea, that picture on the website is a bit misleading. My spacebar is indeed 6 units; I'll look around for some cherry profile keycaps and post any findings. Thanks for the replies!

I also found this ABS keycap set that is compatible with my keyboard that I sent to Muirium as well: http://www.maxkeyboard.com/max-universa ... blank.html

If only such a thing were available in PBT... oh well, I'm bound to find something eventually

[Muirium]

That's a 6.25u space bar as well. No go.

Have you pulled caps off your Das to see the switches? The original rubber dome Das had a funky spacebar too.

[Khers]

I think that set might be an option. If you look at image two, there are two extra spacebars that according to the description are 6u and 7u. The only real question then is whether you'd want a set of translucent keycaps on your keyboard. IMHO I'd rather wait until the right GB comes along.

[Muirium]

Oh right, didn't notice that pic. (Shitty slideshows!) Even has Big Ass Enter. That's a rare find



But looking at this, I'd stay clear of these caps. They're so thin I'd never trust them to wear well.

[IvanIvanovich]

Cherry PBT only come in white though... if you want black you'll have to settle for POM or ABS or get into dyeing the PBT cap yourself. They are pretty easy to find 6u off of 1800/7000 or 11900 model. 6u isn't available from GMK sadly, it's one of the few molds Cherry didn't sell off to them and they only deal in abs cap anyway.
I'm pretty sure my PBT source don't have them either. They only just started offering 7u. I am not sure they would be convinced to make a mold for a 6u.

[Ventryx]

Apologies for the bad quality, but there's a picture of the red switch on the keyboard.

I contacted QWER keys to ask if they make custom PBT spacebars for the size I need, but they still haven't replied. If I get no answer I'll start looking for an old Cherry keyboard to get a spacebar from. Quite a pity that the one keyboard I chose has such a restrictive layout, but oh well.

[Muirium]

QWER closed a while ago:

http://deskthority.net/vendors-f52/qwer ... t=qwerkeys

Good news it is a mech, at least! I was hesitant to pull caps off boards back before I got into all this, and many people are, which leads to confusion about what exactly lies beneath.

Probably old Cherries are your way to go. And a lesson learned about going for a standard layout whenever you do next buy a board!

[Ventryx]

Haha certainly, I didn't even imagine I'd ever want replacement keycaps for my keyboard. Thanks once again for all the help ^^
And what a shame about QWER; their website gives the impression that it's still a fully functioning company..