Two tone blue & black keyboard mod

The Godfather · 2nd January 2010, 5:44 PM

This mod will be my first so I tried to keep things simple. I didn't want to go chopping up a case so instead, I am using an old keyboard. I started this modification late on Friday afternoon (1st of Jan, 2010)

The idea is simple. - Make a usable keyboard that is presentable at the same time. I have started with a generic IBM keyboard. The colours will be two tone. I will have a black bottom and a blue top with black keys.

The Steps

1. The first step was disassembly which was straight forward and took about 15 minutes:

2. The second step was to clean off all the dirt. I did this by filling a metal tray with water and detergent. I then dipped the two parts to the shell in. I used a fine brush to remove all the dirt:

3. The third step was to sand off the IBM logo as well as smooth and round out the edges:

UPDATE:

4. The Paint has been applied. I might sand it down with fine sand paper and give it another coat.

Micah. · 2nd January 2010, 7:11 PM

Interesting Idea are you going to scratch all the keys to get their letter on them so a light shines through them?

The Godfather · 2nd January 2010, 9:37 PM

That sounds like an idea. Do you know how I would go about it in the way of getting the light in and working?

Micah. · 2nd January 2010, 9:46 PM

Second thoughts is that G15 and all backlight keyboards have clear plastic and others probably all solid plastic so you could probably not just scratch it ... It would be very hard to do. I guess you could just put a light behind it still would look kind of cool

The Godfather · 2nd January 2010, 9:54 PM

I am looking at these for the back lighting:

http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=12350

10cm and blue but I don't think it will work...hmm

Micah. · 2nd January 2010, 9:56 PM

I was thinking led's as that might be a bit big But if you could manage to fit them in the would be great

The Godfather · 2nd January 2010, 10:06 PM

I was just looking at them but I am doubtful about being able to solder them onto the circuit board.

2nd January 2010, 5:44 PM	#1
The Godfather Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 161	Two tone blue & black keyboard mod This mod will be my first so I tried to keep things simple. I didn't want to go chopping up a case so instead, I am using an old keyboard. I started this modification late on Friday afternoon (1st of Jan, 2010) The idea is simple. - Make a usable keyboard that is presentable at the same time. I have started with a generic IBM keyboard. The colours will be two tone. I will have a black bottom and a blue top with black keys. The Steps 1. The first step was disassembly which was straight forward and took about 15 minutes: 2. The second step was to clean off all the dirt. I did this by filling a metal tray with water and detergent. I then dipped the two parts to the shell in. I used a fine brush to remove all the dirt: 3. The third step was to sand off the IBM logo as well as smooth and round out the edges: UPDATE: 4. The Paint has been applied. I might sand it down with fine sand paper and give it another coat. Last edited by The Godfather; 11th January 2010 at 11:48 PM.

2nd January 2010, 7:11 PM	#2
Micah. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 216	Interesting Idea are you going to scratch all the keys to get their letter on them so a light shines through them? __________________ *AMD Phenom II 720 - 4gb - 5tb - 3870x2 -CM690* Successful trades with : Trades Over $1345 worth of stuff Bought and Sold

2nd January 2010, 9:46 PM	#4
Micah. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 216	Second thoughts is that G15 and all backlight keyboards have clear plastic and others probably all solid plastic so you could probably not just scratch it ... It would be very hard to do. I guess you could just put a light behind it still would look kind of cool __________________ *AMD Phenom II 720 - 4gb - 5tb - 3870x2 -CM690* Successful trades with : Trades Over $1345 worth of stuff Bought and Sold Last edited by Micah.; 2nd January 2010 at 9:50 PM.

2nd January 2010, 9:54 PM	#5
The Godfather Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 161	I am looking at these for the back lighting: http://www.pccasegear.com/index.php?...ducts_id=12350 10cm and blue but I don't think it will work...hmm Last edited by The Godfather; 2nd January 2010 at 9:56 PM.

2nd January 2010, 9:56 PM	#6
Micah. Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: North Brisbane Posts: 216	I was thinking led's as that might be a bit big But if you could manage to fit them in the would be great __________________ *AMD Phenom II 720 - 4gb - 5tb - 3870x2 -CM690* Successful trades with : Trades Over $1345 worth of stuff Bought and Sold

2nd January 2010, 9:37 PM	#3
The Godfather Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 161	That sounds like an idea. Do you know how I would go about it in the way of getting the light in and working?

2nd January 2010, 10:06 PM	#7
The Godfather Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Perth Posts: 161	I was just looking at them but I am doubtful about being able to solder them onto the circuit board.