Is there a paint I can use on a keyboard?

Laptop keys are wearing out....

[trillianjedi]

Laptop's not all that old (6 months) but I use it a lot and most of the letters on the keys (white on black) are worn out.

I can't quite touch type - still like to look where my fingers are.

Anyone got a tip as to any type of paint I can use to fix up the worn ones?

I'm thinking maybe some of that Humbrol enamel stuff that us older members will remember using on models?

Or do you think I can get a new set if I write off to Compaq/HP? If so, are they easy to replace?

Thanks!

TJ

[PatrickKerby]

There's a good chance you could just get replacement keys from Compaq/HP

I've worked at a computer shop where we had a few bags of IBM thinkpad keys. just pop em off, and stick the new one on.

[httpwebwitch]

enamel is your best bet. apply it with a sharp toothpick for fine lines.

[trillianjedi]

enamel is your best bet.

I thought it probably would be, just wasn't sure if it would react with the plastic.

apply it with a sharp toothpick for fine lines.

Hehe - you've done this before haven't you! Maybe I should send it to you for an overhaul?!

Thanks, I'm not all that fussy about how it looks, I just need to see the letters. I'll wear it all off again anyway.

Patrick - thanks. I've sent a mail to Com/HP no reply as yet.

If they pop off and pop on, then that's got to be the easiest thing assuming they don't cost a fortune.

TJ

[novice]

Try using stickers.

[trillianjedi]

Good idea novice, why didn't I think of that?!

Wonder if they'll stay on....?

[EarWig]

Lets help TJ out
I`ll start

Here's the letter A

Copy it and stick on the left hand centre key!
:-)

[Syzygy]

Stickers >>>> Letraset.

Might not stay on long, though.

Syzygy

[RossWal]

What about those letter guns? The old fasioned ones with the heavy tape coils. If it works OK, then when they loose their stick, which they will, try some contact cement to reapply. If that doesn't last use expoxy, but that *will* be difficult to remove should you have a change of heart.

[trillianjedi]

difficult to remove should you have a change of heart

Or follow Earwigs advice and stick the letter "A" on the caps-lock key...

;-)

[EarWig]

Now that would confuse people!
LOL

[lammert]

I have hand-painted the Cyrillic alphabet on my notebook keyboard, then used nail polish as a protection layer. It's there for almost three years, no sign of wear.

[Angelis]

Problem is how much of an idiot are you going to look buying nail varish if you are a bloke...!

[httpwebwitch]

Nail varnish is useful for wadding the ends of frayed shoelaces. You can also use nail varnish to capture snowflakes [microscopy-uk.org.uk]

Don't be so macho, Angelis.

[trillianjedi]

if you are a bloke...!

Who says it's not for someone else? Girlfriend/mother/wife?

Having said that, following an excellent tip on content writing I read in a thread here, I went a bought a load of teen magazines and did feel kind of strange!

Amazing images on that page webwitch.....

[lawman]

if you are a bloke...!

If that would bother you, don't get married. You wouldn't believe what a wife would ask you to pick up on the way home. :)

[Angelis]

I would my x girlfriend send me enough times because she was too embarrased, she could at least of picked up the bacon on the way home though...

[Sarah Atkinson]

clear nailpolish is just one of those great products that has endless uses. I see no problem with a guy buying it.

[trillianjedi]

For all those stickying me to say "You wore out your keyboard after six months?!" - yes I did, but it's my main PC.

I do type a lot of content, but I have to shamefully admit that the first two keys to go were C and V (me a copy/paste coder) ;-)

TJ

[Angelis]

First one to go on mine was space bar, no paint left on it in 2 places (where my thumbs go), problem with my laptop is that the backlight on the screen has gone.

Cost a fortune to replace it :(

[Sarah Atkinson]

actualy it's quite common for some people to wear out the keys on their keyboards fast. we have a few people here that do it. And 6 months is aboult right. I think it has to do with acid content in the oil from their hands. White on black seams to wear faster too. trillianjedi since you know now you might have this problem. in the furture you may want to put a clear coating over all your keys.

[SEOMike]

acid content in the oil from their hands

They must be pretty acidic! I have worn dents in my enter, spacebar, and shift keys w/o wearing off the letters / symbols.

I second the clear fingernail polish motion. I used to use it all the time in the Army to keep my brass buckles and buttons shiny w/o needing to polish them. It worked great for a LONG time! Of course, your keys might be a little shiny and slippery after you paint them.

Also, I had a thinkpad with a missing key (LONG story) and I found a replacement board for under $100 US.

[Live_Lead]

Can you plug in a new external keyboard? (they are cheap)

[Webwork]

Is there a paint I can use on a keyboard?

Yes.

Fingerpaint.

nyuk, nyuk, nyuk

[rebelde]

Once I was sending in my laptop for repair to a major by-mail computer company. I had the "complete care package". I mentioned that the arrow keys had faded and they actually replaced the keyboard! As you might suspect, I always buy the complete care packages for my laptops these days.