Keyboard mod questions...

[Mr fixit]

Soon to be working on the keybord mods.  I'm wondering what size replacement keys to use.  I'm likely going to have to make my own, so I have some options.  I'm thinking of using black resin in brass bezels as keys.  But what O.D. of bezel to start with?

And if anyone knows of a source for pewter or 'silver' bezels, that would be great!

Mr Fixit

[TVC15]

My local Hobby Lobby (crafts/hobby store) has a section that sells round 'buttons' that remind me of typewriter keys. In addition to the buttons they also come with stick on letters/numbers/symbols that have the 'old school' look to them. I've used them in steaming a strat copy guitar with.

[Mr fixit]

My local Hobby Lobby (crafts/hobby store) has a section that sells round 'buttons' that remind me of typewriter keys. In addition to the buttons they also come with stick on letters/numbers/symbols that have the 'old school' look to them. I've used them in steaming a strat copy guitar with.

I've been to 2 hobby shops and one sewing shop looking for buttons.  The only thing that came remotely close to looking as I wanted was a pair of buttons for $3.00.   

With over 100 keys to do that gets rather spendy quick, not to mention then the other materials I will need.

One of the old threads here I found with a search led me to

http://www.metalliferous.com/pdf/Base_Metal/Brass_Mesh_Bezels_&_Hoops.pdf  look at page 3.  For example, any size from 11mm to 15.2mm are about $34 a gross.  That and some black or white resin should go far.

Just wondering what the best size to use would be. And still open to other suggestions.

Mr Fixit

[Lady Ashgrove]

look in the scrapbooking section

sometimes you can find "typewriter keys" there

do not know if they would be sturdy enough though

[Spiritus]

If your going for cheap you can use my metod and many others

Spoiler: ShowHide

http://www.steampunkworkshop.ro/keyboard.php

The most expensive bits was the cooper pipe and corners. The buttons where like a few dollars 120pieces but make shure the border is the right shape, 15mm radius, the keys are coverd in clear nail laquer and I use that keyboard as my main keiboard since may to test it and no key or other bits fly off so far.

[Spiritus]

If your going for cheap you can use my metod and many others

Spoiler: ShowHide

http://www.steampunkworkshop.ro/keyboard.php

The most expensive bits was the cooper pipe and corners. The buttons where like a few dollars 120pieces but make sure the border is the right shape, 15mm radius, the keys are coverd in clear nail laquer and I use that keyboard as my main keiboard since may to test it and no key or other bits fly off so far.