cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

The keys on my keyboard (white letters on black) need a bit of tender loving care as part of the white letters has worn off.
As my touch typing skills are sadly lacking I would like to - carefully - repaint them.
Other than needing to borrow (steal actually) a very thin brush from SWMBO who is an artist are there any other suggestions
One thought is to use a white CD marker pen (very fine)
16 REPLIES 16
Strat
Community Veteran
Posts: 31,320
Thanks: 1,609
Fixes: 565
Registered: ‎14-04-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Correction fluid would be good Smiley
...and you probably have quite a good stock of it Wink
Windows 10 Firefox 109.0 (64-bit)
To argue with someone who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead - Thomas Paine
VileReynard
Hero
Posts: 12,616
Thanks: 582
Fixes: 20
Registered: ‎01-09-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

My 'N' has completely disappeared and the right hand side of the 'M' is nearly gone..  Cheesy

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

hulls
Grafter
Posts: 1,699
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Not surprisingly - the "E" has completely gone on my keyboard.  ( the letter used most in the English language)  Roll_eyes
John
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Quote from: Strat
Correction fluid would be good Smiley
...and you probably have quite a good stock of it Wink
Cheeky sod  Shocked
Beside that rubs off  Roll_eyes
HairyMcbiker
All Star
Posts: 6,792
Thanks: 266
Fixes: 21
Registered: ‎16-02-2009

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Jeez you must have poor keyboards!
I use a M$ Ergonomic Internet keyboard and have done for about 5 years (this one) and NONE of the keys are worn! Even my old IBM thinkpad which had a hard life still has very little wear on it.
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

While I fully support repairing most things to get them back to a working condition, I doubt that painting new letters on a keyboard is going to last very long.
If it were me, I would consider buying a decent keyboard of eBay, as you can get a good quality, brand new, branded keyboard (such as Microsoft) for less than £5.
Another even cheaper option that might work is to use a label making machine to make some permanent letter labels to stick over the old key caps.
Oldjim
Resting Legend
Posts: 38,460
Thanks: 787
Fixes: 63
Registered: ‎15-06-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

VileReynard
Hero
Posts: 12,616
Thanks: 582
Fixes: 20
Registered: ‎01-09-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Do IBM still make keyboards?

"In The Beginning Was The Word, And The Word Was Aardvark."

ChemicalBrother
Grafter
Posts: 1,887
Thanks: 5
Registered: ‎05-04-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

David_W
Rising Star
Posts: 2,305
Thanks: 33
Registered: ‎19-07-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

You could find another black keyboard (preferably broke) and take the keys from that, simply replace them.  If you use any sort of marker on the keyboard then you using the keys will in turn rub off whatever you mark it with.  My current (and future, hopefully a long time) keyboard is a logitech g15, the keys are laser etched with a pretty orange backlight so can never wear off so if you can find a broken G15, rip the keys from one of them, though they may not fit, umm, only thing I really can think of is to replace the keys with keys from another keyboard.
jelv
Seasoned Hero
Posts: 26,785
Thanks: 971
Fixes: 10
Registered: ‎10-04-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

If you'd got a proper keyboard in the first place (one where the keys are double shot molded - Google it) you wouldn't be having this problem!
jelv (a.k.a Spoon Whittler)
   Why I have left Plusnet (warning: long post!)   
Broadband: Andrews & Arnold Home::1 (FTTC 80/20)
Line rental: Pulse 8 Home Line Rental (£14.40/month)
Mobile: iD mobile (£4/month)
ReedRichards
Seasoned Pro
Posts: 4,927
Thanks: 145
Fixes: 25
Registered: ‎14-07-2009

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

I have a silver 'paint marker' pen, under £2 from Staples, that writes on plastic.  But whatever you use, the problem would be rubbing it off again.  I think some people have "acid fingers" and are more than usually prone to rubbing of the lettering on their keyboard.
orbrey
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Plusnet Alumni (retired)
Posts: 10,540
Registered: ‎18-07-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

Letraset and clear lacquer?
White enamel paint?
Very carefully cut stencils and spray paint?
Any of the above should give a lasting finish but it's a lot of work, iirc you can pick up those logitech boards for between £5 and £10 these days. Alternatively you could wear all the labels off and go for the uber-leet Das Keyboard look.
pierre_pierre
Grafter
Posts: 19,757
Thanks: 3
Registered: ‎30-07-2007

Re: How to do a cosmetic repair to my keyboard

I use a clear melamine lacquer on my wood turning, it is heat and acid proof, mind you a tin of it costs more than a new keyboard Roll_eyes Roll_eyes